(Image provided by the LVCVA, Erica Johnson, Director of Communications – Public Relations and Communications)
by Kerstan Szczepanski
with assistance from PR sent by LVCVA and JMIC
Conferences, business meetings, and professional gatherings create jobs, business relationships, and economic growth. Canadian National Meetings Day started in the mid-90s to highlight the economic importance of the meetings industry in Canada. Networking events, workshops, and media campaigns raised awareness about the meetings industry and its value.
In 2015 it became North American Meetings Industry Day to expand the recognition of the importance of the industry to not only Canada, but the US and Mexico. Then 2016 saw it expanded to the world at large, becoming Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID).
It is only natural that GMID would be important in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas resort community united to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on April 11, 2024, showcasing the value of in-person meetings and conventions to Southern Nevada with a marquee takeover featuring the campaign hashtag, #MeetingsMatter. Las Vegas resorts featured blue exterior lighting to mark the initiative conceived by the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), the premier advocacy association for the travel industry.
According to USTA, in 2023 there was $119 billion in meeting and event-related travel spending in the U.S., which directly supported nearly 600,000 American jobs.
“Meetings provide undeniable value to Southern Nevada as our visitors combine business with the iconic Las Vegas experience,” says Lisa Messina, chief sales officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “GMID is our opportunity to recognize the many organizations that prioritize in-person meetings in our destination. They help move business forward while driving job creation and economic growth in our community.”
In 2023, Las Vegas welcomed nearly 6 million business travelers, many of whom added a leisure trip before or after a meeting or convention. The year monumental for Las Vegas’ tourism industry, and business travel continues to benefit. In addition to new investments and offerings throughout the destination, Las Vegas was on the world’s stage with the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in late 2023 and Super Bowl LVIII in early 2024, which drove global awareness and record visitation.
Las Vegas isn’t alone in benefitting from meetings in Las Vegas. According to data compiled by the LVCVA Research Center, when a tradeshow or event is hosted in Las Vegas, organizers generally receive a nine-percent boost in attendance compared to other destinations.
There is now 15 million square feet of meeting and convention space throughout Southern Nevada – more than any other U.S. destination. Convention business drives Sunday through Thursday visitation to help fill 155,000 hotel rooms in the area. Business travelers also stay longer and spend on average a third more while in the destination. In 2022, convention visitor spending in the destination supported more than 38,000 local jobs and drove $7.5 billion in economic impact.
Las Vegas also continues to enhance the experience for business travelers. A $600 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s (LVCC) legacy campus is underway, which will extend the technology customer experience, and contemporary design and architecture of the West Hall. The Venetian Convention and Expo Center and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center are also undergoing renovations. In 2023, the three Las Vegas facilities were among the Wall Street Journal’s list of top convention centers in the U.S., with the LVCC ranking number one.
“The importance of Global Meetings Industry Day is that it recognises the significant role of meetings in changing our world for the better,” says James Rees, President of JMIC, in a statement from the Joint Meetings Industry Council. “At JMIC, we are dedicated to promoting the meetings industry and demonstrating its benefits, from local community legacy to the widest global perspective. Through advocacy and collaboration, we will continue to strengthen the voice of the meetings industry and showcase its lasting benefits and outcomes.”
“We mark Global Meetings Industry Day by acknowledging the meetings industry’s ability to overcome barriers and cater to all fields around the world. Meetings are essential for enhancing economic development, stimulating innovation, and advancing social change. They help to determine the future of communities across the globe.
“As we celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day, JMIC invites participants from all sectors of the meetings industry to renew their dedication to working together, innovating, and delivering high-quality results. Together, we can use the power of meetings to build a more equitable, sustainable, and thriving future for ourselves and next generations.”
GMID Recap as provided by U.S. Travel Association here.
About THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with positioning Southern Nevada as the undisputed global destination for leisure and business travel along with operating the 4.6 million square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). With more than 155,000 hotel rooms and more than 15 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space in Las Vegas, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting visitors to the area. For more information visit www.lvcva.com, www.visitlasvegas.com or www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.
About JMIC
The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) is a global organization that represents the combined interests of major international industry associations in the meetings and events sector. JMIC advocates for the industry’s impact, value, and sustainability on a global level. For more information visit www.themeetingsindustry.org
