Last week, tourism, meetings and events professionals around the world celebrated the inaugural Global Meetings Industry Day, to spotlight the real impact these events have on our lives. Here are some of the day’s highlights.

U.S. Travel is a partner of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMB), which works to showcase the incredible value that business meetings travel, and events bring to economies around the world. Last week, MMB expanded upon the success of last year’s North American Meetings Industry Day by celebrating the inaugural Global Meetings Industry Day, to spotlight the real impact these events have on our lives. This special day was marked with over 100 registered live events in cities around the world, plus thousands of conversations on social media that made over 31 million impressions (see what was discussed using #GMID16 on Twitter and Instagram). Here are some of the day’s highlights:

Las Vegas

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow joined leaders from the Las Vegas Conventions and Visitors Authority and other local businesses at the T-Mobile Arena, where he voiced his strong support for the power of in-person meetings and business travel—noting that for every dollar invested in business travel, U.S. companies have experienced $9.50 return in terms of revenue. As Dow put it, “there’s no technology that can replace a handshake.”

New York

In honor of GMID, the Empire State Building lit up in shades of blue Tuesday night—the colors of MMB. 

Further upstate, Niagara Falls lit up blue Thursday night in honor of GMID.

Phoenix

At a GMID event at the Phoenix Convention Center, Mayor Greg Stanton declared April 14, 2016 Global Meetings Industry Day in the city of Phoenix.

Surrounded by leaders from Visit Phoenix, the Phoenix Convention Center and other Meetings Mean Business members, Mayor Stanton stated that “Meetings mean business because they bring knowledge-industry leaders and job creators to the front doorstep of our city.”

Austin

Local chapters of 11 different meetings industry associations staged a GMID rally on the steps of the Texas state capitol, followed by a press conference and panel discussion with industry leaders. 

Ottawa

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson endorsed the value of meetings for the city, and Meeting Professionals International in Ottawa hosted an “Unconference” in honor of GMID, where participants enjoyed a day of dynamic, peer-led discussions about the most pressing meetings industry topics.

Further abroad, destination marketing organizations and meeting industry organizations around the world magnified the day’s impact with events and social media campaigns.

Madrid, Spain

MPI’s Spain chapter shook things up with a dance at their GMID gathering.

Brussels, Belgium

Ideas flowed during an MPI Belgium event dedicated to fostering dynamic interactions wherever possible at meetings.

South Africa

Attendees at the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI)’s GMID events showed their spirit by wearing blue for SAACI’s “Dress for Industry Success” contest.

The many chapters of the Professional Convention Management Association hosted events all over, as well. 

Finally, to highlight the global nature of our industry, the International Congress and Convention Association has started a campaign to identify slogans that say “meetings mean business” in every language used by its members.

Media outlets from Skift to International Meetings Review reported on the day's events, as well.

Overall, we consider Global Meetings Industry Day a resounding success, and look forward to working with the Meetings Mean Business Coalition to grow this event even further in years to come.

Nan Marchand Beauvois

Nan Marchand Beauvois is U.S. Travel Association’s senior vice president of membership and industry relations, overseeing the National Council of... View Profile ›
Nan Marchand Beauvois

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