The Meetings Mean Business Coalition announced “Meetings Matter” as the 2023 theme for Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). The event, slated to be held on March 30, 2023 is the international day of advocacy showcasing the value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities.
The “Meetings Matter” theme will showcase the economic and societal importance of face-to-face meetings, a critical message to share with elected officials and business leaders which underscores the multi-layered benefits that come from meeting in person.
Following years of canceled in-person meetings and virtual meeting replacements, GMID is a moment to remind businesses why meetings matter to more than just those who attend. Local communities and small businesses across the nation rely on meetings and events to remain financially solvent. A return to a thriving travel industry—and American economy—is dependent on the swift and full return of meetings and events. Besides generating business, meetings drive education, knowledge and communal understanding on critical topics, advancing progress in critical areas facing the U.S., the economy and societal wellbeing.
Prior to the pandemic (2019), meetings and events accounted for 42 percent of all business travel spending and 11 percent of all travel spending in the U.S. The nearly $130 billion in meetings-related travel spending in the U.S. directly supported 800,000 American jobs, $42 billion in employee payroll and $19 billion in federal, state and local tax receipts.
The U.S. Travel Association will produce a toolkit in early 2023 to help the industry demonstrate the power of face-to-face meetings, including resources such as: Key messages and economic impact; social media guide; video; sample LinkedIn copy; and sample press release.
“GMID 2022” broke activation records, garnering over 40 million impressions worldwide and reaching over 8.5 million users. The U.S. travel industry looks forward to building on last year’s strength and making the 2023 event a success.
For more information, visit www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com.
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