(Pictured above: JMIC President Kai Hattendorf)
The Joint Meetings Industry Council has released a “Meetings Industry Manifesto” that sets out a series
of arguments as to why business events such as meetings, conventions and exhibitions can, and should, be utilized to drive economic recovery and renewal in the post-COVID-19 era.
The manifesto was assembled with the advice and input of a broad range of industry leaders through
an online forum process the results of which were captured in a two-part webinar held in four regions around the world last week under the auspices of four global industry tradeshows—AIME, IBTM, IMEX and Meetings Africa and supplemented with advice and commentary from global cities advisor Professor Greg Clark.
“COVID-19 has again highlighted a core weakness on the global business events industry: We struggle
to share a joint message, to stand as a united industry, when it matters,” says JMIC President Kai Hattendorf. “With policymakers, this puts us at the end of the queue of industries seeking to showcase their respective roles for economies and societies.”
The manifesto is a resource for industry professionals and representatives worldwide who advocate for
the re-opening of business events in their respective communities. While the industry and many business events themselves are global, the decision processes around re-opening events are typically made locally—and can be tied to local economic recovery strategies.
“The core of the document is a list of 15 reasons why business events should get priority attention from
governments as a vehicle for economic recovery and renewal,” says JMIC President Kai Hattendorf.
The manifesto, along with supporting materials and links to the webinar that contributed to its
content are all available on either the JMIC website www.themeetingsindustry.org or The Iceberg
at www.the-iceberg.org for download and use by industry members.
JMIC, the Joint Meetings Industry Council, is an organization that represents the combined interests of some 18 international meetings industry associations and events. It has provided a forum for information exchange amongst industry groups for more than 50 years and has recently become more engaged in the process of articulating and delivering industry messages to wider community
and governmental audiences as well as developing better mechanisms for documenting and communicating the value of the industry in terms of economic, academic, professional and social advancement. For more info, visit www.themeetingsindustry.org.
JMIC members include:
AACVB | the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus
ACCLATAM | the Association of Convention Centres of the Caribbean and Latin America
AIPC | the International Association of Convention Centres
ASAE | the American Society of Association Executives
COCAL | the Latin American Confederation of PCO and Related Companies
ECM | European Cities Marketing
EMECA | the European Major Exhibition Centres Association
EVVC | European Association of Event Centres
IAEE | the International Association of Exhibitions and Events
IAPCO | the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers
ICCA | the International Congress and Convention Association
MPI | Meeting Professionals International
PCMA | the Professional Convention Management Association
SACEOS | the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers
SISO | the Society of Independent Show Organizers
SITE | Society for Incentive Travel Excellence
UFI | the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
UIA | the Union of International Associations
JMIC is supported by Industry Partners IMEX and IBTM World
