

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: OPENING OUR EYES - Educate, Connect, Experience Waco
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 27 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm (-05:00)
- **Event Description**: YOU'RE INVITED!

Join the MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter for Opening Our Eyes, a powerful weekend experience designed to educate, connect, and inspire our meetings and events community.

This unique program brings together industry professionals, law enforcement leaders, and destination partners for an impactful conversation around recognizing and preventing human trafficking within the meetings and events industry — equipping attendees with practical tools, real-world insights, and actionable strategies to help our industry lead responsibly.

But this isn’t just an education session — it’s a full Waco experience. Make sure to plan to stay for Saturday's excursions.

Planner Special! Qualified planners will receive complimentary hotel accommodations for Friday night.

FRIDAY EVENING:

4:00 - 6:00 P.M. - Happy Hour and Networking Reception at AC Marriott (Sponsored by Superior Expo Services)
6:30 P.M. - Opening Our Eyes: "Unseen No More"
Anti-Human Trafficking Educational Session + Networking
Speakers: Susan Greenburg and Waco PD Detective, David Allison  Speaker Bios
Marriott AC Hotel Waco Downtown, Catalan Ballroom
8:00 - 10:00 P.M. - Following the program, continue the conversation with an MPI Waco After Party — featuring bar hopping, karaoke, trivia, specialty cocktails, and a fun night out with fellow industry professionals hosted by Team Waco

SATURDAY - EXPERIENCE WACO:

8:30 A.M. - Noon - Join Destination Waco for an unforgettable behind-the-scenes destination experience, including but not limited to:
+ A social behind-the-scenes tour of Cameron Park Zoo
+ Special animal encounters, including giraffe feeding and rhino interaction opportunities
+ Visits to Magnolia Market at the Silos
12:15 P.M. - Tour and Lunch at the Waco Convention Center
1:30 P.M. - Afternoon Desserts/Coffee at Chip &amp; Joanna Gaines’ Hotel 1928
2:00 P.M. - Back to Hotel to head home. Option to schedule additional Site Tours.

EVENT DETAILS
OPENING OUR EYES
Dates: Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, 2026
Location: Marriott AC Hotel Waco Downtown
600 Mary Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701
Cost: $45 Members | $55 Non-Members | $25 Students

Registration includes:
Light bites during the educational session
Happy hour networking reception (Sponsored by Superior Expo Services)
Two Hosted drink tickets
Exclusive Destination Waco hosted Excursions
Hosted lunch with Destination Waco (Sponsored by the Waco Convention Center)

Registration Deadline: Sunday, March 22 at Midnight

Pending approval, attendees will also earn Two CE Credits toward CMP certification renewal.

This program is designed to combine education, connection, and destination discovery into one meaningful industry experience.

Space is limited — the Waco tour experience is capped at 48 attendees.


EVENT SPEAKERS

Susan Greenburg – Anti–Human Trafficking Educator

Susan Greenberg is a hospitality leader, strategist, and community advocate whose work bridges service excellence with social impact. She serves in senior leadership with Zachry Hotels at the award-winning Embassy Suites San Antonio Landmark, where she specializes in sales strategy, event experience design, and leadership development. Her advocacy journey began in 2005 after attending a Zonta International regional conference in Oklahoma, where she first learned about the reality of human trafficking — a crisis she had no idea existed, especially not in the United States or in her own Central Texas community...


Detective David Allison – Waco Police Department

With a distinguished career in law enforcement, David Allison has dedicated over 11 years to protecting communities, upholding justice, and combating complex criminal networks. Throughout his career, he has served in the Patrol Division and the Special Investigations Division Street Crimes Unit at the Waco Police Department, earning a reputation for strategic thinking, proactive investigations, and victim-centered policing.


EVENT SPONSORS

We are proud to recognize the Marriott AC Hotel Waco Downtown as our generous Venue Sponsor for this event,  Destination Waco for the exciting Event Planning Tour and Waco Convention Center for the Hosted Lunch on Saturday.

We’d also like to thank Superior Expo Services for sponsoring the Networking Reception, Inspire Solutions for their Event Sponsorship, and Attendee Management for providing Registration Services. 

We’d be honored to have you join us - to listen, learn, network, and to simply experience Waco!

Our event is less than a month away. Register Today!
----&gt; https://www.mpi.org/chapters/texas-hill-country/education-events/event-calendar/2026/03/27/default-calendar/opening-our-eyes
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/waco/opening-our-eyes-educate-connect-experience-waco/200029832344438
- **Event Categories**: Business, Exhibitions, Music
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://www.mpi.org/chapters/texas-hill-country/education-events/event-calendar/2026/03/27/default-calendar/opening-our-eyes?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=waco-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Waco
- **state**: TX
- **country**: United States
- **location**: AC Hotel by Marriott Waco Downtown
- **lat**: 31.554
- **long**: -97.13095
- **full address**: AC Hotel by Marriott Waco Downtown, AC Hotels by Marriott-Waco, 600 Mary Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: MPI (Meeting Professional International) Texas Hill Country Chapter (https://allevents.in/org/mpi-meeting-professional-international-texas-hill-country-chapter/13333307)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/d39e1f20f1a92481ba785ff0978213efd7a79e9f5113249252b07f8e6b29921b-rimg-w1200-h675-dc161c18-gmir?v=1773931236
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/d7fdb3b663a4abe587962d8a373d1824a2b63232105a565f937c32a043119d3f-rimg-w300-h300-dc161c18-gmir?v=1773931238

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fri, 27 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm (-05:00)
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** AC Hotel by Marriott Waco Downtown, AC Hotels by Marriott-Waco, 600 Mary Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** MPI (Meeting Professional International) Texas Hill Country Chapter
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** Business, Exhibitions, Music
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about OPENING OUR EYES - Educate, Connect, Experience Waco ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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