Meeting Professionals International (MPI) presents three days of education featuring over 50 new professional development sessions among the more than 100 offered at the 2006 World Education Congress (WEC) in Dallas, 9-11 July.

The World Education Congress will also mark the official launch of the CultureActive Tool as a new component of MPI Member Solutions, A Suite of Products. Member Solutions is MPI’s unprecedented initiative launched in January 2006 to define meeting planning as a recognized profession.

Known for providing critical professional development that keeps up with rapidly emerging meeting trends, the professional development department at MPI is introducing new sessions based around the 13 skill families developed by MPI Member Solutions.

MPI members and non-members have taken the MPI Professional Pathways skills assessment and can use the reports generated by the assessment to choose courses that are in alignment with the areas that have been indicated as needing more education or training.

Many of the courses offered are at an advanced level as determined by the needs of the membership and are more focused on the strategic aspect of conducting business as opposed to the more personal skill-related sessions offered at the Professional Education Conferences in North America and Europe.

This year’s Congress will feature two new strategic tracks: A Strategic Thinking Track and The Strategic Meetings Management Track. The Strategic Thinking Track is a day-long track for intermediate/advanced planners and suppliers, demonstrating a new way to think and how it can improve attendees’ business.

The Strategic Meetings Management Tracks is a two-day track based on the 2005 Global Corporate Circle of Excellence White Paper, Strategic Meetings Management, which identifies eight basic steps to develop a strategic meetings management program.

Back by popular demand is The Entrepreneurial Business Skills Track, from the 2005 WEC in Miami, sponsored by American Express. This track deals with issues facing independent planners and independently owned supplier companies. Topics include financial planning, budgeting and opening your own line of credit; HR issues and strategic alliances.

In addition, the World Education Congress will introduce a new component within MPI Member Solutions, the MPI Multicultural Initiative’s CultureActive Tool - a Web based, integrated component that will enable MPI members and their organizations to foresee and understand how others communicate and interact based on their cultural influences.

Supported by the MPI Foundation Europe, MPI Foundation Canada, and the MPI Foundation, and made possible through the sponsorship of IMEX and MCI, the Richard Lewis Communication’s CultureActive Tool provides instant feedback on the characteristics and traits of over 60 national cultures with recommendations for personal and business interactions to develop successful relationships and minimize cultural collisions.

A special education session, “Passport to Success: Valuing Cultures to Maximize Competitive Edge” will guide attendees step by step on how to use this new offering.

Other highlights for the 2006 World Education Congress include:

MeetingPlace 2006, the industry’s most comprehensive trade show, will host nearly 600 exhibitors from all aspects of the global meetings industry. This year’s show features extended hours for the show floor.

The Global Paragon Awards, sponsored by Omni Hotels, which recognize best-of-the-best meetings and events, and the Meeting Professional Awards, sponsored by Hilton, featuring the International Planner and Supplier of the Year, will be announced at the Opening General Session.

ROI Competency-Building Workshop, 7-9 July. Dr. Jack Phillips leads this pre-Congress workshop emphasizing the ROI Methodology™ how to apply the model and calculate ROI. Sponsored by Fusion Productions, the MPI Foundation, Gaylord Hotels and the MPI Northern California Chapter.

MPI will initiate “Green” practices by recycling in partnership with the Dallas Convention Center. This includes donations of food, signs/ materials, and more to the local community.

30 North American students will attend the North American Future Leaders Forum, formed through a partnership between MPI and IMEX, a spin-off of the highly successful Future Leaders Forum held at IMEX.

Opening Night Networking Reception, 9 July at Gilley’s Dallas. Immediately following is Rendezvous Dallas, benefiting the MPI Foundation, at downtown Dallas club BLUE, featuring networking, jazz bar, food and dancing. The Closing Night Gala is 11 July at The Hilton Anatole, featuring entertainment by musical group, Hootie & the Blowfish.

NEW! MPI Foundation Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament sponsored by Mohegan Sun, 10 July at Eddie Deen’s Ranch at Downtown Dallas.This exclusive event invites attendees to participate in or watch a popular“Texas Hold ‘Em” poker game or they can attend Casino 101, offering Blackjack and Roulette instructions.

The MPI Foundation World Education Congress Golf Tournament will be held 12 July, hosted and sponsored by TPC Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, home to the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, a PGA TOUR event.