Women's Meeting Group Launched The Women's Meeting Industry Leaders Council was recently launched by Christine Duffy, president of Philadelphia-based McGettigan Partners, one of the largest meeting management companies in the business. Duffy established the Council with some of her high-powered colleagues - including Charlotte St. Martin, executive vice president of Loews Hotels, and Dawn Penfold, president of executive search firm Meetings Candidate Network - during the MPI World Education Congress in Los Angeles this summer. The Council of association and corporate meeting planners along with representatives from hotels, CVBs, airlines, and other suppliers, will address education, recruitment, networking, promotion, and research.

"If you look at our industry," Duffy says, "there is no research on women, nothing to tell us what is the best segment for women, nothing on what are the best companies for women. And we want to recognize those companies that are walking their talk."