Hospitality and Related Services - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 141

Several organizations serve the meetings industry. The largest is Meeting Professionals Interna-
tional (MPI). MPI helps their members by providing human connections to knowledge and ideas,
relationships, and marketplaces. Their vision is to build a rich global meeting industry community. MPI
membership is 24,000 belonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. Visit www.mpiweb.org .
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) represents more than 6,000
meeting professionals from 17 chapters in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Members include
planner professionals, suppliers, faculty and students. Professionals are individuals who are responsible
for the development, organization, site selection and management of meetings, conventions, exhibits,
and seminars. Suppliers are individuals whose organization provides products and services related to
meetings, conventions, exhibits, and seminars. Visit www.pcma.org .
The Society of Corporate Meeting Professionals (SCMP) was founded over 30 years ago to serve as a
vehicle for corporatemeeting professionals to interact with their peers, to gain advanced knowledge, and
to develop enhanced professional skills. This unique partnership among the membership of corporate
planners, hotel/convention center/CVB service professionals, independent planners, and students
provides an atmosphere to achieve a high level of professional excellence. Visit www.scmp.org .

This couple enjoying a
break at the Lake Powell
Java City Coffee shop
represents the increasingly
popular upscale role of
coffee in the daily life of
students and young
professionals. Sparked by
the widespread popularity
of the Starbucks chain,
many other shops have
also realized considerable
success. Great opportunity
exists for young
entrepreneurs in tourism to
seize and pro t from the
'' next wave'' of consumer
preferences. Photocourtesy
ofLakePowellResortsand
Marinas.