Newly Launched: An Association for LGBT Meeting and Event Planners. A new meeting planner association designed to facilitate networking and growing business relationships for the lesbian, gay, and bi/transgender meeting professionals community.
The Philadelphia-based organization, called the LGBT Meeting Planners Association, or LGBTMPA, aims to bring together in one place members of the various groups that serve the LGBT travel and planning communities. Including the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and Community Marketing; and the LGBT subgroups within meeting planner associations such as the Professional Convention Management Association and Meeting Professionals International.
In a post on the PinkBananaBiz.com and LGBTNewMedia.com blog, organizers note that these organizations and association subgroups already draw together at informal meetups and formal gatherings at existing industry events, and that these organizations have been adding more education at their events to provide information on how to work more effectively with the LBGT meeting marketplace.
The new group’s mission statement reads. “We have created the ideal marketplace for LGBT event planners and meeting planners. As well all of their industry contacts to meet, discuss and grow relationships.
Our main goal is to build business for the LGBT community.” The organization has applied for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt status. It also is still in the process of building out its internal staff structure and board of directors.
To further its mission
LGBTMPA’s inaugural mid-Atlantic conference will be held this fall in Atlantic City. Posted Matt Skallerud, president of Pink Banana Media, on the blog. While setails are still being worked out in terms of dates and venue. “The programming at this event will include interactive seminars about LGBT meeting best practices, as well as explore market opportunities, research, and trends.
Marketing strategies will be discussed as well as revenue generation tips, industry innovator panels, and more,” wrote Skallerud. The organization also plans to offer a directory of resources and a video library.
In addition to the LGBTMPA website, you can learn more about the organization on its LinkedIn group and Facebook page.
