Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), 12 April, is a campaign to recognise and unite the entire business events industry across the world, bringing leaders and eventprofs together to showcase the real impact that fact-to-face meetings have on people, business and communities.

GMID was established by Meetings Mean Business, an industry wide coalition. This international day of advocacy saw more than 120 events held across six continents in 2017. The tagline for 2018 is ‘Real results, real impact, all around the world’.

Some of the key points being communicated this year to underline the value of business events include:

The business events sector augments economic activity well beyond directly measurable metrics, underpinning knowledge creation and exchange, innovation and investment;
International business events play a significant role in building a stronger, more productive and more diverse economy;
Around the world, business events are being used as strategic tools for attracting trade and investment, as well as global talent.
Among those showing support to Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID18) is Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), who unites with the meeting industry across the globe to highlight the legacy impact of business events on communities, businesses and economies.

MCB CEO Karen Bolinger, Dr Kapila Gupta, international president of Inner Wheel, Val Corva, Inner Wheel convention coordinator, Alannah Gottschalk, general manager, ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd and Tracey Spicer, renowned Australian Journalist, toasted GMID at the 17th International Inner Wheel Convention taking place this week in Melbourne at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

International Inner Wheel is one of the largest women’s service voluntary organisations in the world. Bolinger said: “It’s significant that this conference falls on Global Meetings Industry Day, where the industry highlights the value of business events across the world.”

Alannah Gottschalk, general manager, ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd added that business events played a key role in connecting people. “The ladies of International Inner Wheel will be connecting at the MCEC this week to discuss new initiatives and ideas that they will enable them to carry out service-based projects in their local communities which have the capacity to change lives,” Gottschalk said.

For more details, kindly check exhibitionworld.co.uk/2018/04/12/celebrating-global-meetings-industry-day-gmid/