Meeting Professionals International

What Meeting Professionals International does

Meeting Professionals International (MPI), founded in 1972 and headquartered in Addison, Texas, is a private nonprofit professional association serving the global meeting and event industry. The organization operates as the largest association of its kind, claiming a global community of 130,000+ professionals with approximately 12,500-13,000 engaged members organized across 69 chapters and clubs, primarily in the United States and Canada. MPI's core offering is a multi-product association platform centered on MPI Academy (education and certificate programs including the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate, Inclusive Event Strategist, and AI for Event Sales), academic partnerships (notably a Master's Degree in Meeting & Event Management with San Diego State University), flagship events (World Education Congress / WEC and theEVENT in Canada), and the MPI Exchange hosted buyer program connecting planners and suppliers. The organization publishes The Meeting Professional magazine bi-monthly and operates the MPI Foundation, which has distributed over $14.6 million to the industry since 1984.

MPI's revenue model rests on three streams: recurring membership dues (with preferred and premier tiers that automatically include local chapter enrollment), event registration and conference revenue (WEC, theEVENT, and regional exchanges), and education and certificate program fees (with member discounts). The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, acquiring members through regional chapters, global conferences, hosted buyer programs, and the MPI Academy education platform. Strategic partners include IMEX, Caesars Entertainment, CVENT (also used as the event registration platform), Hilton, and destination marketing organizations including Visit California, Discover Puerto Rico, and Visit Lauderdale.

The company operates with 51-100 employees and is led by Paul VanDeventer as CEO and President, with Kevin Kirby serving as Executive Director. In June 2026, Antionio Ducceschi was named Chair of the MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees at the WEC San Antonio event, where the Foundation distributed $140,000 in scholarships and raised $190,000. No specific revenue figures, patents, or AI/ML proprietary technology platforms were disclosed in available sources; the organization's technology footprint appears limited to event registration via CVENT and a member portal.

Name

Meeting Professionals International

Legal name

Meeting Professionals International

Website

https://mpiweb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meeting Professionals International is a nonprofit professional association serving meeting and event planners and suppliers globally, operating through 69 chapters with 12,500+ engaged members and offering education (MPI Academy), networking (MPI Exchange), and flagship events (WEC, theEVENT).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for the Meeting and Event Industry

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Event industry education
• Meeting professional networking
• Industry certification programs
• Membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MPI generates revenue through membership dues. Preferred and premier members automatically become members of their local MPI chapter.
2. Event Registration and Conferences: Revenue from hosting global events including the World Education Congress (WEC), regional events, and theExchange hosted buyer programs.
3. Education and Certificate Programs: MPI Academy provides education programs with some courses free or discounted for members, generating revenue through program fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) operates a global membership-based professional association serving the meeting and event industry. Its core offering centers on MPI membership, which grants access to a 130k+ community across 69 chapters, supplemented by the MPI Academy education platform (certificate programs and an SDSU Master's partnership), flagship events such as the World Education Congress (WEC) and theEVENT, the MPI Exchange hosted-buyer networking program, and The Meeting Professional magazine. The MPI Foundation, its charitable arm, distributes scholarships back into the industry.

Product overview

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) operates a unified association platform serving the global meeting and event industry, combining professional development, networking programs, and industry events. The core offering centers on MPI Academy, which delivers certificate programs (AI for Event Sales, Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate, Inclusive Event Strategist) and academic partnerships (SDSU Master's Degree), all qualifying for Event Industry Council clock hours. MPI connects event professionals through MPI Exchange (planner-supplier networking) and flagship events including the World Education Congress (WEC) and theEVENT (Canadian market). The organization supports members with The Meeting Professional Magazine publication and funds industry development through the MPI Foundation. Membership provides access to a 130k+ global community across 69 chapters with $13b in member buying power.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPI Academy: Event education platform offering certificate programs including Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC), Inclusive Event Strategist, AI for Event Sales, and partnerships with SDSU for a Master's Degree in Meeting & Event Management.
• theEVENT
• MPI Exchange
• MPI Foundation

Products and services

• MPI Membership Program Membership tier offering access to a 130k+ global community, 69 chapters & clubs, $13 billion in member buying power, and benefits such as automatic local chapter membership for Preferred and Premier members. Designed for meeting and event professionals seeking career advancement, networking, education, and supplier connections.
• MPI Academy MPI's education platform providing certificate programs, global conferences, and always-actionable education for event professionals. Education is free or discounted for MPI members and qualifies for Event Industry Council clock hours.
• AI for Event Sales Certificate Certificate program under MPI Academy that equips event professionals with AI tools to integrate into every stage of the sales cycle, positioned as a sales accelerator.
• Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) Certificate program providing event professionals with the knowledge to successfully navigate the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device regulatory environment.
• Inclusive Event Strategist Certificate Certificate program enabling event professionals to embrace inclusion and enhance innovation by harnessing the power of inclusive research for growth in the events industry.
• SDSU Master's Degree in Meeting & Event Management Graduate-level academic program delivered in partnership with San Diego State University, described as the first graduate-level program in the U.S. designed to elevate meeting professionals to business event strategists.
• MPI Exchange Networking program connecting event planners and suppliers through live, face-to-face events including hosted-buyer programs at global shows and specialized regional events.
• theEVENT MPI's premier event for the Canadian meeting and event industry, held in Vancouver, BC, where attendees discover new skillsets, partnerships, and next-level event capabilities.
• The Meeting Professional Magazine MPI's bimonthly magazine covering industry trends including AI adoption in the meetings and events industry, as tracked through MPI's Meetings Outlook survey.
• MPI Foundation MPI's charitable foundation that has distributed over $14.6 million to the meeting and event industry since 1984, including scholarships and fundraising at industry events.

Quantifiable outcome

• $13 billion in member buying power
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMEXcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partnership and sponsorship relationship. IMEX is a major trade show organizer for the meetings and events industry.
• Caesars EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership with major hospitality and casino entertainment company for event venue and sponsorship services.
• CVENTcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership with event management software platform for registration and event technology.
• Visit CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDestination marketing partnership promoting California as an event destination.
• Discover Puerto RicominorGTM or Marketing PartnerDestination marketing partnership promoting Puerto Rico as an event destination.
• HiltoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with major hotel chain for accommodation and event venue services.
• Visit LauderdaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDestination marketing partnership promoting Fort Lauderdale as an event destination.
• San Diego State University (SDSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership offering the first graduate-level program in the U.S. designed to elevate meeting professionals to business event strategists - Master's Degree in Meeting & Event Management.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): PCMA is the leading direct competitor — a professional association serving convention, meeting, and event planners globally with education, certification (CMP), and a flagship Convening Leaders conference. It competes head-on with MPI for the same planner and supplier audiences and overlapping educational and networking programs.
• IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): IAEE is a membership-based association representing the exhibitions and events industry, offering education ( CEM certification), networking, and advocacy. It targets an adjacent but overlapping segment of event professionals and competes with MPI for supplier-side members and educational mindshare.
• Events Industry Council (EIC): EIC is an umbrella organization that MPI itself participates in (its education qualifies for EIC clock hours). EIC sets industry standards, manages the CMP designation, and convenes event professionals — overlapping with MPI's education and credentialing positioning.
• ILEA (International Live Events Association): ILEA is a global association for live event creatives, designers, and producers — competing for the same live-events professional community through education, awards, and networking. It overlaps significantly with MPI's target segment but skews more creative/production-focused.
• SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives): SITE is an international association focused on the incentive travel and meetings industry, providing education, certification (CITE), and networking for incentive travel professionals. It competes with MPI for the supplier and buyer members serving the broader MICE market.
• ADMEI (Association of Destination Management Executives International): ADMEI is a membership association for destination management company (DMC) professionals — a specialized but adjacent segment of the meetings ecosystem. It competes with MPI for supplier-side members and offers overlapping educational and networking programs.

Broad incumbents

• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): ASAE is the broad-incumbent association for the entire association management profession, encompassing meetings as one category among many. While not a direct competitor for event planners, its education, research, and advocacy programs address the same population's professional development needs at the meta level.

Emerging players

• SmartMeetings: SmartMeetings is a media and events company serving meeting planners with content, awards, and conferences such as Smart Woman Summit. It overlaps with MPI's audience and competes for the same advertising/sponsorship dollars from event suppliers.
• IMEX Group: IMEX is a major trade show organizer for the meetings and events industry (IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America) and a strategic partner of MPI. While primarily an event producer rather than membership association, it competes for sponsorship revenue, hosted buyer programs, and planner attention with MPI Exchange and WEC.
• Connect (Meetings Media): Connect produces hosted buyer events, industry publications, and awards targeting corporate meeting planners and suppliers. It overlaps with MPI's Exchange hosted buyer programs and competes for the same planner-supplier relationship-building services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mpi
• Facebookfacebook.com/mpifans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/165050

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meeting Professionals International