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Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, and Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Maritz Travel, announced the formation of the Meeting, Event, and Incentive Coalition at MPI's MeetDifferent Conference. The coalition is working in response to the U.S. Department of Treasury's new regulations for companies that have received assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which now include rules on expenditures for conferences and events. The group plans to create its own set of guidelines while at the same time defending the value of holding meetings and events.

The coalition is made up of representatives from eight industry associations: the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Destination Marketing Association International, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Meeting Professionals International, the National Business Travel Association, Professional Convention Management Association, Society of Incentive Travel Executives and U.S. Travel Association, along with industry corporations such as Maritz.

Some of their recommended policy items include: total annual expenses for meetings, events and incentive/recognition travel shall not exceed 15 percent of the company's total sales and marketing spend; and at least 90 percent of incentive program attendees shall be other than senior executives from the host organization.

The coalition has also drafted some examples of what qualifies as a legitimate business purpose for meetings, events and incentive/recognition travel. These include: corporate-sponsored events that further charitable purposes; tradeshows and other similar events that bring prospective buyers and sellers together; and effective product launches to educate sales force, channel partners and customers.

Read the complete model policy at the U.S. Travel Association's website