The Sacramento/Sierra Nevada Chapter of MPI held its annual trade show April 12 at the new Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento. The exhibition followed an education luncheon sponsored by the Marin County Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was one of hundreds of events held around the world in observation of Global Meetings Industry Day.
On Jan. 30, Meetings Professionals International Southern California Chapter held its 2018 “State of the Industry” luncheon at the Pasadena Convention Center. Amanda Armstrong, CMP, incoming chair of the MPI International Board of Directors, was the keynote speaker. In her address, she encouraged MPI members to volunteer. “Find something you’re passionate about and raise your hand. Volunteering is a great way to try out new skills. Don’t be afraid to be a rookie.”
The Hyatt Regency Brand celebrated its Golden Anniversary at the newly opened Hyatt Regency LAX.
There have been festivities galore in Los Angeles. At the 2nd Annual “Go All-in” Chrysalis Poker Night, held at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, nearly $100,000 was raised for the nonprofit that’s dedicated to helping the homeless and low-income men and women find steady employment. The theme of the evening was “The 1960s Golden Age of Travel.”
“Let’s give them something to talk about” was the theme when the Southern California Chapter of Meetings Professionals International (MPISCC) gathered at The Beverly Hilton on June 7 of their 2017 Board Installation & Awards Gala. The evening lived up to that message with entertainment by The Amani Experience and Hey Miser DJ, opera singer Kala Maxym, the band STADIUM, and a surprise performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. The threecourse dinner was complemented by pairings from Carmel’s award-winning Folktale Winery & Vineyards.
Los Angeles experienced only partial darkness during the Great American Solar Eclipse. Still, the city celebrated with its usual festive community spirit. There were free viewing parties at the Griffith Observatory and the Glendale Community College Planetarium, at the physics and astronomy centers of UCLA, Cal State Long Beach and the University of California at Riverside. National Park Services Rangers led hikes at the LA State Historic Park in Downtown LA and at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. The Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society set up telescopes at Swim Beach.
IACC, the long-standing association that includes 375 small-to-midsized meeting venues worldwide, held its annual conference at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center on April 4-6. Highlights included the Global Copper Skillet, a Culinary Mystery Food & Beverage Tour, and an MPI Meeting Planner Workshop.
It’s not easy to get the press to brave the traffic of midday Hollywood and show up for the launch of a bottled tomato sauce. But when Rao's Homemade introduced their latest flavor—Tomato Herb—they had a full house of food writers and bloggers. And everyone left happy.
The Sacramento/Sierra Nevada Chapter of Meeting Professionals International took “Parrothead” as the theme of its annual crab-feed fundraiser held Feb. 1 at the Dante Club in Sacramento. Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, provided musical entertainment, and many guests dressed in appropriately tropical garb.
May has been FOOD BOWL month in Los Angeles, a 31-day festival of curated events produced by the Los Angeles Times to celebrate the city’s dynamic and diverse culinary scene and bring awareness to food waste and hunger through programs with chefs and food-justice activists. The charity partners include No Kid Hungry, PATH & Food Forward.
