At a press conference lauding the economic significance of investing in the meetings industry and congratulating hospitality tech start-up Social Tables on a recent $8 million infusion of new funding, many meeting and event professionals gathered, including the leader of Convention Industry Council (CIC).
On Aug. 6, the conference brought together CIC CEO Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP; Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray; Social Tables CEO and Founder Dan Berger; Events DC CEO and President Greg O’Dell; and BizBash CEO and Founder David Adler.
“According to research released earlier this year, the meetings industry in the U.S. directly employs 1.8 million people,” Kotowski said. “Many other industries that service the meetings industry, multiply that employment impact as demonstrated so vividly by the Social Tables funding and expansion announcement. There is no doubt that the meetings industry is a driver of jobs, tax revenues and direct spending, not only in Washington, D.C. but in communities across the country.”
Last month, Social Tables introduced the Pocket Planner app, a new mobile tool to assist meeting professionals in planning events more efficiently, in partnership with CIC. Kotowski was asked to join the press conference to speak about the impact of the meetings industry in general, and hospitality businesses like Social Tables in particular, on both the local and national economies.
Mayor Gray, a steward of business innovation in D.C.’s tech corridor, stated there are “three sectors that continue to grow and stimulate the economy in this city: hospitality, technology and construction and engineering. We are committed to making D.C. the most business friendly economy in the nation.”
His support was well-received from the press conference attendees.
“I applaud the work of companies like Social Tables, here in D.C.’s tech corridor as well as the leadership of elected public officials, like Mayor Gray, who recognize that public as well as private investment in companies, convention centers and other businesses that bring meetings and events to a city, generate returns that are far greater than the initial investment,” continued Kotowski. “At CIC, we will continue to tell that story.”
The Convention Industry Council champions the economic and social value of a strong convention, meeting, event and exhibitions industry.
