The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), together with industry tradeshows AIME, IBTM, IMEX and Meetings Africa, have announced a two-part webinar showcasing the industry speaking with one voice.
Input from industry leaders and commentators is being used to complete an Industry Manifesto delivering joint messaging for our sector.
A joint statement issued by JMIC notes that the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging businesses, economies, and societies around the world and the business event industry is no exception, with many elements of our sector being grouped into generic “mass gathering” terminology.
“While some sectors of the meetings industry have managed to successfully advocate for their businesses around the world, others struggle to be heard – emphasising the need for the business events sector to align behind common messaging and speak with a united voice,” the message says.
Now dozens of leading industry voices from around the world have joined to help shape the messaging for the global industry.
The initial result of the collaboration is a two-part seminar to be rolled out over multiple time zones 2 July in order to share various perspectives and invite further input.
“We are pleased to see this unprecedented and coordinated effort by four major industry tradeshows – IBTM, IMEX, AIME and Meetings Africa – to run these interactive events with their respective audiences and enable us to reach the whole of our global industry community at once,” says JMIC President Kai Hattendorf (pictured). “In the biggest crisis we have ever experienced in our industry, it is very encouraging to see that we are also seeing the most inclusive collaboration.”
Produced by The Iceberg, the seminar combines more than 25 industry perspectives in an interactive conversation with renowned global cities authority Professor Greg Clark who provides advice on how to deliver out key messages to local governments most effectively and in ways that address their top priorities.
Clark also explores what factors are most likely to emerge as industry drivers and competitive issues in a post-Covid-19 world in order to support industry members with their own planning and communications. The seminar will be made available online for any in the global community who wish to access it for viewing or use it in other forums that are expected to follow.
On completion, the Manifesto will set out a series of arguments as to why business events such as meetings, conventions and exhibitions are best positioned to drive recovery and innovation across a broad spectrum of business and professional in the safest ways now available. It is intended to serve as a resource to industry members around the world who are having to engage with local and regional governments – those who have the power right now to decide over the re-opening of events.
“Both the seminar and the Manifesto will be powerful tools for all of us to use in defining our sector’s future”, says Hattendorf.
“Here, we come together as one industry to sharpen the value proposition of our industry – to make it easy to understand the critical role that business events have to play in the post-Covid recovery - and combine this with the best available advice on how to successfully deliver this message to government and community decision-makers”, adds JMIC Executive Director Rod Cameron.
The current schedule for the webinars is:
- 0700 BST: 1600 – Melbourne / 1400 HK – via AIME
- 1000 BST: 1100 – Johannesburg / 1300 Dubai – via Meetings Africa
- 1400 BST: 1500 – Paris / 1600 Moscow via IBTM
- 1700 BST: 1200 – NYC / 1100 Chicago / 1100 Mexico City / 0900 Vancouver via IMEX
Details for each are being made available via their sponsor’s respective platforms.
JMIC is an organisation that represents the combined interests of some 18 international meetings industry associations and events.
as developing better mechanisms for documenting and communicating the value of the industry in terms of economic, academic, professional and social advancement..
JMIC members include:
ACCLATAM, the Association of Convention Centres of the Caribbean and Latin America
AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres
Cocal, the Latin American Confederation of PCO and Related Companies
ECM, European Cities Marketing
EMECA – 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
