Industry Associated Event - MEET

Attending the MEET Conference, Meetings Events Education and Technology, this semester really allowed me to get a better sense of what it is like to be a professional in the events industry. Hosted by HSMAI, Hospitality, Sales & Marketing Association International, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park, the event included an exhibition hall, a variety of workshops, and a networking lunch. My two biggest takeaways from the event came from one of the workshops I attended called “The Branding of You” and the networking lunch. “The Branding of You” discussed the importance of selling ourselves using the four main elements of our brand image: personal appearance, personality/likeability, competencies, and differentiation. The presenter led an audience participation activity where four people introduced themselves to each other, asking their name, where they worked, and what their position was. After a few minutes of networking, he asked each participant to repeat each of the facts he just learned about the other participants. It turns out that most of the information was already forgotten. This activity definitely emphasized the importance of listening to the people you meet and making a lasting first impression on those individuals yourself. It is a good idea to try and remember at least one thing that stands out about each new person you network with.  Taking this new knowledge with me, I attended the networking lunch and sat with a group of people I had never met before. At my table were a sales manager from an events space in Florida, a government meeting planner, and a freelance marketing agent. These professionals were all at least several years older than I am and gave me career advice, especially in what the benefits are to earning a CMP. Overall, I think attending this event enabled me to visualize what it would be like to have a career in the events industry and I am thankful for the experience.

To learn more about the conference and HSMAI follow this link: http://www.meetconference.com/