Did you Know?
Dogs are a man's best friend. Or, in some cases, a man's best Valentine. According to a new survey, Americans plan to spend 8% more on Valentine's Day than last year. The cause? Americans plan to shower their pets with gifts on this day of love, a total of $751 million, to be exact. If this number sounds crazy to you, it's probably because the main "pet parent" consumers are millennials. Learn more here and Happy Valentine's Day!
5 Things to Know in February
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If you haven't already, make sure you're all set for 2018 and renew your membership or partnership.
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FICP's new event, the Strategic Leaders Event, has a date and location! If you have at least 10 years of meetings management experience and currently oversee meeting planning functions, plan to join us in Chicago this December.
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The February digital edition of MeetingsNet is now available.
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Still thinking about how great of a year 2017 was for FICP? Head to the FICP Flickr page to relive the memories.
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From Social: 8 Insights Into How Meeting Planners REALLY Handle Stress. Read the full article here.
Plan for 2018 with FICP
Check out this interactive calendar to learn more about what you can look forward to in 2018.
Winter Symposium Recap
On January 21 - 23, more than 100 meetings professionals and hospitality partners gathered for two days of focused learning and networking at the newly-renovated Revere Hotel in Boston, Mass. 2018 FICP Winter Symposium attendees heard from keynote speakers Eric Rosenbach and Jon Picoult about trends in the financial tech industry and great customer service experiences, respectively. The evening networking event was creatively re-imagined when the government shutdown prevented us from hosting at the JFK Library & Museum. Attendees enjoyed an elegant evening of history and networking at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. See photos from the Winter Symposium here.
Save the Date for Education Forum
Plan to join FICP in Vancouver, B.C. on June 11-13 for the 2018 Education Forum. Registration will open March 2018. Learn more here.
Advertise in the 2018 Membership Directory
Ad ales for the 2018 FICP Membership Directory go live next week on February 12 for all hospitality partners. Learn more here and contact Susan Frei with any questions.
Highlights From TheNetwork
There are a lot of great ideas and resources being shared on TheNetwork lately. Check out these great discussions about a generic activity release form, a sales-focused speaker and Canadian border control. Your FICP member or hospitality partner status may restrict which conversations are accessible to you. Log in to see. And remember, session materials from all FICP events are available in the Resource Center. Check out some of the presentations from the recent 2018 FICP Winter Symposium. If this is your first time on TheNetwork, say hello by telling us a little about yourself on the Introduce Yourself thread.
In Memory of John J. "Jack" Sullivan
FICP would like to extend its deepest condolences to the family of honorary FICP member John J, Sullivan, who passed away on January 14, 2018 at 88 years of age. We appreciate his many years of involvement with the FICP organization and wish his family peace in this difficult time.
FICP Welcomes New & Returning Members and Hospitality Partners
Meetings Professionals:
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Amanda Sherman, Frankenmuth Insurance
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Michael Kurian, Nationwide Insurance
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Casey Foskett, Eaton Vance Management
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Brittany Williams, Liberty Mutual
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Linda Kath, Society Insurance
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Emily McMahon, Nationwide Insurance
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Marta Padeira, The Boston Consulting Group
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Daniel Giammichele, The Boston Consulting Group
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Iris Ng, Manulife Canada
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Alexis Madden, Nationwide Insurance
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Maddie DiLullo, The Boston Consulting Group
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Samantha Belanger, Natixis Investment Managers
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Angela Wolf, Securian Financial Group
Hospitality Partners:
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Marissa Duffy, sbe Lifestyle Hospitality
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Timothy Covell, Capital City Events, Inc.
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Annemaria Heidbuechel, Maritim Hotels
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Dallas Chatham, Southwest Conference Planners, a DMC Network Company
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Yolanda Gonzalez, NXTevent
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Susan Mahoney, ACE INA/ACE Conference Center
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Elaine Sandoval, Pacific Hospitality Group
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Rebecca Dixon, Custom Ireland
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Rajeev Kohli, Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
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Valerie Haskell, Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
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Jorge Meraz Ibarra, Grand Velas Riviera Maya
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Rachel Heenan, Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel
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LeAnne Gonzalez, the Nines, A Luxury Collection Hotel
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Marco Guerra, Tropicana Las Vegas - A DoubleTree by Hilton
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Ellen Thomas, Visit Sarasota County
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Marie McKown, Tourism Ireland