Save the date! The industry will come together for Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on March 30, 2023—an international day of advocacy showcasing the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. This year’s theme is #MeetingsMatter.
We are advocating for policies that would accelerate travel’s recovery. A letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called for support on a tax extenders package that includes a temporary restoration of the entertainment business expense deduction & an extension of expensing for business meals.
Face-to-face interaction is the platform where deals are struck, relationships are forged and ideas are generated. That’s what Meetings Mean Business is all about: showing the real power of what business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions collectively do for people, businesses and communities.
Personal Connections
There’s no substitute for a handshake and the value of your network can’t be overstated. This conventional wisdom is all true. But beyond the qualitative, there are concrete, tangible outcomes that come from personal connections.
Positive Business Outcomes
Every business needs to make smart decisions with its resources. Hosting a client event, sending a team to a conference, providing employees with incentive travel, and investing in a trade show are significant investments – but what’s the return? Here’s a hint: it’s far more than you think.
Strong Communities
The benefits of conventions, events, exhibitions and trade shows ripple beyond the walls of the meeting space. When meetings come to town, everybody benefits. The face-to-face industry creates jobs, generates commerce and creates far-reaching community impact.
80% of employees prefer in-person brainstorms and collaborative meetings in-person.
In the summer of 2021, more than 25,000 healthcare professionals gathered in Las Vegas at HIMSS 2021 to have meaningful conversations about the latest innovations, share best practices and secure profitable new partnerships.
In Fall 2021, over 10,000 attendees gathered at IBMA’s WOB 2021 where layers of protocols ensured the highest safety for all attendees.
Meetings Mean Business is an industry-wide coalition to showcase the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. By rallying industry advocates, working with stakeholders, conducting original research, engaging with outside voices and more, the coalition brings the industry together to emphasize its importance. Comprised of over 50 members, the coalition unites the meetings industry with one strong and powerful voice.