The Meetings Mean Business Coalition had a busy 2016 advocating to prove the value of the meetings industry, and 2017 looks to be even busier, as MMB continues to push existing initiatives forward and launch new ones.

“Meetings Mean Business continues to grow as a coalition, attracting new supporters and elevating the industry,” said Richard Harper, MMB co-chair and HelmsBriscoe executive vice president.

He added, “In 2017, we are excited to build on this momentum and expand our reach through the newly launched Meeting Planner Taskforce aimed at engaging this important audience, a global licensing agreement that provides a framework for other countries to create their own MMB and the second annual Global Meetings Industry Day on April 6.”

Last year, MMB continued to advance their mission of bringing together the broader industry to promote the value of face-to-face meetings in fostering relationships, driving positive business outcomes and building strong communities.  Here are a few highlights in this 2016 “Year in Review” video.

The Worth Meeting About campaign in 2016 also highlighted the critical role that in-person meetings played during the election and connected the work we do to major current events.

Leveraging paid media, digital tactics and storytelling, the coalition targeted elected officials and policymakers with the message that when it’s important, it’s Worth Meeting About.

To demonstrate the important role that meetings play for business leaders across a wide variety of industries, MMB also launched last year the Business Leader Video series that showcases real life testimonies.

Videos to date include: Mike Gallagher, CEO at the Entertainment Software Association; Cynthia Fenneman, president and CEO at American Public Television; James Curleigh, president of Levi’s Brand®; and Brian Connolly, CEO of AdvoCare among others.

Small businesses are a critical contributor to the American economy and MMB wanted to look specifically at this important stakeholder group to explore how face-to-face meetings help them make the most out of their investments.

MMB released a survey that found small business owners agree that face-to-face meetings are a worthwhile investment and 91 percent of small business owners plan to spend as much or more on travel for meetings and conferences as they did this year.

In 2017, MMB plans to expand the scope of Worth Meeting About to highlight current events and issues other than the election.

They also plan to work with their newly created Meeting Planner Task Force to directly involve meeting planners with MMB’s advocacy and engagement efforts.

On April 6, MMB will hold its second annual Global Meetings Industry Day and will look to keep rallying industry advocates across the globe to champion the value of the meetings industry, in particular to elected officials.

To go global in another way - MMB has created a licensing agreement that allows international partners to build their own MMB coalitions in a way that is authentic to their country.

The licensing agreement will allow partners in countries and regions outside of the United States to use MMB branding, messaging and research to form one strong, cohesive voice for the industry.

“We’ll also continue to look beyond our industry, making sure the new Administration and other policymakers understand how meetings and exhibitions foster stronger relationships, drive positive business outcomes and support strong communities,” Harper added.

He said, “We’re looking forward to working with our exhibitions partners as we spread the industry’s value story far and wide.

Meetings Mean Business is an industry-wide coalition to showcase the value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities.

For more info, please visit: http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/