Nice to meet you

There’s no doubt that a large part of being a planner is meeting new faces and networking to find the best connections for you and the events you plan. One face in particular I hope will become important to you for your planning career is my own.

My name is Sonia Straface and I’m the new editor of the Canadian Meetings + Events Expo (CMEExpo). And while I am new to the industry, I’m not new to producing creative editorial content for exciting industries. My hope going forward, as I immerse myself into the meetings and events world, is that my team and I can provide you with interesting, creative, and educational content year-round to help you stay in-the-know and build better events.

Kicking off my tenure as editor is the new and improved CMEExpo that we are thrilled to present this summer. It’s the same IncentiveWorks you know and love, but has been rebranded with a new name and more importantly, a fresh approach to be more inclusive to all event professionals.

We are certain the show and conference will be the most memorable one yet, with keynote speakers like design icon Debbie Travis and entrepreneur Johnny Cupcakes, as well as a bevy of educational sessions to help keep you up-to-date on event trends and new strategies to help you execute your dream event. The show floor will be packed with more than 350 exhibitors and 700 companies and as always, you can still earn CE credits from the buffet of sessions available to you.

New this year is the Catering Corner, where you can learn how to cater your next event with healthy and trendy options. We’re also introducing The Hub – a lounge space where you can connect and network. We’ve also gone back to our roots and have scheduled our conference sessions in the morning so you can fully enjoy the tradeshow in the afternoon.

And while we’ve changed and adapted, just as the industry has over the years, we hope that the show represents the biggest and best change so far.

If you’re a loyal attendee, we sincerely hope that you appreciate and welcome the breath of fresh air we hope to bring to CMEExpo. And if this is your first time to the show, we hope you enjoy yourself and add it to your calendar for years to come.