Global Meetings Industry Day celebrated across the conference sector

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), 4 April, has seen industry leaders seize this big opportunity to celebrate the business events industry. Meetings and event professionals experience every day how business events can drive economic outcomes for communities. More than 200 events spanning 41 countries signalled GMID in 2018; this year GMID is set to be even bigger. PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat says GMID allows the world to “see us as a powerful force, united in our passion to advance society. They see us as tireless advocates of a US$1 trillion industry dedicated to breaking down barriers by organising face-to-face business events”. Karamat noted that, in January 2019, PCMA had launched the first Global Forum on Economic and Social Progress which brought together government, business leaders and industry to engage in dialogue on the challenges and opportunities ahead. “It is exciting to see our industry seize the spotlight. I am proud of PCMA chapters hosting events to advocate the profound effect business events have on society and the economy. Some are leveraging the power of meetings to address societal problems such as human trafficking,” he added. “We know that economic good should also bring social good for all people and we are committed to be the platform for positive economic growth and social transformation. Our industry is sending a clear message today: Meetings are the catalyst for global change,” was the message from Toronto’s Exhibition Place, which celebrated GMID by lighting up in blue its four entrance towers to Enercare Centre(pictured) as a show of solidarity for “an international day of advocacy that brings attention to the boost that business meetings, conferences, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions bring to the Canadian economy”. A recent Global Economic Impact Study indicated that Canada’s business events sector economy translated as direct spending of over CAD$33bn, along with the creation and sustainability of over 229,000 jobs. “Meetings provide a critical source of business revenue, jobs and taxes.  They also stimulate legacy investments by funding social projects and community initiatives. Outside of the results driven by business meetings, the events and meetings industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs, generates billions of dollars of revenue and supports communities across the country,” was another Canadian view on GMID from Heidi Welker, Chairperson of Meetings Mean Business Canada. Pictured: GMID 2018