CIC Hosts the First Professional Development Pavilion at IMEX

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. October 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC, June 26, 2006. The Convention Industry Council (CIC) promoted professional development and the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program with great success at the 2006 IMEX Tradeshow for the Meeting and Incentive Industry, held in Messe Frankfurt, Germany. The CIC hosted the first Professional Development Pavilion at IMEX, providing attendees and exhibitors with the opportunity to meet with key industry educators, organizations and consultants that focus on professional development.

A key building block in professional development for the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry is the CMP designation. Following an extensive audit of the CMP program, CIC looks to expand possibilities of global professional development. To benefit international CMP candidates, the CMP Program outline was available at the CIC Pavilion in five languages: Spanish, French, Italian, German and English. Additionally, two education sessions were conducted by International CMPs to help expand the understanding of the program. One of the sessions featured a hands-on program walking individuals through the application process, as well as helping participants consider a variety of study options.

"The interest of the CMP exam during IMEX was incredible. Meeting professionals outside the U.S. and Canada have started to understand how this designation can advance their career and that having the CMP will set them apart from their competition," said Beate Ewing, International Representative to the CMP Board. "We will see more and more CMPs on business cards around the world very soon."

The CIC also partnered with IMEX to create additional opportunities for international candidates to become certified as a Certified Meeting Professional. Registered CMP candidates sat for the examination at the IMEX site, as well as the South Africa site on June 5, 2006. The CIC has made great strides towards making the CMP Program and Exam "country-neutral". This will give meeting professionals with sufficient experience, located anywhere in the world, the ability to study for and pass the exam. Additionally, International Exam Sites have been added to each exam period. The next CMP Exam will take place in Toronto, Mexico City , Mexico and Milan, Italy, in addition to 20 cities in North America on July 9, 2006.

The CMP designation offers a competitive advantage when soliciting business world-wide as either a supplier or independent planner, proving professional market knowledge. Currently, the CMP Designation is held by over 11,000 individuals in more than 29 countries.

The Convention Industry Council's 32 member organizations represent more than 103,500 individuals as well as over 17,300 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the professionalism of industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information and develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program, other CIC programs include the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative, the Hall of Leaders, Project Attrition, the Prestigious CIC Cup, and the CIC Economic Impact Study. For more information visit the Convention Industry Council's website at www.conventionindustry.org.