Perhaps the biggest political step forward towards better industry co-operation with international political authority occurred at this year’s IMEX Politicians Forum in Frankfurt.
A joint statement, signed by the meetings industry (represented by the Joint Meetings Industry Council) and the two most important global travel and tourism organisations: the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), recognises the value of the global meetings industry and sets out key areas for future collaboration.
The parties say they intend to develop “an ongoing interface in areas that will better support the interrelated objectives of all three organisations”, and are working towards specific strategies for addressing the priority areas.
The significance of the meetings industry to international relations and development was underlined by UNTWO secretary-general Taleb Rifai, who said meetings were part of the wider UN family and a significant part of the travel economy.
“The meetings industry is today a central part of the tourism sector,” he claimed. “Among the more than one billion international tourists that travel the world every year, an estimated 140 million (14 per cent) do so for business and professional reasons.
“Yet, more important than these numbers is the impact the meetings industry has on the ground – the enormous economic contribution it represents for destinations around the world, the fact that the meetings industry is today a fundamental source of knowledge sharing and that it contributes decisively to progress trade, investment, innovation and science.”
The agreement was the product of months of discussions in which representatives of the signatory organisations identified areas of common interest. Of particular concern was the importance of recognising and incorporating the incremental values associated with the meetings industry relative to the role it plays in facilitating global business, professional and academic outcomes and more effectively incorporating these values in the ongoing conversation with governments and the business community.
Additionally there was an opportunity recognised in that these benefits could be more effectively documented and presented if supported by a better integrated research effort.
President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, David Scowsill, said travel and tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors, accounting for nine per cent of GDP, one in 11 jobs worldwide and 30 per cent of the world’s service sector exports.
“The meetings industry is a major contributor to travel and tourism revenues and economic and social advancement,” he said. “Conferences, meetings, conventions and exhibitions bring together individuals and organisations to pursue business, professional, academic and social goals. We look forward to working together with the JMIC and UNWTO to support and advance the role played by the meetings industry in the growth of travel and tourism and that of economies and societies.”
The preliminary discussions as well as the collaboration meeting in which the statement was finalised were facilitated by IMEX chairman Ray Bloom, who said the understanding was a first and the most significant recognition of the meeting industry’s status as an economic driver at a global level.
Bloom’s comments were echoed by JMIC president Philippe Fournier, who said: “This is an important achievement for the meetings industry as it opens the door for more effective communications and interactions between our three organisations in areas where we have a common interest and a stake in future industry growth and stability.
“At the same time, it will enable us all to speak more consistently and with greater credibility to our respective audiences and constituencies, many of which we share.”
This was first published in issue 76 of CMW. Any comments? Email Annie Byrne
