The International Special Events Society (ISES) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) have confirmed ISES past president Zanine Adams and MPI past president Anthony Hyde as co-chairs of the new executive committee representing the two industry associations.

The committee, made up of the presidential teams of both associations, was created to explore membership benefits across both associations and to acknowledge the industry’s frustration with an already oversubscribed trade association presence.

The committee's first meeting this month agreed that both associations will jointly promote activities to each other’s membership base, with preferential rates across both memberships to encourage cross-event attendance.

Future event planning will be co-ordinated to avoid date conflicts as well as ensuring complementary and diverse education, with ISES focusing on the creative events industry and MPI representing meeting professionalism and educational forums.

Both associations will join together again in the industry Christmas event ‘Mistletoe’, encouraging further industry associations to participate.

Richard Foulkes, ISES president, said: “There are already a number of trade associations that support the meetings and events industry which is not only confusing but can also be expensive for potential members. This joint initiative will bring together two international, established and specific trade associations that can learn from each other; demonstrate economies of scale and importantly work harder for their membership.”

Fiona Pelham, current MPI President, added: “We have acknowledged an opportunity to demonstrate a higher value membership by exploring a collaborative working relationship with ISES. We are two very complementary UK associations, both with international networks that respect each other’s niche.”

www.isesuk.org

www.mpiuk.org