Amy Calvert has a call to action for meeting and event professionals on the eve of this year’s Global Meetings Industry Day. 

 

Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council, is spearheading the annual event, taking place on May 6, in which meeting and event industry professionals gather to educate, advocate and celebrate the powerful impact that results from face-to-face meetings and business events.  

 

Last year’s GMID generated thousands of social media posts reaching more than 2 million people, according to the U.S. Travel Association, which organized the event in 2025. 

 

Examples of events scheduled for GMID this year include a session on navigating politics while addressing safety and security issues, a travel rally in Washington, D.C., and Meeting Professionals International’s eight-hour global broadcast featuring key topics and keynote speakers. Many others will engage policymakers and local media to amplify the message of the economic impact of business meetings and events. 

 

Calvert’s EIC will release its much-anticipated 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, an authoritative report conducted by Oxford Economics which tracks the global impact of the industry. The EIC has also produced a #GMID2026 toolkit to support industry professionals.

 

While Calvert applauds these initiatives, she also wants meeting professionals to take advocacy a step further. It is important, she said, to come together with local municipalities and organizations to “take stock of the importance of the work that we're all doing,” and to educate and inform local leaders who are outside of the industry. 

 

Amy Calvert

 

“What we also want to do is think about this not just through the lens of what happens on that particular day, but really turning it into a call to action for our industry year round, to be informed and embrace this role that we can all play and being able to tell our best story,” she said. “How wonderful would it be if everybody was really inspired to take a step back and reflect a little bit on the work that they do daily to think about, ‘wow, this is a much bigger endeavor than maybe I've considered it to be before,’ and feel inspired to be a bit of a champion.” 

 

 

 

More GMID News

Recognizing Hospitality Industry Professionals on #GMID2026

USA250: Meetings that Shaped America

Industry Facts, How to Participate

History of GMID

 

 

New Data to be Released 

The 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study gave industry professional significant data points about the business: 1.6 billion participants across more than 180 countries; $1.15 trillion in direct spending; 30 million people in the workforce; and business events that supported 10.9 million direct jobs globally, generating $662.6 million in direct GDP. 

 

That speaks to the power of face to face. 

“Our growth in the industry is being driven by group (meetings) and remains strong due to the need of our basic human nature to be together with other human beings,” said Michael Dominguez, President and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International. “A great reminder of the power of coming together to learn, engage, share and inspire.” 

 

He said the importance of meetings for the health of our society is critical in a world that is wrestling with a loneliness epidemic as 40% of people have feelings of loneliness according to the American Psychological Association in 2025. This is being driven by remote work, social feeds and people living alone at large rate.  

“We bring people together and from endorphins to dopamine spikes, meetings have an ability to make people feel connected and part of a larger community,” he said. “There is a sense of pride in how far we have advanced since our first GMID in driving an understanding with business decision makers, legislative leaders and local communities on the power of face-to-face meetings. In a sometimes very divisive world, we are reminded when consuming a meeting with a room full of strangers that we have more in common in our human experience than we do differences…an important lesson to pass on.” 

 

Key Issues Facing the Industry 

GMID also offers the opportunity for meeting professionals to understand and dialogue on current issues impacting industry growth. 

 

Among the key issues identified by the U.S. Travel Association are legislative action points asking Congress to: 

  • Cosponsor and pass legislation to ensure air traffic controllers and TSA officers are paid during funding lapses to prevent disruptions to the economy and the air travel system. 

  • Halt proposed changes to the ESTA application and delay or limit the proposed Visa Integrity Fee (there are currently proposals that would require international visitors to pay a $250 “visa integrity fee,” and expanded social media screening requirements. USTA says both measure would negatively impact inbound travelers). 

  • Transfer $160 million in surplus Travel Promotion Funds to Brand USA to increase visitation to the U.S. for major upcoming events and restore our lost share of international visitors. 

 

“There is going to always be these macro forces, these political tensions and economic realities, and at the end of the day, companies are still investing and coming together and meeting in person face to face,” Calvert said. “Those of us who have been in the industry for a while, we can have the benefit of seeing the cycles, so we don't have that same sort of reactionary kind of moment. We can all be involved in offering our leadership and telling the story about why our industry really matters. That’s the critical piece is that anybody can be a champion. Anybody can support the story.” 

 

 

What Others are Saying About GMID 

“Global Meetings Industry Day highlights the powerful role of business events and exhibitions as the human catalyst for global growth,” said Stephanie Glanzer, CMP, Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President for MGM Resorts International. “At MGM Resorts, we see every day how bringing people together sparks innovation, strengthens partnerships and drives meaningful economic impact. In a rapidly evolving world, these moments of connection are more important than ever.” 

"GMID is our chance to reinforce the essential value of meetings,” said Kevin Hinton, Managing Director of Group Travel at the U.S. Travel Association. “When you bring people together in person, you create real momentum. Nothing is more powerful than getting together in the same room to deepen trust and accelerate decision-making.”