On April 7, 2022, Tourism Diversity Matters goes BLUE, joining organizations across the globe in support of the annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). GMID, led by the Meetings Mean Business industry advocacy coalition, spotlights the proven value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows, and exhibitions bring to businesses and the recovering local travel economy.
This year’s theme, Meet Safe, will show how safe, productive meetings are taking place now—offering a reminder of the importance of face-to-face professional interactions. GMID is of particular importance this year as our industry builds back its meetings/events sector of the travel economy following severe pandemic-related declines.
According to Tourism Economics, the U.S. saw a decline of $370 billion in business travel spending in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021—$180 billion of which was due to the decline in meetings, conventions, and trade shows. Professional Meetings and Events accounted for 42% of all business travel spending and 11% of all travel spending in the U.S. prior to the pandemic (2019).
After two long years of the pandemic, it is clear there is no substitute for face-to-face professional meetings and events. The relationships and productivity spurred by in-person meetings simply cannot be achieved virtually. That’s why this year’s Global Meetings Industry Day is so important.