MPI and GBTA Revise Proposed CMM Program

Meeting Planners International (MPI) president and CEO Paul Van Deventer issued a letter last week informing the planning community of revisions to the new Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) Program, announced by MPI and its partner Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in December.

Van Deventer explains that the revisions are based on the feedback it got from its members and chapters following the announcement of the new CMM Program.

“After aggregating, analyzing and synthesizing your feedback, we found a number of number of consistent recommendations which, if implemented, would strengthen the CMM Program going forward,” writes Van Deventer.

He explained that MPI reviewed the recommended changes with GBTA, and together they have revised the CMM Program as follows:

Branding

The program will retain the Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) name and may also be referenced by the CMM acronym.

Eligibility

The criteria for participation in the CMM Program have been revised as follows to better align with the Meeting and Business Event Competency Standards (MBECS). Each candidate will be evaluated through a comprehensive application process with documented panel review against the following criteria:

• Minimum of seven to 10 years of professional experience in the meeting and event of business travel industry
• Minimum of three to five years of management experience with two years of profit  and loss responsibility
• Personal statement and letter of recommendation from professional colleague or supervisor

Assessment

Each future CMM Program participant will be required to develop a business case in which they must apply the course materials learned. The business case should reflect real situations, address current challenges that need to be resolved and be actionable—meaning the participant must have responsibility and influence over the challenges’ outcome. Each participant’s business case will be evaluated and scored against a pre-established standard of performance or rubric by CMM Program faculty.

Designation

Professionals that achieved the Certificate in Meeting Management from MPI prior to 2014 will retain the CMM designation, which is now supported by both MPI and GBTA. GBTA will communicate directly to individuals that achieved the comparable GBTA certificate regarding parameters for using the CMM designation.

In addition, MPI will reissue new certificates to existing CMM designees with the correct Certificate in Meeting Management branding.