As an annual international day of advocacy that showcases the incredible and undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses, communities and the global economy, Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) will once again gather event industry professionals virtually and in person on Thurs., April 11 to communicate and celebrate the importance of the events industry.

An initiative of Meetings Mean Business (a division of U.S. Travel), the event is again being hosted virtually by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), its chapters and myriad other industry organizations. 

The MPI’s 8th annual GMID is expected to attract thousands of industry professionals to a 12-hour live broadcast running from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Central Time (06:00 to 18:00 UTC -5). Carrying the theme of #TheEventProfessionalsJourney, the digital event will feature a host of industry leaders sharing insights and experiences on the global impact of meetings along with education and activities from all over the world.

As in past years, GMID ‘24 will offer a full lineup of industry experts, with MPI hosting a series of interviews led by MPI CEO Paul Van Deventer, Chief Revenue Officer Rachel Benedick and Chief Brand Officer Drew Holmgreen with industry leaders as the event takes a deep dive into the state of the industry, uncovering key insights, trends and strategies shaping the future of events and hospitality.

With an extensive array of events, summits and experiences hosted by industry leaders and organizations, associations, partners and supporters from across the globe, GMID’s educational sessions will cover top-of-mind topics, including emerging event technologies such as AI, experiential engagement, event design, destination spotlights, food and beverage, event contracts, audio-visual, wellness, MPI partner and chapter highlights, and more.

“Global meetings shape our world, fostering connections, innovation and progress,” said Tim Luepke, MPI director of education. “As we celebrate the pulse of our industry in this 12-hour broadcast on April 11, we will embrace the power of storytelling to illuminate the journey of the event professional, enriching minds and inspiring resilience. MPI continues to be a catalyst to unite our industry peers to bring collective expertise and propel the meeting industry forward to a brighter future.”  

Carrying the theme #MeetingsMatter in 2023, GMID experienced record engagement, with more than 2,300 attendees, 45 million impressions worldwide on social media and 70 GMID events held in 35 countries. The event offered more than 40 educational segments on cutting-edge topics, including sustainability, incentive travel research, anti-human trafficking education and event data strategy, along with special events including the announcement of the 2023 RISE Award finalists. 

RELATED: GMID 2023 CHAMPIONS THE POWER OF THE BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY WITH RECORD ENGAGEMENT

Here’s a peek at how some event industry organizations and their chapters will be celebrating GMID this year:

U.S. Travel Association

According to U.S. Travel officials, the benefits of meetings range from the tangible to intangible — bolstering local economies and businesses while simultaneously fueling individual growth, long-lasting connections and mutual respect.

For those #eventprofs ready to engage, U.S. Travel has put together its GMID 2024 toolkit with helpful resources such as key messages, graphics and sample social media posts, to help participants amplify all the ways that #MeetingsMatter.

PCMA

As in past years, myriad chapters of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) in the U.S. and Canada will be holding in-person activities, including keynotes, panel discussions, legislative sessions and other events.

Held at the tail end of PCMA and Destinations International’s Business Events Industry Week, taking place April 8-11 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, PCMA’s Capital Chapter will be hosting GMID in-person programming from 10 a.m.-12 p.m EDT. The event will include a keynote on the state of congress and the 2024 election, as well as a panel discussion, “Navigating Workforce Dynamics in the Meetings Industry: Insights & Strategies,” focusing on the workforce, labor and unions within the meetings industry. All PCMA members are welcome, regardless of chapter affiliation.

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter is expecting more than 150 business events professionals at its in-person GMID event taking place 12:45-6 p.m. Eastern Time at CYTO | PHL at the Cira Centre. With programming focusing on leveraging the power of multiple generations in the events industry workforce to create growth, the event will kick off with a keynote presented by Tim Hines, aka The Marketing Starter, titled “Gen Y and Gen Z Influencers: How We Can Harness the Power of the New Generations and Work Better Together.” This will be followed by a panel discussion that will dive deeper into building company culture, staffing models and challenges, and recruitment, retention and job training.

PCMA members can find out about GMID activities in their region here.

Caesars Entertainment

Along with a robust GMID digital communications and social media campaign, Caesars Entertainment will be participating in GMID events with local MPI chapters throughout the U.S., and in Las Vegas, collaborating with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, placing special messaging on Caesars resort marquees and lighting up the High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ Hotel and the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas.

Additionally, the leading hospitality company is sponsoring a virtual session on MPI’s broadcast, “Wellness Resilience: Winning Even When Things Go Awry,” conducted by Kelly Gleeson Smith, Caesars Entertainment vice president of sales, and featuring Fortune 500 speaker Nolan Nichols, founder of A Million Dreams. During this session, Nichols will guide viewers through a meditation and provide practical tips on keeping calm, cool and collected in times of stress throughout an event, a workday and always.

This session is part of the Caesar’s larger wellness initiative, Caesars Means Wellness, the hospitality company’s new commitment to prioritizing mental health and wellness for their group clients and employees. Among the many components of the initiative are a new meetings wellness menu, speakers addressing physical and mental wellness, and group activities designed to reduce stress and increase mental clarity.

Orlando

The Orlando community, joined by Visit Orlando, Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and destination partners, will commemorate the indelible impact of meetings and events on its local economy with several activities and initiatives, including:  

• Visit Orlando, in collaboration with Orlando’s Poet Laureate, Shawn Welcome, is crafting a poem that will showcase the tremendous value of in-person meetings and the positive impact meetings have on the Orlando community, local businesses and economy. ​
• Orlando destination partners are participating with Visit Orlando in a new #OrlandoMeeting social media campaign celebrating the importance of meetings and events to Orlando. 
• Visit Orlando’s Vice President of Sales and Services Stephanie Naegele will participate in a GMID speaking engagement with MPI’s Greater Orlando Chapter.

Keep an eye out for more announcements about GMID 2024 events taking place locally, nationally and globally. MPI’s virtual celebration is complimentary to all participants, however, the association is asking participants to consider donating $10 toward supporting the efforts of the MPI Foundation, which has awarded more than $5 million in grants, scholarships and research since 2009.

To register, go here.

Save the date: GMID 2025 is scheduled to take place April 3, 2025.

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on LinkedIn!