Meetings and Events industry leaders team up for First Annual North American Meetings Industry Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Meetings Mean Business (MMB), a cross-industry communications and advocacy initiative, has joined the meetings and events industry to lead the first annual North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) on April 16, 2015. This nationwide day of advocacy will spotlight the substantial value derived from business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions, and will engage policymakers, industry elites and business leaders.

The MMB coalition members, in addition to industry leaders across Canada and Mexico, will host and drive events in communities all across their respective countries.

Michael Dominguez, MMB co-chair and senior vice president of corporate sales at MGM Resorts International, said, “We are excited to be involved in such a meaningful day that unites our industry not only across the United States, but also across Canada and Mexico, communicating the critical role in connecting people and driving positive business results through face-to-face interaction. Across the continent we will demonstrate how meetings build personal relationships, drive positive outcomes and support strong communities.”

“NAMID is a true testament to the strength of the leadership within the Convention Industry Council, Meeting Professionals International and across our coalition of meetings and events leaders. MPI Canada created this initiative 20 years ago with three objectives in mind: to define and shape the meetings and events profession in the future; to help raise the industry’s profile; and to discuss the economic impact of meetings with people who are outside the industry. These objectives remain consistent with our goals for events all across the continent this spring,” added David Peckinpaugh, fellow MMB co-chair and president of Maritz Travel.

Stuart Taylor, Canada Chapter business manager for MPI added, “National Meetings Industry Day is not just about executing an event. It is about elevating and building our community through leveraging important issues to raise awareness of the power of meetings in evolving and shaping that community; economically, environmentally, socially and intellectually, In 2012, meetings in Canada contributed $27.5 billion to our gross domestic product (GDP) - approximately 1.5 percent of Canada’s total GDP. From an economic standpoint, meetings make a strong impact when you gather people of similar interests from far and wide.”