Successful Meetings - January 2010 - (Page 8)

NEWS UPDATE Taking the Reins Industry groups band together to spread the word about the importance of face-to-face events T he Convention Industry Council (CIC) and a team of industry-wide partners announced on December 15 two projects intended to prove and promote the value of meetings in America. The first is a study undertaken with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and modeled after the successful MPI Foundation Canada-sponsored study “Meetings Activity in 2006: A Portrait of the Canadian Sector.” Results are expected to be released in October, with interim reports possible. The study will focus on three industry segments: meetings and incentives (without exhibitions), incentive travel, and exhibitions. It will explore both the direct and indirect economic significance of the industry and attempt to get clear understanding on the size of the industry. Six groups will be surveyed: association planners, corporate planners, attendees, exhibitors, venue management, and DMOs. The project is supported by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), U.S. Travel Association, International Special Events Society (ISES), American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), Site, and Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME). “This is a great example of the industry moving forward together,” notes Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. CIC also announced a grassroots campaign to promote the benefits of face-to-face meetings. After travel, leisure, and entertainment marketing firm Ypartnership interviewed key stakeholders in the meetings industry to ascertain their thoughts on the benefits of meeting face-toface, it was determined that the message distills down to: Face Time. It Matters. A publicity campaign, trade association communications, industry partner communications, and a promotional toolkit launch this month. In announcing the program Peter Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership, cited a survey Ypartnership conducted, which indicated 35 percent of respondents would plan fewer meetings in 2010 because of “image/publicity/public policy” considerations. That translates to an estimated $2.5 billion in lost economic impact. The initiative is supported by ASAE, DMAI, MPI, PCMA, ISES, Site, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). “We’re responding to what we consider one of the most challenging years ever,” says Deborah Sexton, president and CEO of PCMA. “We are united and we feel very strong about the outcome.” —Kinley Levack I SM I January 2010 I SuccessfulMeetings.com http://www.SuccessfulMeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - January 2010

Successful Meetings - January 2010
Contents
Editor's Letter
Taking the Reins
Incentive Insights
Meetings Law
Path to Success
Innovative Meetings
Convention Centers
Places and Spaces

Successful Meetings - January 2010