In 2014, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) made significant headway in advancing its charge to champion the economic and social value of the convention, meeting, exhibition and events industry.
Update to the Economic Significance Study
In January 2014, CIC released new data on the economic impact of the meetings industry with its update to the 2009 Economic Significance of Meetings in the U.S. Economy study. The study, which revealed that the meetings industry provided more than $115 billion to fuel the U.S. economy, set the tone for one of CIC’s most important priorities – advocacy.
CMP Class of 2014
CIC welcomed a new class of 850 Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) to its growing global community. 2014 was also a historic year, with the inaugural class of CMPs certified in the new CMP-Healthcare Subspecialty (CMP-HC), the first certification of its kind.
Shining the Light on Room Block Poaching
The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), CIC’s initiative to promote industry-wide best practices and standards, announced a new workgroup to study the growing issue of room block poaching. In April, APEX invited planners to take a survey about the practice and spent the remainder of the year conducting research and developing best practices, tools and resources to help meeting professionals better manage room blocks. A white paper and toolkit is expected in 2015.
Record Registration at CMP Conclave
The annual CMP Conclave, held September 2014 in New Orleans, was the highest attended Conclave.
Vocal Industry Thought Leaders
A proud member of the Meetings Mean Business coalition, and co-founder of the Meetings Industry Advocacy Hub, CIC members spoke out in defense of the value of investing in meetings, against ‘convention crashers,’ and educating the community on what the Ebola crises meant for meetings.
2015 Preview
CIC is gearing up for the first-ever North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) on April 16, 2015, which will bring together industry professionals across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to showcase the substantial value of meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, tradeshows and exhibitions. The year 2015 also will be the 30th anniversary of the CMP program.
