The recent semi-annual meeting of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) agreed a number of initiatives designed to raise the profile of the meetings industry and its value proposition in a time of ongoing economic uncertainty.
The initiatives include:
- A Member’s Agreement to be produced as a statement of purpose and commitment to the collective pursuit of industry-wide issues such as increased awareness of the industry and its role in supporting urgent global priorities around economic growth and development
- Acting on the recommendations arising from the JMIC Conference on the Value of Meetings held in London in 2011
- Publishing a Speak Up booklet designed to encourage industry members to take the initiative in communicating the nature and value of the industry in their local communities. It is available as a download from the Advocacy Resources section of the JMIC website along with other resources like the JMIC Guide to Community and Government Relations which provides advice, tactics and key messaging to those engaging in local industry communications efforts
- A second JMIC conference
- A new section of the JMIC website – The Value Proposition – to act as a repository for all available materials that can assist industry members in formulating and delivering value messages and measures in their respective communities
- The 2012 JMIC Profile and Power Award which recognised Steven Hacker, former CEO of IAEE, for his work in effectively communicating the value of the exhibition sector and his driving research to document the economic consequences of visa restrictions on participation in the exhibition sector
- A survey of industry conditions and industry meetings formats
The council concluded that the planned initiatives represent logical steps in the overall JMIC strategy of first developing the measurements and resources required to support the industry value proposition and subsequently getting that message out more effectively to government and community audiences whose highest priorities at this moment align perfectly with the industry’s role in creating vehicles for economic, academic and professional advancement.
“We are pleased that we have come so far together in our collective mission to raise industry profile and reposition the industry as a primary factor in global economic development,” said JMIC President Philippe Fournier. “However, much remains to be done and we intend to keep up our direction and pace in the year ahead”
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