On March 30, the meetings industry will come together to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) to show the world that “Meetings Matter.”
Led by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition and the U.S. Travel Association, GMID is an international day of advocacy showcasing the value business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences, and conventions bring to people, businesses, and communities. Several cities across the South will be hosting GMID events including Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C.
The GMID theme for 2023 is #MeetingsMatter. This theme will spotlight the economic and societal importance of face-to-face meetings, which organizers say is a critical message to share with elected officials and business leaders that underscores the multilayered benefits of meeting in person.
The U.S. Travel Association has shared a toolkit with resources to celebrate GMID. Some suggestions for celebrating the day include highlighting local meetings and the positive impact they have; posting on social media with the hashtags #MeetingsMatter and #GMID2023; and changing cover photos on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to blue to reflect the official color of the day.
A prime example of the importance of meetings can be seen in the Peach State of Georgia. According to a media release from Explore Georgia, meetings are a crucial driver of the state’s economy and workforce, playing a vital role in fueling other industries such as food and beverage, lodging, retail, and transportation. The most recent data show that professional meetings attracted 5.5 million overnight domestic travelers to Georgia and drove $2.6 billion in business travel spending statewide in 2021.
“Business travel is essential to our state’s tourism economy,” says Georgia Department of Economic Development chief marketing officer Mark Jaronski. “The economic impact of professional meetings and events is evidence that this segment provides significant value and benefits that filter through communities across all regions of our state.”
