Destination Reputation and Strategy: Navigating Societal Issues in Event Location Decisions

Areas of Interest:  Strategic Thinking and Impact
CMP-IS Domain I: Site Management

Speaker: Andreas Weissenborn, Vice President of Research and Advocaacy, Destinations International

Selecting the right destination for a meeting or event has become increasingly complex. In addition to balancing stakeholder preferences and financial constraints, meeting professionals and destination organizations must also consider how societal issues, and public perceptions influence a destination’s reputation and the decision to host an event there.

Destinations International will present findings from its latest research, Destination Reputation: Responding to Societal Issues, which examines how these factors affect the decision-making process of meetings professionals and how destination organizations evaluate and address potential reputational impacts. The session will also interact with the audience on ways the business events community can work together more effectively to address these challenges, from anticipating stakeholder concerns to developing proactive strategies that protect brand integrity and ensure event success..

FICP Chat LIVE! Meetings Professional and Hospitality Partner Collaboration in the Digital Age

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain G: Stakeholder Management

Facilitators: 

• Lindsay Maloni, Global Sales Director, PRA
• Additional facilitator coming soon

Join your peers in this interactive roundtable to build on the momentum of Platon’s keynote and turn your takeaways into actionable strategies.

Whether it’s negotiating the best deals, enhancing the attendee experience, or simply improving how MPs and HPs connect and communicate, this session is designed to spark real conversations and practical solutions. At the end of the session, each group will share their ideas that help strengthen relationships and drive meaningful change.

Planning With Intention: Behavioral Event Design That Drives Real Results and Capital Gains

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions, Strategic Thinking and Impact
CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Speaker: Victoria Matey, Event Psychology Advisor and Co-founder, Matey Events

In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to design events that align with how people actually think, make decisions and act. Discover why traditional planning often falls short — and how behavioral science bridges the gap between intention and impact.

Attendees will learn to spot motivation killers and blind spots, while leveraging spheres of influence. Walk away with practical strategies to create experiences that resonate deeply and drive better business outcomes through a consistent, behaviorally informed approach.

Step Aside, Imposter Syndrome: Change Your Filters, Build Your Confidence, Take Action

Areas of Interest: Rising Professionals, Professional Growth and Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain F: Talent Management

Speaker: Joyce Layman, Visibility Strategist and Coach

We all have incredible potential — but the difference between stuck and sustainable progress often comes down to how we think, especially under pressure. With constant change and growing demands, motivation alone isn’t enough. Tailored towards rising professionals, this program goes deeper — into the thoughts, patterns and internal filters that quietly shape your performance, confidence and clarity.

Walk away with science-backed tools to reduce self-doubt, regain focus and take action that aligns with your actual goals.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How You Can Revolutionize Business Events Through AI

Areas of Interest: Technology Solutions
CMP-IS Domain K: Technology Integration

Speaker: Chantal Sturk Nadeau, CDME, Vice President, Innovation and Insights, PCMA

Artificial intelligence is transforming the event industry — and it’s your opportunity to save time and position yourself as a strategic asset. This forward-thinking session explores how AI streamlines planning, enhances attendee experiences and boosts operational efficiency.

Through real-world examples, you’ll discover how to use AI tools to simplify workflows, generate content and make smarter, data-driven decisions that elevate your events. 

This session will be repeated on Tuesday, November 4 from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Communication Best Practices: Delivering Information to Engage Stakeholders and Inform Decisions

Areas of Interest: Professional Growth and Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

Effective communication can mean the difference between stakeholder buy-in and stalled decisions.

This session will equip event professionals with proven strategies to deliver the right information, in the right format, at the right time — ensuring your message lands with clarity and impact. Leveraging storytelling techniques, you will learn how to distill complex event data into compelling narratives, anticipate and address decision-maker priorities and adapt your delivery style to suit diverse audiences.

FICP Chat LIVE! Disrupting Legacy Conferences 

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Facilitators: 

• Jerilyn Johnson, Sr. Meeting & Conference Planner, Sammons Financial Group
• Additional facilitator coming soon

Join your peers in this interactive roundtable to reimagine legacy meetings.

As the event landscape and attendee expectations evolve, so must our most established formats. Participants will discuss how to infuse bold innovation and “unreasonable hospitality” while preserving the core purpose and goals of long-standing meetings. Together, you’ll strategize on engaging stakeholders in change conversations, identifying the “sacred cows” worth protecting and how to reenergize repeat events.

At the end of the session, each group will share their most inspiring ideas to spark the transformation of legacy events.

International Insights: A Collaborative Approach to Planning Global Events

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain I: Site Management

Panelists: 

• Mary Beth Kilbride, Vice President, Executive Services, Marsh McLennan 
• Paul Miller, CIS, CITP, Managing Director, Spectra
• Michael Schillinger, Founder & CEO, IMS Vienna, Budapest, Prague
• Additional panelists coming soon

Whether you're planning your first overseas program or expanding your global footprint, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to plan with confidence.

Join a panel of meeting professionals and hospitality partners as they share real-world stories, best practices, and proven strategies for executing successful programs abroad. Discussion topics may include breaking into new markets, navigating regulatory and visa complexities, managing cross-border logistics, communicating effectively with global attendees and applying cultural intelligence to elevate the attendee experience.

Strategic Leaders Exchange: Performance Reviews, Succession Planning, and Resource Management

Areas of Interest: Strategic Leaders
CMP-IS Domain F: Talent Management

Are you a meetings professional or hospitality partner with 10+ years of management experience? Join this exchange to connect with other strategic leaders who oversee teams and events.

Choose the table conversation most relevant to you — performance reviews, succession planning strategies or resource management challenges. Rotate tables if you wish or dive deep into one topic. Either way you will leave with fresh insights, practical takeaways, and a stronger network of senior professionals in the FICP community.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How You Can Revolutionize Business Events Through AI

Areas of Interest: Technology Solutions
CMP-IS Domain K: Technology Integration

Speaker: Chantal Sturk Nadeau, CDME, Vice President, Innovation and Insights, PCMA

Artificial intelligence is transforming the event industry — and it’s your opportunity to save time and position yourself as a strategic asset. This forward-thinking session explores how AI streamlines planning, enhances attendee experiences and boosts operational efficiency.

Through real-world examples, you’ll discover how to use AI tools to simplify workflows, generate content and make smarter, data-driven decisions that elevate your events. 

This session is a repeat from Monday, November 3 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Cultivating Psychological Safety and Managing Stress When the Client Is Always Right

Areas of Interest: Professional Growth and Personal Development
CMP-IS Domain F: Talent Management

Speaker: Denise A. Robinson, JD, Founding Principal, The Still Center LLC

This interactive session addresses two essentials for sustaining a successful career in a field that is ever-increasing in scope, intensity and emotional labor: psychological safety and stress management.

We’ll explore what it means to create a psychologically safe environment — for yourself and for those you lead — and how it helps to manage stress in environments where the stakes are high, the hours are long and the client is always right.

You'll learn how stress shows up in performance, and how to build a toolkit to stay grounded and deliver excellence amid tight timelines and shifting demands.

Enhancing Safety and Reducing Risk for Attendees and Executives at Events

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions, Strategic Thinking and Impact
CMP-IS Domain D: Risk Management

Panelists: 

• Ken Jarka, General Manager, Washington Hilton,
• Meg Lorio, CPP, Risk Manager, Event Risk Management, Employee Protection, Enterprise Security & Business Continuity, Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Additional panelists coming soon

In today’s environment, ensuring the safety of attendees and executives is more critical and complex than ever. 

Join this experienced panel as they exchange practical strategies to reduce risk before, during and after your events — from spotting red flags during planning to deescalating challenges while onsite.

Through real-life stories from high-profile events and security details, you will learn simple, high-impact actions you can take to protect your people, support executive security needs and make proactive decisions in response to evolving global and local risks.

FICP Chat LIVE! The Rise of Event Technologists, Project Managers and Event Producers

Areas of Interest: Technology Solutions
CMP-IS Domain B: Project Management

Join your peers in this interactive roundtable to explore how the rise of event technologists, project managers and event producers is shaping planning processes and driving better event outcomes.

Discuss how these roles can enhance your team’s capabilities, streamline workflows and identify common pitfalls to avoid. Even if your organization hasn’t yet adopted these positions, you’ll gain real-world examples, integration best practices and essential skills for success.

The session will conclude with groups sharing takeaways and strategies to maximize or advocate for these roles within your organization.

Innovation in Action: FICP Stories of Unreasonable Hospitality

Areas of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Panelists:

• Romy Linde, General Manager, Hello! Destination Management
• Additional panelists coming soon

Inspired by Will Guidara’s keynote but not sure where to start? Join this panel of creative FICP planners and partners as they share real-world examples of bringing Will’s lessons to life — from the earliest planning stages to execution.

Discover how their intentional approach to human connection turned ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences, leaving a lasting impression on attendees and ultimately elevating event outcomes.

You’ll walk away with fresh ideas and practical inspiration to create experiences your stakeholders will remember forever.

The Economics of the Financial Services and Insurance Industry 

Areas of Interest: Financial and Insurance Industry Knowledge
CMP-IS Domain G: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Dr. Claus te Wildt, Capital Market Strategist

Examine how the current state of the U.S. economy influences the financials services and insurance sectors.

In this session, we will evaluate the major threats and opportunities that keep stakeholders awake at night, and gain insights into how economic conditions, advancements in technology and administrative policies impact their decision-making.

Lastly, as more meetings are being planned abroad, foreign currency movements become a major part of cost uncertainty. Dr. te Wildt will share his outlook and offer strategies for mitigating this financial risk.