Cvent Blog

In response to all the negative criticism surrounding meetings and events, industry leaders have formed a trade-group coalition and public relations campaign. In an industry-wide conference call this week, Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, announced the new Meetings Mean Business effort, a self-described grassroots campaign to protect the millions of American jobs that depend on business meetings and events.

"Recent irresponsible attacks on all meetings and events as excessive, 'junkets,' 'boondoggles' or worse are crushing American workers and local communities," Dow said in the call. "The results are predictable, and thousands of companies—most of which have not taken any assistance from the federal government—are canceling their meetings out of fear...It is our job to eliminate that fear, protect the one million American jobs generated by meetings and events and establish travel as part of the solution."

Meetings Mean Business encourages industry professionals, from planners to hotel workers, to speak out by writing officials, signing its petition and using its resources to spread the word about the value of meetings and events. In addition to encouraging professionals to speak out on M&E benefits, the campaign components include research on the ROI of meetings and travel; economic impact analysis in terms of jobs, economic growth and tax revenue as they relate to meetings and events; print and online paid advertising; and a "rapid-response war-room" to counter accusations against legitimate travel activities.

Regarding its advertising efforts, Meetings Mean Business published an ad in USA Today this week under the headline of "Want to lose one million more jobs? Just keep talking." More national print ads and 60-minute television spots are expected to follow.

"Hardworking Americans and their livelihoods depend on meetings and business travel," Dow said. "It's time to stand up, be counted, and make our voice heard."

To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit Meetings Mean Business.