Year in Review

Wow, what a year! I must admit that I’m glad it is coming to a close. As individuals and as an industry, we faced many challenges, but we persevered. The trickle-down effect of the economy and spotlight on meetings meant we had to roll with the punches and figure out new ways of doing business as well as new ways to support our members and the hospitality community.

We should all be proud of what FICP accomplished during 2009. Here are some of the highlights:

Membership: We expected to end the year with 500 members, and we met our goal of 85% member retention. In a year when many associations lost 20% of their members, we projected a net 12% decrease over the previous year. I believe that our ability to retain current and recruit new members reflects the value our association is able to offer its members. In addition to connecting us to our peers across North America, FICP truly helps us do our jobs better.

Education: Webinar participation spiked when FICP made these training opportunities free to members. Being able to add to your knowledge without leaving the office is an important benefit of FICP membership. The Education Forum required travel, but total participation increased compared to 2008. And participants gave high marks to both the program and the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Sponsorship: Our hospitality partners (HPers) make our meetings possible—from the location, the meals, name tags and more. This year all Forum, Annual and Strategic Partnership sponsorships were sold out. The new "Buy FICP" recognition campaign is another way that we work with our HPers, encouraging our members to do business with the companies that support us.

Communications: The re-engineered FICP Web site, www.ficpnet.com, boasts new navigation, functionality and content, with an Online Exchange that helps planners and HPers network. We also continued to build media relationships during a year of unprecedented attention on financial institutions’ travel and events. We became actively involved in and benefited from the U.S. Travel Association's advocacy and public relations efforts to stop negative media exposure on the meetings industry.

Regionals: We restructured our local chapters, replacing them with regional meetings. New guidelines encouraged consistency among the organization’s subgroups, strengthening the FICP brand.

Annual Conference: Our Annual Conference, to be held in Toronto on November 15-18, will offer a high-quality, industry-specific educational program as well as the Marketplace, where members and HPers will get the chance to network and share ideas. FICP’s tradition of supporting a local charity continues; this year the silent auction will benefit “Coats for Kids,” a program that provides winter coats to children, young adults and families in need in the Toronto area.

Finance: Our association’s conservative investment policy protected us from significant losses this past year, maintaining FICP’s financial health. Our policy of transparency will continue at the Annual Conference so members can see where their dues go.

Board: During 2009, our hospitality partners’ role at FICP board meetings was expanded. Rather than spending just a half-day with the board, the HP representatives are now part of the entire meeting, which improves communication and trust and elevates their engagement as a strategic advisor to the board.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for their guidance and support during this eventful year. 2010 is already proving to be an interesting one and it is comforting for me to know that we have a great association and supportive hospitality partners to share in it.

All the best,



Cindy Wheaton, CMP
FICP President

Association News

Study Shows Business Travel Drives Revenue

A new study by Oxford Economics USA illustrates how much companies stand to gain when workers travel for meetings, conventions, training or as an incentive for performance. Read the highlights here.

Help Us Build the Online Exchange

The FICP Online Exchange continues to grow, with more meetings and data added by planner members all the time. This consolidated repository of data helps improve meetings by exchanging information with other meeting planners. Planners enter details about past and future events, include details such as the location of the event and the resources used including venue(s), DMC, speaker(s) and entertainers.

We are still seeking more data points for this great tool. Please take the time to enter information about your meetings, so your colleagues may benefit from the information you’ve gathered. As with any user-driven tool, this resource will only be as great as the members make it, and adding your meeting information is the crucial step in ensuring that data can be shared.

If you have any questions about the FICP Online Exchange, contact Nicole Nelles.

Join the List of Silent Auction Supporters

The 2009 silent auction charity is “Coats for Kids” - a program that donates winter coats to children, young adults and families in need in the Toronto area. To ensure the success of this year’s silent auction we are continuing to accept donations. Please visit the silent auction page for more information.

FICP would like to thank those who have already donated. A full list is available on the Annual Conference Web site.

Connect Via Social Media

FICP’s presence on the professional networking site LinkedIn has grown significantly, and is a great place to get discussions going among your fellow members and prospective members. Join our group, contribute your expertise to the discussions, and start new threads on the topics that are top of mind.

Event News

2009 Annual Conference Brings Together Best in the Business

November 15-18, 2009
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Join fellow meeting planners and hospitality partners* at the 2009 Annual Conference. The event offers formal and informal learning opportunities through more than 30 education sessions and networking events.

*Current planners, prospective planners who qualify for membership and invited hospitality partners are eligible to register.

Congratulations to the winners of our registration incentive. Ann Smith, Colonial Life and Accident Company, and Donna Costa, Sun Life Financial, won $500 American Express gift cards to be used to offset conference travel expenses.

If you are planning to join us in Toronto, start planning your onsite experience by outlining your goals. Worksheets are available for planners and HPers.

Upcoming Events

Please click here to view our Calendar of Events, which includes upcoming events, a list of chapter meetings, CMP Exams and additional programs.

FICP Welcomes New Members

The following people joined FICP in late September and early October:

Iwona Kucharska, Manulife Investments, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kara Leodler, Kansas City Life Insurance Co., Kansas City, MO
Kristin Nauman, Piper Jaffray & Co., Minneapolis, MN
Megan O'Connell, State Farm, Lincoln, NE
Pamela Steensland, CMP, Piper Jaffray & Co., Minneapolis, MN

HPC News

Remember, the HPC is your voice to the association, and your comments or suggestions are always welcome!

Annual Conference Sponsorships Sold Out

Thank you to all of the hospitality partners who are sponsoring items at this year's Annual Conference. Because of your support, FICP is able to offer a top-notch event and a high-quality experience for all who attend. A list of sponsors can be found here.

Recent Additions to the HP Community:

Kim Cauchon, W Hotels NY, New York, NY
Paula Dirks, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Aideen Mulholland, Carnival Cruises, Miami, FL
Samantha Palache, The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Dallas, TX
Terry Popelka, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Sam Stanton, redbutton.tv, Dallas, TX

FICP Brand Positioning Statement

FICP provides high-quality information, education and networking to financial and insurance meeting professionals, increasing their success and strategic value. We maintain a balanced planner to hospitality partner ratio at all times, resulting in a unique business environment.

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