The Board of Directors and Advisory Council of industry lobby campaign Meetings Mean Business Canada Coalition (formerly known as Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada) has announced a doubling of its supporters to over 100, following the signing of a licensing agreement in February 2017 with Meetings Mean Business. In November 2017 the campaign also signed an agreement with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) to advocate on behalf of the meetings industry and serve as the coalition’s secretariat. The Board says its vision is clear:
- To become a single advocacy voice of the meetings industry in Canada, through our relationship with TIAC;
- To communicate the economic and social value of face-to-face meetings to elected officials at all levels of the government as well as stakeholders across Canada; and
- To shape policy, legislation and investment to ensure our industry prospers.
Since the signing of our agreement with TIAC, the Meetings Mean Business Canada leadership has held coalition meetings throughout Canada to listen to the concerns of industry leaders, and build consensus around the next steps of the coalition. The Board’s March, 2018 meeting also agreed on the formation of the following three committees to research and recommend:
- A sustainable financial model (chaired by Heidi Welker – pictured – SVP business development and industry partnerships, Freeman- Audio Visual Canada).
- Curation of unified data for our industry (co-chaired by Clark Grue, president & CEO Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and Meetings and Conventions Calgary and Reggie Clark, Manager Business Development – Groups, Conventions and Incentive Travel – WestJet)
- Executing a plan to tell our story (co-chaired by Debbie van der Beek, co-publisher Ignite & Adrenalin and Joe Glionna, president Newcom).
The Board also agreed to formulate a Board of Directors’ succession plan that will include national representation from across Canada. Visit: https://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.ca/supporters
