MIS shows us how to be disruptive!

What made this edition of MIS special?

This year the MIS became an “all app” event: all communications with participants, the programme, the buyers and exhibitors’ agendas (MIS includes pre-scheduled appointments as part of its programme) was done via the MeetMaps app, and it worked! The app was downloaded 497 times, and allowed continuous communication between the 388 buyers and 152 exhibiting companies during the event. It was also the perfect tool to conduct polls and surveys and to send push notifications that kept everyone updated about what was going on at the event. 1,429 appointments were scheduled and 52,.987 networking interactions took place throughout the day.  

Another innovation was the new meeting feature “Coffee with”, that allowed exhibiting companies to request appointments with the participants anytime during the day. In total, over 1,230 meetings were scheduled; a further example of the benefits and advantages of technological innovation in meetings, as the app facilitated the contact between buyers and sellers beyond the pre-scheduled appointments.

In addition, as a result of the growth that MIS has experienced, this edition opened its doors to industry professionals coming from Portugal, turning MIS into the most important meetings and incentives conference that takes place in the Peninsula. To welcome all international buyers that came to MIS, the Madrid Convention Bureau organised a spectacular dinner the night before and a tour of the city the day after the conference and it doesn’t end there: MIS also crossed the ocean and brought Peru as the Partner Destination, giving everyone the chance to discover this great destination throughout the day and the option to taste a pisco sour during the closing party, along with a live band performance by MetroPop.

Staging and set up

There were several informal and open spaces created at MIS, including coffee areas and puffs of diverse shapes and sizes provided by JMT.. Likewise, the two main education rooms had different “disruptive” setups. One of the rooms was designed around a 360º stage and the other one included digital screens where speakers could write on and interact with their presentations via hand movements; thanks to AV Medios. The friendly and informal style of the event was supported by Grupo A10 hostesses.

Disruption, how?

To materialise the theme of disruptive events, a dynamic format was implemented, with two education rooms connected by a wide corridor that became the networking hub of the event. This year, Grupo eventoplus made everyone think different about their work as meeting and incentive organisers and what set them apart from the rest at a professional and personal level. This was achieved with help from Divertia thanks to the creation of workshops that involved folding paper airplanes (including a competition of the plane that flew the furthest), and a badge making area with customised messages that made participants see their profession in a disruptive way. “Memory designer” or “Dream creator” were some of the descriptions that made one meeting professional different from another. Finally, to promote creativity and disruptive teamwork, participants also took part in an improvisation workshop that invited everyone to disinhibit and let themselves go through imagination.

How could exhibitors explain what makes them special?

Through disruptive formats: Elevator Pitch, Show & Tell and Speed Networking, three activities that allowed exhibitors to present themselves in innovative ways, in a limited period of time and away from traditional presentations. In short, participants were taught how to be disruptive with their own companies, how to boost the characteristics that make them special and how to redesign the concept of their brand when presenting it to the world. On top of this, every event professional was invited to a makeover of their online image by visiting a beauty corner where a perfect photograph was taken for their social media use, provided by Jesús Antón photography, who was also the official photography and video company for the event.

What themes did we address?

MIS had the presence of MICE experts such as Jordan Waid (VP brand experience at Freeman XP), Bonny Saphira (head of Cisco Live Europe) and Caspar Mason (creative director of Jack Morton Worldwide), among many other national and international talents.

In line with the philosophy of bringing innovation to the industry, educational tracks included topics such as group psychology, creative incubators, effective learning solutions or the new GDPR. Besides, women from the industry also took part in the first crucial debate for our sector in Spain on the #MeToo movement.

MIS is a key event in our industry that could not have taken place without the sponsorship provided by Cinesa, NH Hotel Group, Wanda Metropolitano and StubHub, its partners and exhibiting companies.

So, what should we expect in future editions? More innovation, creativity and disruption, that’s for sure!