Editor’s Note: This is an update to an article that published in April 2024.
On April 3, the meeting and event industry will unite for Global Meetings Industry Day, an international day of advocacy and education designed to spotlight the importance and economic impact of business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions, along with the power of face-to-face meetings.
Here are some key facts from the U.S. Travel Association about the economic impact of meetings and events and ways to participate in #GMID2025 #MeetingsMatter.
Meeting and Event Industry, Travel Facts
-
In 2024, there was more than $126 billion in meeting and event-related travel spending in the U.S., directly supporting 620,000 American jobs.
-
In 2023, the travel industry directly employed 8 million Americans and supported nearly 15 million jobs.
-
The travel industry represents 2.5% of the U.S. national GDP. Travel is a top services exporter for the U.S. and has the unique ability to generate a trade surplus for the U.S. economy.
-
Travel accounted for $1.3 trillion in direct spending in 2023, which produced an economic footprint of $2.8 trillion.
How to Participate in Global Meetings Industry Day
Engage with the media, local elected officials and members of Congress.
-
Remind the media and policymakers that meetings matter by using our key messages document and social media guide to gain media attention surrounding the economic benefits, interpersonal benefits and societal benefits to in-person meetings and events. As a result of last year’s participation and utilization of this tool, GMID received nearly 850 media mentions.
Highlight a meeting in your community and the positive impact it had on the local economy
-
In-person meetings provide undeniable value to people, businesses and communities.
-
Not only do meetings drive education, knowledge and understanding on critical subjects, but they also provide substantial benefits to local economies, injecting new revenue and stimulating activity for small businesses in host communities.
Host your own event
-
Join participants across the globe host by hosting an event to honor the activation. Last year, there were close to 100 GMID events in nearly 40 countries, generating more than 850 media mentions and more than 4,000 social media posts.
-
Meeting Professionals International’s GMID 8-hour digital broadcast begins at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday, April 3. Registration is free. Learn more at Event Registration.
Post on social media using the U.S. Travel Social Media Guide
-
It is critical for your message to reach both business leaders and policymakers. One way to reach both audiences is to amplify the reasons why meetings matter on your social media platforms—across both individual handles and organizational accounts. Last year, the industry’s ability to unite for this social media activation enabled the industry to reach more than 10 million users across the globe.
Turn blue for the day
-
GMID’s official color is blue, and many across the industry recognize the importance of this activation by turning their channels—and in some cases their buildings—blue to honor this activation. In past years, some well-known landmarks participated, including the Empire State Building, the Freedom Tower, Rockefeller Center and more.
The U.S. Travel Association and the Meetings Mean Business coalition have produced a #GMID2025 Toolkit to help meeting professionals get involved with information such as facts about the industry, social media guides and more.