GMID takes place as the return to safe, large-scale in-person meetings continues to gain great momentum. Fully vaccinated Americans can now travel freely without required quarantine or COVID-19 testing, according to new travel guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The positive domino effect on conferences, conventions, expos and tradeshows is imminent. This comes after nearly 13 months of pandemic-related restrictions.
“The desire to meet in-person has never waned – it’s increased,” said Michael Massari, Chief Sales Officer for Caesars Entertainment and MMBC co-chair. “Now that we’re seeing protocols that allow much greater flexibility and movement, we’re going to see a strong return to boardrooms and conference centers nationwide. Businesses are already demonstrating how to come together in ways that are scalable, and we’re here to help.”
Eight in ten Americans working from home are eager to return to in-person meetings and events, according to recent survey data from APCO Insight. That’s why the MMBC, powered by the U.S. Travel Association and in collaboration with industry partners, rallies around corporations and government leaders looking to meet the demand for face-to-face.
“Always resilient, even during uphill battles, our industry has gone great lengths to bring safe events back into the fold – the same events that support the economic welfare of our cities and communities,” said Fred Dixon, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYC & Company and MMBC co-chair. In-person meetings and events supported 5.9 million jobs and $845 billion in economic impact in the United States, prior to the pandemic, in a single year.
“The energy to get back to face-to-face business meetings and events is palpable. We’re celebrating that energy today on GMID. I couldn’t be prouder,” said Dixon.
