Global Events Celebrate Return and Impact of Meetings

While the global pandemic taught us that technology can bring us together in different ways, it also made us keenly aware of the limitation of virtual meetings. Neary two-thirds of Americans now complain of “Zoom Fatigue” and 81 percent of American workers say they miss in-person meetings and conventions.

Recognizing these facts, industry organizations and leaders are coming together on Thursday, April 7, 2022, to celebrate the benefits of face-to-face events, their economic impact, and how the industry can work together with attendees to meet safely. The seventh annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) will educate, entertain, and put a spotlight on the recovery of the meeting and event sector. 

According to Tourism Economics, the U.S. saw a loss of $370 billion in business travel spending in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021—$180 billion of which was due to the reduction in meetings, conventions, and trade shows. Prior to the pandemic, meetings generated more than $130 billion in spending annually in the US and supported approximately 800,000 jobs.

“The impact of meetings goes beyond just the financial aspects,” said one hotel sales executive at a recent meeting of the Washington State Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. “Meeting together means so much for our emotional well-being. I’m so ready and excited for the re-emergence of meetings and events.”

With that in mind, many cities are holding live rallies, education sessions, and social celebrations in conjunction with GMID. From Fenway Park in Boston to the San Diego Air and Space Museum and even a brand-new indoor golf venue in Seattle, people will come together to demonstrate safe meetings and interact in-person. Others will participate in virtual events that will showcase those live events.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) will hold a free, 12-hour virtual broadcast featuring GMID education, activities, and celebrations. All are welcome to join the broadcast as their schedules permit. Visit the MPI GMID webpage to check out the agenda and register. You can also learn more about GMID 2022 by visiting Meetings Mean Business.