IAHMP HOY Newsletter


Margaret Gonzalez with the Atlanta Sales Team at the 2006 Destinations Shaowcase
Conference, Washington, DC. Front (LtoR) Joyce Calandra and Marion Welsh - Standing (L to R)
Arron Gross, Margaret Gonzalez, Susan Reid and Will Trokey. Atlanta will host the 2006 IAHMP
Conference December 7-9, 2006

The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP)

Founded in 1995, the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP) is the first Latino organization in the Meetings & Hospitality industry to address the needs of Hispanics within this important industry. Although Hispanics are an important workforce component in service careers, Latinos are mostly missing from the executive ranks of the industry.
Whether it is in government or corporate America, Hispanics in senior management in almost all aspects of this important marketplace are few. Additionally, the economic value of Hispanic meetings has not been recognized and has mostly
been undervalued. Hispanic Association executives and meeting planners have expressed a need to understand how cities allocate resources through Convention & Visitors Bureaus and how to deal with site selection to minimize the costs
associated with hosting annual conferences, meetings and special events.

With a renewed sense of commitment from the IAHMP membership and board of directors and its corporate board of advisors, the organization has approved a 2006 business plan and multi-year strategic plan. The IAHMP business plan addresses the multi-year strategic core objectives and includes the tactical initiatives needed to serve the members, grow membership and effectively operate the association to meet operational objectives. The execution of the business plan will lead to the successful implementation of the three year rolling strategic plan. The business plan was prepared using the issues, strategies, and tactics addressed during past Board of Directors Meeting and inovative ideas passed to the Board of Directors by
the Corporate Board of Advisors Members.

IAHMP Vision Statement:
To be the preeminent voice of the Hispanic meetings, convention and special event industry, its primary advocate, and its indispensable resource.

IAHMP Mission Statement:
To serve the Hispanic meetings, convention and special event industry, at the national level in governmental affairs, education, research, communications, and value added services. This mission statement is supported by the core objectives of IAHMP which include:

• To help develop leadership and professional skills of Hispanic meeting professionals.

• To raise the level of communication between meeting planners, suppliers and other industry contacts.

• To quantify and publicize the economic impact of Hispanic meetings and conventions. Strategic Plan Core Objectives 2006 – 2008

• Develop stronger working relationship with partner associations to increase membership and provide meaningful member services to ensure the association remains strong and financially healthy.

• Develop an IAHMP Foundation to assist IAHMP in funding its educational programs and research operations.

• Develop an Education Institute to define and deliver value added programs to membership

• Increase the IAHMP brand value within the industry and develop consumer opportunities for the brand.

• Address the industry's multicultural and diversity issues.

Objectives for Calendar Year 2006:
The 2006 business plan focus is to grow and retain members, provide value-added member benefits, address multicultural and diversity issues, and be profitable. In order to maximize the association's profit potential, the association will need to evaluate the consolidation or outsourcing of department functions to create greater efficiency and effectiveness. The member services, programs, and events are to be evaluated to ensure the association provides the services and benefits the members need to address today's challenges. The successful execution of the strategies and tactics identified in this plan will enable us to reach our objectives.

Timeline: The strategic plan core objectives will be IAHMP’s primary concentration in calendar 2006. IAHMP’s officers, executive committee, board of directors, strategic planning committee will receive quarterly reports tracking the progress of the strategic objectives.

Unlike a private sector business plan where the accountability to accomplish the objectives is
executed internally, IAHMP's business plan requires not only the association staff's commitment to the strategy, but the association's committees, board of directors and partner associations. In most cases all or at least some of the parties have an active role to play in executing the tactics to complete the strategy and objective. To see some of the changes that IAHMP has already put in place visit them online at www.IAHMP.org. Read the 2006 business plan online and commit yourself to making IAHMP's vision and mission statement a reality.