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First Global Meetings Industry Day Unites Event Pros Worldwide

Activities taking place around the globe today are intended to raise awareness of the value of face-to-face meetings and events.

In February, the Loews Madison Hotel in Washington hosted the first stop of the Fuse roadshow created by the Convention Industry Council, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, and Social Tables. Another session is taking place today in Orlando as part of Global Meetings Industry Day. The five-city educational tour, sponsored by PSAV, Loews Hotels, and AFR, is intended to help planners and properties work together to make meetings better.
In February, the Loews Madison Hotel in Washington hosted the first stop of the Fuse roadshow created by the Convention Industry Council, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, and Social Tables. Another session is taking place today in Orlando as part of Global Meetings Industry Day. The five-city educational tour, sponsored by PSAV, Loews Hotels, and AFR, is intended to help planners and properties work together to make meetings better.
Photo: Courtesy Christie's Photographic Solutions

Event professionals around the world are commemorating the first Global Meetings Industry Day, created to draw attention to the value business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows, and exhibitions have on people, business, and communities. About 100 events are scheduled today in 18 countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, many hosted by local chapters of associations such as Meeting Professionals International and the Professional Convention Management Association, local convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the Convention Industry Council and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition.

“Canada has been doing a meetings day for 20 years, so it was an idea that came from our friends to the north. Through Meetings Mean Business we decided to expand it last year from Canada to all of North America. That was very successful, and so with that success we decided … to broaden it this year and make it a global day of advocacy,” says Karen Kotowski, C.E.O. of the Convention Industry Council.

Activities range from educational and networking programs to rallies and advocacy initiatives targeting local government leaders. Organizers also are encouraging all participants to share information through social media to broaden the reach of the effort.

“Last year we had 3.2 million impressions. We were trending on Twitter. So we hope to be there again and are really encouraging people to use the hashtag #GMID16 so we can measure the results and get that feedback,” Kotowski says.

Meetings Mean Business is an industry-funded coalition created in 2009 by the U.S. Travel Association. It serves as a communication and advocacy platform focused on the benefits of face-to-face meetings and events. To increase awareness of its work, the coalition is hosting a five-city educational tour targeting hoteliers and meeting planners. The “Fuse” roadshow, created in partnership with Social Tables and the C.I.C., is in Orlando today at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in conjunction with Global Meetings Industry Day.

Meetings Mean Business is also working to “get people outside of our industry talking about the value of face-to-face,” says Nan Marchand Beauvois, vice president at the U.S. Travel Association. In March, the coalition released three brief videos of business leaders discussing why meetings matter to their companies, and more videos are planned in the coming months.

“Since it is an election year, we’ve actually created a new campaign that we’re launching called 'Worth Meeting About.' When you think about any elected official, their path to elected office happens in a series of face-to-face meetings,” Marchand Beauvois says. “We are going to be focusing on creating awareness and a greater understanding, targeted at policy makers, about the value of in-person meetings.” The campaign will include paid media, digital activations, and visibility at both the Republican and Democratic presidential conventions.

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