The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) has released the third edition of its Global Manifesto, giving the business-events industry updated data and case studies to help make its case to governments, destinations, and public officials.
Manifesto puts numbers behind events
The updated manifesto uses data from the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2026 Global Economic Significance Study. According to the report, the global meetings and events industry generated 759 billion U.S. dollars in direct gross domestic product (GDP) impact in 2025.
The study also reports more than 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars in total GDP impact. In addition, the industry supported 24.2 million jobs worldwide, including 9.7 million direct jobs.
JMIC says the new edition is designed to help the industry explain why business events matter beyond hotel rooms, flights, and visitor spending.
Case studies show local impact
The manifesto lays out 15 ways business events can support growth. Those areas include trust-building, economic development, innovation, investment, talent, sustainability, visitor spending, public policy, and measurable return on investment (ROI).
For example, the manifesto cites the 2025 International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. The event welcomed more than 7,400 delegates from 99 countries and generated an estimated $47 million for the local economy. It also supported agreements between the Australian Space Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the European Space Agency.
This edition also includes case studies and legacy examples from The Iceberg, JMIC’s impact storytelling platform. Those examples show how meetings, conventions, and exhibitions can support research, trade, health policy, community projects, and destination development after an event ends.
JMIC urges local advocacy
The manifesto also gives industry groups 10 practical steps for adapting the message in their own markets. JMIC says the global case for business events works best when local, regional, and national groups connect the message to their own economies and communities.
James Rees, president of JMIC, says the manifesto helps business-events associations and industry stakeholders speak with one voice.
Martin Boyle, chief executive officer of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), led the working group that developed the third edition. He says the manifesto is meant to give meetings professionals clear messages they can use in advocacy efforts and stakeholder discussions.
The Joint Meetings Industry Council is a global body representing major associations in the business-events industry. JMIC advocates for conferences, tradeshows, and conventions as economic and social assets, and leads the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative. For more info, visit www.themeetingsindustry.org.
Press release submitted by JMIC. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
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