Perhaps the biggest news from MPI's Professional Education Conference in Las Vegas in July, attended by almost 3,000 people, was the release of preliminary findings from MPI's Women's Leadership Initiatives Program survey of 2,000 industry women. Respondents noted that the ability to adapt to new situations, determination, and perseverance are the three most important qualities women need to succeed as meeting professionals. Among the top-ranked strategies for advancing their careers were exceeding job performance, developing a working style suitable to superiors, and working on highly visible assignments. More comprehensive findings will be released in the fall, and Phase 2 of the program will kick off in January.

Another type of community — this one virtual — was announced as well. MPI's Web site (www.mpiweb.org) now has seven “Communities of Interest” for members interested in discussing specific subjects — among them technology, outsourcing, and doing business globally. Each will include chatrooms, discussion boards, and scheduled online discussions hosted by industry experts.

MPI also announced a new partnership with the National Multicultural Tourism Council. The organization hopes not only to introduce new members to the profession but to remove any barriers to advancement. The program will include research, then education targeted to the needs of minority members.

Online Communities at www.mpiweb.org

• Annual Conventions
• Trade Shows
• Medical Meetings
• Outsourcing
• Doing Business Globally
• Meetings Technology
• Corporate Meetings
• Certification and Careers
• Association Meetings
• Destinations and Facility Marketing