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This Just In

New Campaign Emphasizes the Importance of Meetings and Events

TSE STAFF

Boston, MA – The Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) unveiled a new campaign to showcase the value derived from business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions. The campaign, Meetings Mean Business, will create an information and advocacy platform that highlights the industry’s pivotal role in creating jobs, generating economic value and driving business success.

The campaign officially kicked off on January 14 at the PCMA’s Convening Leaders meeting in Boston, organized by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). It coincided with a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, “Examining Conference and Travel Spending Across the Federal Government.”

“Unfortunately, the event industry is still not recognized in the way that other industries are,” said David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel and co-chair of the MMBC. “The launch of this industry-wide campaign is an exciting moment as diverse voices from across our industry unite behind a powerful, singular message to communicate the benefits meetings bring to communities, businesses and the economy.”

The campaign is organized around three points:

  • Creating personal connections
  • Driving positive business outcomes
  • Building strong communities

The campaign will also focus on how meetings and conferences are an essential business tool for departments and agencies across the government.

“The unfortunate trend in the professional workplace is that we are all disappearing farther behind our electronic devices, and both empirically and intuitively, and that’s counterproductive in multiple respects,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Meetings Mean Business will change the discussion by presenting the airtight case for the irreplaceable value of face-to-face collaboration. A decline in in-person communication would measurably threaten the quality of outcomes in a number of critical spheres – government policymaking, business bottom lines, and scientific innovation, not to mention workplace bonhomie and the impact on local economies. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

Founding partners in the coalition include David DuBois, president of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). “David has been with us since day one, helping to build the coalition and raising funds,” Peckinpaugh said.

Members of the MMBC include the U.S. Travel Association, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Caesars Entertainment, Convention Industry Council (CIC), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Disney Destinations, Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Helms Briscoe, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Corporation, the International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE), Maritz Travel, Marriott International, Meetings Professional International (MPI), MGM Resorts, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Society of Independent Organizers (SISO), Site Global, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, many of the major DMOs across the country, and others.

Reach Roger Dow at (202) 408-8422 or presidentsoffice@ustravel.org; David Peckinpaugh at (636) 827-4000 or david.peckinpaugh@maritz.com

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