Meetings Mean Business Set to Launch First-ever Global Meetings Industry Day

July 25, 2015

Following on the heels of the North American Meetings Industry Day, Meetings Mean Business will launch the first-ever Global Meetings Industry Day April 14 next year, which  will showcase the impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and communities.

“GMID will unite the meetings industry in a way that has never been done before,” said David Peckinpaugh, MMB co-chair and president of Maritz Travel. “The growth and success of our industry are critical to the world’s economy and we look forward to communicating our value on the global stage.”

GMID marks the expansion of North American Meetings Industry Da, held earlier this year in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Latin America.

NAMID included 88 events across the continent as well as robust conversations online and 3.2 million social media impressions. 

Proclamations of support were issued by the governor of Wisconsin and mayors of Toronto, Buffalo and Washington, D.C.

A NAMID billboard was featured all day in Times Square and Caesars Entertainment “Turned the Strip Blue” in Las Vegas with NAMID logos and signage. In Mexico, a collaboration agreement was signed between the federal government, the tourism board and all 11 Meetings Industry Associations.

In 2016, MMB will again join forces with the Convention Industry Council (CIC) and other industry partners to host advocacy events and rallies, issue proclamations and champion the value of the meetings and events industry on social media.

“By recruiting individuals and organizations from every corner of the globe, we’ll demonstrate the critical role our industry plays in building personal relationships, driving positive outcomes and supporting strong communities,” said Michael Dominguez, MMB co-chair and senior vice president of corporate sales at MGM Resorts International.

He added, “During NAMID, we saw three countries stand together with one loud and powerful voice advocating for our industry. Next year, we’ll do one better and bring together industry partners across the globe to stand with us.”

According to Karen Kotowski, CEO of Conventions Industry Council, the goals of GMID will be similar to not only to those of NAMID, but also the first Meetings Industry Day, launched by Meeting Professionals International more than twenty years ago.

“Our core objectives will be to define and shape the meetings and events profession in the future, help raise the industry’s profile and discuss the economic impact of meetings with people outside the industry, who are impacted by it every day,” she said. “We’re eager to engage everyone in the meetings and events community – from the grasstops to the grassroots – to demonstrate our value and strength.” 

Stuart Taylor, Canada Chapter Business manager for Meeting Professionals International added, “GMID isn’t just about creating a series of industry events. It’s about elevating and empowering our community to raise awareness of our impact – economically, environmentally, socially and intellectually. I am thrilled to be involved in this effort.”

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.