by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:25 AM ET, Wed April 10, 2024
The U.S. Travel Association is celebrating Global
Meetings Industry Day on April 11 under the banner theme of “Meetings
Matter.”
Global Meetings Industry Day is dedicated to championing the
undeniable professional, personal, and economic benefits of business meetings,
trade shows, conferences, and conventions.
Last year, spending on meetings and event-related travel
totaled $119 billion in the United States, directly supporting nearly 600,000 jobs.
Hosting events, conventions and trade shows can stimulate a region’s economy
through bookings at meeting facilities, local hotels and more.
“In-person meetings and events are essential to the success
of businesses and individuals across every industry,” U.S.
Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said. “Global Meetings
Industry Day is an opportunity to highlight how this critical sector fuels
local economies, business profits, individual growth and the professional
relationships that advance common causes.”
More companies are returning to face-to-face meetings to
grow connections and collaboration, with an American Express Global Business
Travel study showing that 81 percent of respondents agreeing that in-person
interactions foster greater levels of business
innovation.
To celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day, around 50
businesses and organizations are holding events and activations, including Hilton’s
“The Meeting That Meant Everything” contest, Meeting Professionals
International’s (MPI) 12-hour broadcast, NC Meetings Mean Business Alliance hosting
educational sessions and more.
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