Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Teamware have signed an alliance to develop the site and launch the MPI MIX™ (Meeting Industry eXchange) online community in June as a new benefit for all MPI members.

MPI MIX™, sponsored by the Hilton Family of Hotels, is an online community available on MPIWeb for MPI members to receive and discuss the latest industry news and information, provide networking opportunities and encourage member interaction. Utilizing features such as threaded discussions, document posting, polling, real-time live chats and business card member profiles, MPI MIX™ will offer members a unique new way to learn, network and communicate. The alliance with Teamware encourages interaction and capitalizes on both organizations' shared commitment to advance technology in the meeting industry. Negotiations between MPI and Teamware began in February 2004, and the final contract was signed March 1, 2004.

'Due in part to the joint alliance between MPI and Teamware, MPI MIX™ will make MPIWeb a one-stop shop for our members as a source of education, networking and best practices," said Colin Rorrie, Jr., PhD, CAE, president and CEO of MPI. 'Additionally, MPI MIX™ will strengthen the way members communicate with each another and do business which supports MPI's mission of being the leading global community for the meeting industry.'

Under the agreement, Teamware will implement its Teamware Pl@za® software to power MPI MIX™ and integrate it with MPIWeb and MPI's AMS membership database system for seamless member interaction. Teamware Pl@za is the leading community management system for associations. Professional societies, trade and alumni associations, and unions are serving their members with the system worldwide including American Gastroenterology Association, American School Food Services Association, Association of Research Professionals, Video Software Dealers Association, and Web Services Interoperability Organization.

'By partnering with MPI, we are able to offer a valuable service to their members and at the same time, provide a critical resource for meeting planners and suppliers to succeed while helping them with their professional responsibilities,' said Ari Palttala, president of Teamware, Inc., US subsidiary company of Teamware Group. 'We hope this partnership will expand understanding of the role of both the planner and supplier and forge business partnerships and opportunities that might not have been possible previously.'