In an effort to strengthen its presence in Europe, Dallas-based Meeting Professionals International announced Friday that it has partnered with European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings to attract 30 new members to MPI's nine European chapters.

According to the partnership agreement, EIBTM will sponsor 30 planner memberships per year for two consecutive years (three members per European chapter for a total of 27, plus three at-large members). Tom Nutley, managing director of Reed Travel Exhibitions, organizers of EIBTM, also revealed that EIBTM will renew its commitment to the MPI European Partner Program for 2003-2004.

"MPI welcomes the opportunity to grow our membership in Europe and looks forward to expanding our partnership with EIBTM," said Didier Scaillet, director of European operations and global development for MPI. "By encouraging new planner members to join MPI, there will be additional opportunities for suppliers seeking to conduct business with members of MPI's $10.9 billion annual buying power network."