Global Events Visionary: Ms. Elissa Myers, CAE, IOM

There are 24 hours in a day but I believe Ms. Elissa Myers may have figured out the formula in creating an additional hour! Energetic, passionate, and committed are some character traits that qualifies Elissa as our first Global Events Visionary! We’ve known Elissa for more than 20 years and she has remained consistent, innovative, and a result-driven meeting professional. As the CEO of Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), a world-wide professional society of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and academic researchers concerned with serious mental disorders that are categorized as “eating disorders,” Elissa understands the importance of inclusion, diverse opinions, and continuous research.

She took some time out of her rather hectic schedule to speak to us regarding her work at Academy for Eating Disorders…

JN: What legacies are your association creating?

EM: Since our founding 25 years ago, we recognized while there are cultural differences in the way these serious illnesses are recognized and treated around the world, there are huge disparities in access to qualified care. This led to an expansion with 35% of our membership making up 41 countries including our outstanding AED Hispanic and Latin American Chapter, and the installment of the AED European Chapter in Rome last month.

Under my tenure as CEO, I observed there was low engagement with some of our members who are not English speakers. We began a systematic translation of some of our key publications international conferences and other education products. This initiative led to an increase in our membership! For instance, at our conference in Prague last year, we had delegates from Moscow, China, Japan, Chile, Medico, Venezuela to name just a few. The inclusion led to a higher engagement and member involvement in the conference.

Lastly, we are currently “mapping” the health care systems, country by country, and mapping treatment capacities, regulations, and funding (or lack thereof) around the world.

 

JN: What are the benefits of being part of your Academy?

EM: Building alliances, knowledge exchange, and providing support are some of the benefits of being part of AED. The single most frequently used member benefit are our more than 50 “online communities” or online platforms representing committees’ special interest groups, and special subjects of interest to members. There also, members can pose questions and get insights virtually in real time from colleagues.  Members of U.S. associations have so much to share with communities around the world but we have so much to learn from the innovations, research, and discoveries emerging in other countries.

 

JN: What are some of the lessons you’ve learned from going international?

EM: My life’s slogan has been “world peace through association” and I have dedicated my career to helping associations achieve their missions by reaching outside of their geographic borders. Reflecting on my international experiences, I’ve had the opportunities to build and support associations in Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Palestine, the Republic of Georgia, the Philippines, and many other countries.

There is no better community of partners to associations seeking to build alliances around the world than the international hospitality community. Who knows better than a Visitors Bureau who have a first-hand knowledge of how their city/country is organized, who the leading institutions are in any particular field, and the nuances of culture and customs. As you venture out to meet new colleagues, go not so much to teach as to learn- learn what they are doing, thinking, experiencing. Talk less, listen more! Never has the planet been in greater need of unification through professional and business exchange.

Global Events Visionary

Global Events Visionary

Over the many years we have been in business, we have met and worked closely with North American planners of international events. We have come to appreciate their professionalism and expertise. Planning an international event is not for the faint of heart.

According to MeetingsNet, there are a 6 traits that describe a professional meeting planner. The ability to create an attainable vision, listen and understand the client’s goals, and ability to remain calm and collected in high pressure situations are a huge plus! In addition to this list, there are 5 specific qualities that overlap with these traits and are attributed to visionary leaders. They include:

– Good Communicator
– Charismatic Leader
– Chief Organizer
– Risk-taker
– Strategic Planner

Many of the planners we have worked with epitomize these qualities.

With this in mind, we created and launched the “Global Events Visionary” initiative to recognize exceptional meeting planners. A Global Events Visionary creates measurable change, lasting legacies, and leaves an overall positive impact. He/She is a passionate leader who is always prepared for the unexpected and who has cooperated with us very closely.

Every month, we will recognize a meeting planner that has continuously inspired others through his/her amazing work and developing value for his/her respective clients/associations.

100 Years Later, Vienna Artist Egon Schiele Causes A Stir

SCHIELE NUDES CENSORED IN NEW YORK

To celebrate the art and design contributions of Viennese Modernism, The Vienna Tourist Board invites the public to engage in a timely conversation about the controversial perceptions of artwork of that era. A range of Egon Schiele’s nude portraits will debut across New York this Spring, a season when millions of tourists and locals alike shed their own layers as the city warms. Circa 1900, Schiele was one of the main protagonists living in Vienna, and the creator of expressionist masterpieces that were groundbreaking in his lifetime, and may still provoke and challenge society in 2018, a century after his death.

A 100 years after his death, Schiele’s works is still perceived as provocative. Advertisements were declined both in print, online and on social media platforms, clearly demonstrating that nudity and its lack of acceptance still permeate the print and online worlds. Visitors to and residents of New York city can still enjoy Schiele’s now iconic works, censored, on digital bus shelters, newsstands, and the subway, and uncensored in a hand painted mural on the southwest corner of Lafayette and Spring Streets in SoHo.

 

See full press release here

To view select works of Egon Schiele, click here for gallery.

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Destination MALAYSIA

Some of the first thoughts that come to mind about Malaysia are its multicultural diversity, delectable cuisine and astonishing natural landscapes. With 20% of the world’s animal species found in Malaysia and home to the Taman Negara dated at 130 million years old (compared to Amazon rainforest at 55 million years old), Malaysia is a premier destination for the adventurer in all of us (Source: CNN Travel). Ranked as #3 in Top 25 Meeting Destinations in APAC, Malaysia is equally a major business and international events destination. (Source: CVENT)

With diverse options, Malaysia’s different venues each offer unique opportunities for all types of meetings and events. Located in the capital of the country, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) is conveniently situated in the Business District. Boasting a 6-acre roof garden, the newly completed world class integrated Setia SPICE Convention Centre is the first hybrid solar powered convention center in the world.

During most Malaysia’s festive celebrations, a practice known as open house is embraced. Open house is a warm showing of what is known as Malaysian hospitality. Doors are opened to friends from all walks of life. It does not even matter if you do not know your hosts!

Malaysia welcomes you!

The Weatherman Was Wrong: Go-to tips To Save Your Sales Mission

Being on the road demands you stick to a strict schedule. After numerously crossing items off your checklist, the last thing you would expect to tamper with your plans is the weather.

Perfect example; we were caught in the middle of the latest Northeaster in Virginia with inches of snow and terrible driving conditions. We were quite surprised, considering this was also the first day of spring. The weather caused a major impact on our entire week with appointment cancellations and our return trip to NYC was cancelled not once but twice!

The weather is unpredictable but here are a few helpful reminders to keep in mind:

  • Keep Your Finger On The Pulse: Monitoring the weather forecast and knowing when to reschedule your confirmed bookings is as easy as downloading helpful apps to keep track of any minor updates.
  • Plan C: It is highly encouraged to have a plan B for all major aspects of your week, as you never know what situations may arise. What about a Plan C (Conference Call)? If you can’t reschedule a face-to-face appointment, the next best thing is a video conference or a phone conference call.
  • Get Support From Your Colleagues: Assign one of your colleagues to review your schedule in the office, should you require immediate assistance. It’s about teamwork!

But most importantly…..

  • Stay Optimistic: Maintaining a positive attitude is key to facing disruptions including weather storms. And don’t forget: “Keep Calm and Carry On!”

Come rain or sunshine, you are prepared for whatever that comes your way as long as you are open to tweaking your plans. Sometimes, the weather can even play a small role of its own!

Destination DUBAI

There are many accolades to describe Dubai! Home to 200 nationalities, Dubai is the center of trade, innovation, and technology in the UAE. Ranked as one of the top 20 safest cities, Dubai has taken center stage in fostering knowledge exchange and a landscape of modern architecture. An 8 hour flight from most cities around the world, Dubai’s strategic location makes it the leading Middle East city to do business in (World Bank) and 7th most influential city in the world (Forbes).

Dubai’s welcoming atmosphere, rich tradition, and continuous innovation is spearheaded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Under his leadership, the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center was awarded the Middle East’s Leading Exhibition and Convention Centre in 2017 and a recipient of Middle East’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre. This expansive venue can accommodate up to 20,000 delegates!

Let’s not forget other unique venues…

meydan
Meydan, home to the world’s richest horse race.

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Armani Pavilion, sits at the base of the tallest building in the world – Burj Khalifa

Home to two of the world’s tallest hotels, Dubai has an extensive yet affordable lieu of stunning hotels. The new Gevora Hotel replaces the JW Marriott Marquis with 75-storey property, 528 rooms as well as five restaurants offering international and local cuisines. In short, with over 700 hotel offerings, it is expected to increase to 132,000 rooms by the end of 2019. With a commitment to customer service, design, and a commitment to sustainability, Dubai is able to accommodate any meeting sizes now and into the future.

Looking to the future, Dubai will be hosting for the first time the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2020 at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in coordination with UAE Space Agency. Coincidentally, UAE will be launching the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) in 2020. Dubai’s recognition as the top Middle East destination for association meetings encourages knowledge exchange, groundbreaking research, and continuous innovation.

Post Olympics: South Korea Soars High!

With the recently completed and successfully executed Winter Olympics under its belt, there are increasing opportunities for South Korea as a host destination for international events! The quaint little coastal city of Gangneung, best known for its ski resorts and pine forests, took charge in gearing up for a large bump in international seminars and events after winning the bid in 2011 to host the 2018 Winter Olympics!

To better serve the hundreds of thousands of people expected for the games, Gangneung took great strides to increase presence of local restaurants and hotels to accommodate the influx of international visitors during the Winter Olympics. Several restaurants underwent major upgrades, since the city had offered to cover 70% of renovation costs. It is no surprise that 230 restaurants took advantage of this deal.

Additionally, South Korea built new highways to simplify transportation within the country.  The KTX high-speed train connects Gangneung to Incheon Airport in only two hours, and to downtown Seoul in a little under two.  The latest improvements have already resulted in an increase in the daily amount of visitors taking day trips to Seoul! Lastly, the establishment of the Olympic Plaza to accommodate the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang was another brilliant improvement.

These improvements in South Korea’s overall infrastructure along with its natural beauty should prove to be advantageous for the country’s thriving tourism, economy, and opportunities to be a host country for international conferences and seminars.