WASHINGTON, D.C.
On April 6, 2017, leaders from across the meetings and events industry will come together to support the second annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). Led by the industry advocacy coalition Meetings Mean Business (MMB), GMID 2017 will continue to showcase the positive impact of business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, tradeshows and exhibitions.
“We are excited to build on the momentum from the first ever Global Meetings Industry Day,” said Richard Harper, MMBC co-chair and executive vice president of HelmsBriscoe. “GMID 2016 illustrated that great things happen when people come together and next year we will replicate that.”
GMID 2017 follows the first ever international day of advocacy, held earlier this year in over 30 countries and across five continents. GMID 2016 included 115 events in more than 80 locations as well as significant conversations online with more than 40 million social media impressions.
The governors of Maryland and Kentucky, along with the mayors of Ottawa, Edmonton, Phoenix, Baltimore, Buffalo and Mobile, Alabama all signed proclamations declaring Global Meetings Industry Day in their respective locations. The Empire State Building and Niagara Falls were both lit in blue for GMID.
Organizations across North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia held educational events, panels with industry professionals, rallies, strategic sessions and more.
Many of these events featured the GMID anthem, written specifically for this day to celebrate the work of meetings professionals everywhere in a meaningful way. In 2017, MMB will again join forces with the Convention Industry Council (CIC), U.S. Travel Association, Meeting Planners International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), COCAL and other groups.
“GMID 2017 will once again harness the industry’s passion and excitement around the globe,” said Michael Dominguez, MMB co-chair and senior vice president of corporate sales at MGM Resorts International. “Meetings industry professionals know that advocating for our industry on the global stage helps people all over the world understand the necessity of face-to-face.”
Several tools and resources are available to aid 2017 GMID planning, including talking points, frequently asked questions, the 2017 logo and a “how to get involved” document.
Throughout the planning process MMB will continue to roll out new collateral such as digital assets and advertisements, template local press releases, invitations to elected officials to encourage their involvement in GMID, slides, signage and more, making sure to be responsive to event hosts’ needs.
“GMID helps generate widespread conversation about some of our industry’s most critical issues,” said ICCA President Nina Freysen-Pretorius. “It’s especially important to discuss these issues and increase awareness of the meetings industry internationally to enable continued growth.”
To learn more about GMID, visit http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/GMID.
