2023 Annual Conference Breakout Sessions

Below are breakout sessions from the 2023 FICP Annual Conference that took place November 12-15, 2023 in Marco Island, Florida.

Monday, November 13

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Professional Growth & Personal Development

Attention PaysTM: Drive Profitability, Productivity and Accountability

Areas of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain E: Human Resources

Speaker: Neen James, Executive Strategist and Keynote Speaker, Neen James, Inc.

To get the results you want, you need to get attention. But most people don’t know how to get it and keep it.

People often see attention as a transaction, something to trade, but it’s much more than that. Neen has identified that we pay attention at three different levels; personal, professional and global, and she’s designed a powerful methodology that makes it easy to leverage all three.

Neen’s Intentional Attention model helps leaders and organizations be more deliberate about the choices we make and the actions we take. We join speaker, author and sassy little Aussie, Neen James, and discovered what makes attention valuable and why paying attention in very specific ways drives profitability, productivity and accountability.

Learning Outcomes

  • Discovered the three types of attention, Personal, Professional and Global and how to master each
  • Discussed strategies to design work and personal environments to accelerate optimal attention and focus
  • Examined a framework to get your team aligned, focused and executing faster than ever

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions

FICP Chat LIVE! Tapping Into Your Destination's Cultural Richness to Elevate Event Experiences

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Site Management

Facilitators:

Are you looking for the next “wow factor” to spice up your event? It’s right in arms reach — the unique cultural heritage of your destination. Through peer-to-peer discussion, we discovered the art of planning a truly inclusive experience that taps into the local culture and maximizes the “best of” your event location. By doing so, you infused an authentic and immersive experience that will captivate your attendees and leave a lasting impression. At the conclusion of this session, each group reported their top takeaways to showcase local flair.

Strategic Thinking & Impact

Mastering the Art of Contracting: Insights From Industry Leaders

Areas of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP-IS Domain B: Project Management

Panelists:

By popular demand, this panel of peers delved into crucial conversations surrounding contracting in today’s economy. The panel reflected on the impact of inflation and taxation, revealing what your team values and what to prioritize when negotiating contracts with trusted partners. We explored evolving clauses — such as acts of God, F&B minimums, entertainment and evolving service standards — to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of contracting in the meetings industry.

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
Meeting Planning Risks That Paid Off — Stories From Your Peers

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

See below for Meetings Professionals' Stories!

Through a series of TED-Style talks, you had the unique opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of risks taken by your esteemed peers during the event planning process — and how these risks ultimately paid off. We peeked behind the curtain and gathered insights into their problem-solving process including how they weighed the pros and cons of the risk. By immersing yourself in these stories, you gained valuable insights and inspiration for your next challenge or opportunity.

Financial & Insurance Industry

 

The Financial and Insurance Landscape: Understanding the Industry You Serve

Areas of Interest: Financial & Insurance Industry
CMP-IS Domain F: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Jim Effner, Founder and President, P2P Group

In this session, we dove deep into the latest trends, stakeholder expectations and budgets that are shaping the financial services and insurance industries. We explored the disruptive forces that are revolutionizing the companies you serve and gain valuable insights on what to look for in the next five years.

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Strategic Thinking & Impact

Economic and Travel Forecast: Adapting to Market and Talent Volatility

Areas of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP-IS Domain D: Financial Management

Panelists:

As the hospitality and event industry faces labor and market fluctuations, it is critical to identify the economic risks and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. By understanding the landscape, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and adapt your meeting strategies accordingly. Whether you're facing your first recession or curious how to navigate differences from the 2008 financial crisis, you left this session with data, communication tools and proactive measures you can take to mitigate the impact on your meetings and events.

Strategic Thinking & Impact

FICP Chat LIVE! Are You Prepared to Manage Your Next Event Crisis?

Areas of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact; Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain C: Risk Management

Facilitators:

Have you updated your risk management plan now that in-person meetings are back in full swing? Through peer-to-peer discussion, this was your opportunity to exchange essential steps to ensure event safety and security. This included how to identify and mitigate potential hazards and explore how recent events  like active threats, natural disasters, medical emergencies and more  should influence your planning cycle. At the conclusion of this session, each group reported on their top takeaways to determine risk management best practices as we head into the next year.

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions

Mastering Strategic Gifting: Unveiling Missed Touchpoints and Essential Trends

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

Speaker: Jennifer O’Hare, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Belle Box Co.; Strategic Retail Consultant

Discover the realm where art and science converge to create unforgettable gifting experiences. We joined for a session that delved into the transformative power of strategic gifting and the latest industry and consumer led trends behind the revival of corporate and event gifting. We uncovered the hidden touchpoints that often escape meetings professionals’ attention while also learning about innovative concepts that drive impact and deliver the most memorable experiences.

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
Planning Events and Experiences for a Multi-Generational Workforce

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

Speaker: Josh Elmore, PhD, Organization Scientist and Offsite Facilitator, Court Street Consulting LLC

We explored the challenges and possibilities of planning meetings and events for a diverse workforce with varying learning preferences and motivations. We gained insights into what keeps each generation engaged and learned practical strategies to create impactful experiences at your meetings and events. It’s time to bridge the gap and ensure your meeting strategy results in memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on all generations.

Professional Growth & Personal Development

Powerful Communication: How to Amplify Your Impact, Build Trust and Drive Results During Tough Talks

Areas of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain F: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Jason Thomson, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Creator, Radio Host and Content Coach

In today's fast-paced work environment, meetings professionals often face the daunting task of presenting strategic recommendations to their stakeholders with short lead times and little direction. How do you break through, persuade and develop the connections that drive action – especially when the topic is sensitive like budgets or staffing? We joined energetic communications thought leader Jason Thomson as he shared critical mindsets, insights and practical approaches to five of the most difficult conversations you have every day.

Conversations included:

  • Disagreeing
  • Negotiating
  • Delivering bad news
  • Getting a team on the same page
  • Persuading a reluctant person to do something


Tuesday, November 14

8:45-9:45 a.m.

Professional Growth & Personal Development

Creative Career Pathing and the Importance of Community and Advocates

Areas of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain E: Human Resources

Panelists:

We joined an enlightening panel discussion featuring distinguished meetings professionals and hospitality partner as they shared their creative career paths in the events industry. We gained insights into prioritizing your own professional development, accelerated opportunities in the wake of the pandemic, transferable skills, how to navigate conversations with confidence, and more. We discovered the importance of mentors, champions, and networking to propel your career, brand and network forward.

 Strategic Thinking & Impact

FICP Chat LIVE! Event Design That Prioritizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Best Practices

Areas of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP-IS Domain B: Project Management

Facilitators:

Through peer-to-peer discussion, we discovered and shared best practices for designing programs with diversity, equity and inclusion in mind. Conversation may include strategies to track DEI initiatives, how to collaborate with your partners to achieve company DEI goals, creative design elements to engage a neurodiverse audience, marketing strategies to attract diverse participants, and much more! By holding each other accountable, this community can drive change and set the standard for planning inclusive and equitable engagements. At the conclusion of this session, each group reported their top takeaways.

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
Inclusive and Sustainable Dining: Revamp Your F&B Strategy Without Breaking the Bank

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

Speaker: Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, CFPM, Founder and President, thrive! meetings & events

What do consumer preferences, climate change and resource scarcity have in common? Your next F&B strategy! We explored tactics for creating an inclusive dining experience while reducing food waste and costs. This fireside chat left you feeling inspired and motivated to implement more sustainable, budget friendly practices while working with your hotel and event partners.

Navigating the AI Toolkit: Essential Tools and Proven Tips

Areas of Interest: Technology Solutions; Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP-IS Domain A: Strategic Planning

Speaker: James Spellos, President, Meeting U

Since ChatGPT exploded in our lives in 2022, generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already having a significant impact on the tasks and requirements needed for today’s event and hospitality professionals. While many are fearful that AI will replace the need for some workers perhaps even some meetings professionals, most organizations understand that is not the case, though the skill sets and tasks required to best perform at the job are evolving. We attended this session to keep up with the various tech tools that will impact your career now and moving forward.

After participating in this session, the learner is able to:

  • Identify 30+ AI tools that can support your work
  • Review and discuss with your peers the impact of AI and other technologies on the future of the profession
  • Understand how current AI technology will continue to evolve

Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions

The Guiding Principles in Experience Design Six Truths for Innovative Event Strategies

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP-IS Domain A: Meeting or Event Design

Speaker: Michael Clarke, Senior Director, B2B Events & Programs Portfolio, Luxury & Leisure, Global Sales Organization - US & Canada, Marriott International

Welcome to the new and innovative event strategies significantly shaping the future of experience design and attendee satisfaction. In this session we examined each strategy which included Attendee Emotional Data; Exploring Attendee Identities; Designing for Belonging; Architecting Choice; The Value of Values; and The Power of Play. You learned about the truths - not trends – enabling you to develop new approaches to how attendees now want to connect and network and understand what criteria they are using to evaluate the success of meetings and events and their intent to return. Meaningfully connected with your peers as we explored ways to intentionally craft the attendee experience. You left with tools you can immediately apply to your own event strategies.