St. Louis knows how to rally.
The Gateway to the West played host to MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) June 18-20, which welcomed approximately 1,900 in-person attendees to the newly expanded America’s Center Convention Complex in the heart of downtown St. Louis.
WEC also attracted about 300 virtual attendees. More than 45% of attendees were meeting planners and 984 experienced the event for the first time. Last year’s WEC, held at Louisville’s Kentucky International Convention Center, drew approximately 2,000 total attendees.
[Related: Highlights From the 2024 MPI World Education Congress in Louisville]
In-person attendees had the opportunity to earn up to 13 continuing education credits via more than 113 educational sessions led by 165 speakers and facilitators. There were 104 international attendees at WEC, including 59 from Canada; 24 from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific; and 21 from Latin America.
The theme for WEC St. Louis was “Let’s Rally!” and served as a reminder and celebration of “the power, resilience and innovation of the meetings and events industry and the people behind it.” More than a reinforcement of the magic of the meetings and events industry, the theme was also a call to action, reminding attendees of the importance of acknowledging industry wins and the people who make them possible.
MPI said it projects its membership will grow to nearly 13,000 MPI members, including 6,500 planners, by the end of 2025. A major area of growth will be in Latin America, which is described as its fastest-growing region, and which has grown more than 50% over the past five years and currently has nine chapters and clubs.
Here's a recap of the highlights and celebrations from WEC St. Louis.
[Related: What's New at This Year's MPI World Education Congress in St. Louis]
Energizing Education at MPI WEC
The first day of MPI WEC kicked off Wednesday afternoon with an opening general session and powerful keynote presentation delivered by St. Louis native Brittany Packnett Cunningham, whose TED Talk, “The Revolution of Confidence,” has more than 8 million views, has been translated into 22 languages and was one of the top 10 TED Talks of 2019.
Other keynote highlights included:
- Freestyle+, a hip-hop comedy group that staged “The Power of Play featuring Freestyle Love Supreme,” which combined Tony award-winning performers with science-backed learning frameworks.
- Temple Grandin, a scientist, author, inventor and autism awareness advocate who presented “Great Minds Are Not All the Same,” helping the audience understand how autistic individuals use object visualization or math-pattern thinking to solve problems and how all minds can contribute to success.
- Daniel Lewis, an entrepreneur and founder of T By Daniel, whose “RALLY to Lead: Igniting Connection, Collaboration & Change!” keynote focused on transforming adversity into opportunity.
- Resident emcee Carol Daniel, senior producer and host at Nine PBS in St. Louis, who helped move the proceedings along in an entertaining fashion.
MPI also partnered with Bishop-McCann to bring its “JOY Index” to WEC, which is described as “an innovative, AI-powered platform that measures real-time attendee engagement using facial analytics and biometric data,” according to MPI. Attendees had the opportunity to opt-in by scanning a QR code and downloading a companion app that paired with wearable tech and Zenus facial recognition software to anonymously collect engagement data, according to MPI.
[Related: MPI WEC Sneak Peek: Unlocking the World of Women in Business With Courtney Stanley]
Launch of MPI Consulting
MPI used WEC as a platform to announce the full launch of its MPI Consulting offering, led by meetings industry education leader Jessie States, who is the executive director of the effort. MPI said MPI Consulting “provides tailored, data-informed solutions for both meeting planners and suppliers, combining MPI’s unparalleled access to industry expertise with a focus on strategic event transformation.”
For meeting planners, MPI said services include live event strategy consulting, customized focus groups and expert speaker and facilitator sourcing. For suppliers, such as destinations, venues and technology companies, MPI Consulting can provide facilitated focus groups, customized client surveys and speaker solutions for customer events, according to the association.
[Related: Top 7 AI Uses from Event Profs in the Know]
AC Next Gen Nearing Completion
America’s Center is putting the finishing touches on its $256 million expansion and renovation project, which completed Phase One last year and will be wrapping up Phase Two at the end of 2025.
The AC Next Gen improvements include a new 72,000-square-foot exhibit hall, Hall 4X, where MPI WEC’s general sessions, each one a “rally,” took place. The center also received an enhanced Washington Avenue entrance, more than double the number of loading docks and a new culinary garden that will supply America’s Center’s kitchen with fresh produce.
MPI WEC attendees got to experience AC Next Gen firsthand this week, exploring new spaces via keynotes, breakout education sessions, public gathering areas and more.
MPI also announced its incoming 2025 leadership during WEC:
- Jim Russell, chair elect, International Board of Directors; executive vice president of sales (formerly EVP of Client Relationships) at Freeman
- Richard Allchild, chair elect, Global Board of Trustees, MPI Foundation; head of sales North America for IMEX Group
Upcoming MPI signature events include:
- theEVENT in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, September 7-9, 2025
- EMEC 2026 in Barcelona, February 21–24, 2026
- WEC 2026 in San Antonio, June 2–4, 2026
- WEC 2027 in Las Vegas, June 2027
- WEC 2028 in Denver, June 2028
- WEC 2029 in Anaheim, California, June 2029
- WEC 2030 in Tampa Bay, Florida, June 2030
