February 2020
OTTAWA in JANUARY
2020 started off at a race pace! Treena and Margaret headed to Ottawa for a handful of the industries’ premier events. Destination Direct a hosted buyers program, Tête à Tête a Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) meeting industry showcase, Meeting Planners International (MPI) Annual Charity Auction Dinner and educational sessions put on by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).
DESTINATION DIRECT CANADA
DDC took place from January 27 to 28, 2020 where destination marketing organizations – DMO’s (like Meetings & Conventions PEI) from across Canada meet with conference planners. Treena and Margaret had a full roster of one on one appointments for an intense two days that has historically brought successful meeting business to Prince Edward Island. Destination Direct Canada offers participants an action-packed agenda focused on fostering dialogue between fellow Hosted Buyers and DMO representatives. It’s about education and creating mutually-beneficial relationships so that association meetings and conferences can thrive.
TÊTE-À-TÊTE
Meetings & Conventions PEI and our members took advantage of something that is increasingly hard to find: a true community. Tête-à-Tête facilitates face-to-face connections that nurture business. All association and not-for-profit executive directors and employees, meeting and event planners, and government procurers attend at NO COST. Connect with long-time colleagues and forge new relationships all in one place. Tête-à-Tête is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year and I’d venture to say we have been going for almost that long as well.
Members who attend with us were:
Meeting Planners International
(MPI) Annual Charity Auction Dinner
One of the most anticipated nights of the year for networking, socializing and fundraising was on January 30, 2020. The Annual MPI Ottawa Charity Auction & Dinner 2020. Treena attended this year and included a TASTE of PEI gift box as an auction item. The prize package highlighted our members Prince Edward Island Preserve Co. and Cows
PCMA
Treena attended “Generational Change and its Impact on Event and Hospitality Professionals”. David Coletto delivered an interactive presentation featuring original research and insights about generational change and its impact on the conference and hospitality industry and consumer behavior.COMING SOON
More industry events are going on in the first and second quarter of 2020. We have a very busy schedule for the next few months. From International shows to Maritime receptions you’ll see Business Development Managers on the road selling Prince Edward Island as THE coastal meeting destination in Canada.
8th Annual Global Pharmaceutical and Medical Meetings Summit
Each year, this summit convenes senior meeting management professionals from the life sciences, medical, and health care industries for empowering ROI-driven conversations, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, shared best practices, and networking. The Summit remains committed to a 1:1 ratio of meeting management professionals to solution providers.
Touted as the most productive meeting management industry event. Where pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and health care senior meeting professionals convene to innovate, educate, and network. Susan is attending in partnership with Business Events Canada (BEC). The team at Business Events Canada assists planners in bringing corporate, association and incentive events to Canada.
The Event – April 2-4
Cultivation, Collaboration, and Elevation. Margaret will be attending this 3rd annual conference. Challenging the “typical” conference format, The Event’s goal is to do things differently. For the third year, three MPI Chapters (MPI Toronto, MPI Montreal/Quebec, MPI Ottawa) have joined together to offer their members an opportunity to attain cutting edge innovative business and meeting industry education.
Atlantic Roadshow
April 21-24, 2020 – 3 Nights 4 Days Roadtrippin’ with Team Meetings & Conventions PEI! Regional meetings are important to our members all across PEI. Meetings & Conventions PEI are excited to announce our third annual Atlantic Provinces Member Roadtrip! These events will give you the opportunity to showcase products and services first hand to local meeting planners in Saint John, Moncton, and Halifax.
We are targeting local planners in THREE cities who have influence to invite an organization to choose PEI as a meeting destination. You just need to jump on the BUS and come along with us!
Sponsored by:
NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS
Both West Jet and Swoop have announced direct flight to Prince Edward Island. A new direct service between Calgary and Charlottetown will ensure your western delegates get to your PEI conference even sooner. This non-stop 4.5 hour flight connects Prince Edward Island to Western Canada.
Beginning in June Swoop, Canada’s ultra-low-fare airline announced a direct flight between Hamilton, and Charlottetown. With 3 direct flights from Hamilton weekly you can travel between the 2 cities in approximately two hours.
MEMBERSHIP
Our members are our partners and the key to our success and we thank you for all that you do to help showcase Prince Edward Island as a must-visit destination for meetings and conventions. 2019 has been another impactful year for Prince Edward Island in the Meetings & Conventions market with our continued growth in the number of meetings (+12%) hosted on PEI with an economic impact of $ 23 million. We know that when we all work together promoting and developing PEI as a destination for group travel, we are stronger. 2020 at this time is pacing ahead of 2019 in the number of booked conventions. We are working hard with our partners to capture more qualified meeting planners to Gather Island Style in 2020 and beyond!
Your Meetings & Conventions PEI membership expires on March 31, 2020, and we sincerely hope that you will join us for another outstanding year of great programs and professional development. An invoice for your membership dues will be emailed to you in the next week.
We have a new private FACEBOOK GROUP just for members!
You can request to join it here:
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to serving you for another year.
TAKE A BOW
A number of our member organizations were recognized over the past few months for their accomplishments.[one-half-first]
2020 marks the 40th Anniversary of Sign Craft being in business.
“We are quite excited and proud to be able to say we have been in business for the last 40 years. We could not have accomplished this without our valued customers, staff, and vendors. We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our clients for their support over the last 40 years. We look forward to continue working with you in 2020 and beyond.” Mike Savidant, General Manager[/one-half-first]
[one-half]
The Charlottetown Airport Authority is pleased to share that they achieved another year of record passenger movement at the airport. Last year, a record 383,183 passengers travelled through the Charlottetown Airport, representing a 3.4% gain over 2018. The growth is being attributed to Air Canada and WestJet’s increased seat capacity during the peak summer months of July and August as well as an additional daily flight to Ottawa that ran from June to September. See full article “Another Year of Growth”[/one-half]
2019 YEAR-END PACE
