Pandemic Meeting & Event Design Online Certificate Course to Begin Next Month
August 12, 2020
As meeting and event professionals continue to grapple with the impact the pandemic has had on the industry, the Event Leadership Institute has developed a new online certificate course in partnership with MPI to provide planners with strategies, tactics and resources to move forward with modified in-person events and meetings.
The first six-week Pandemic Meeting & Event Design Certificate course begins Sept. 1 and is eligible for 20 CMP hours. Curriculum is jointly designed by ELI’s and MPI’s education experts, experienced event and meeting practitioners and industry-leading instructors.
Each week, participants will be able to complete self-paced coursework; join live class meetings to discuss real-time updates; and have access to a peer-based community forum, supplemental handouts and course updates as new information becomes available for one year.
Understanding the tremendous amount of pressure planners are facing to adapt to the continually changing pandemic situation, a special live pre-course introduction class on Aug. 25 will provide a forum to start discussing how to move forward with modified in-person events.
“According to exclusive research ELI and MPI conducted earlier this summer, a whopping 96 percent of in-person event attendees expect organizers and planners to have a clear health policy statement and precautions in place when in-person events resume,” said Michael Granek, ELI president and COO. “We’ve created this course to help planners elevate their strategies to meet the needs of a post-pandemic environment and develop a sustainable model for the future.”
The new course is a companion to the Virtual Event and Meeting Management certificate course ELI and MPI launched earlier this year, which already has more than 1,200 alumni.
“We’re proud to launch this course with ELI as it directly addresses questions and concerns we hear each day from our members,” said Jessie States, director of MPI Academy at MPI. “We understand the urgency planners face to understand areas impacted most by the pandemic, including risk management and reduction, new venue protocols, contracts and safer event design.”
Get more information about the course or register here.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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