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The
Events Industry Council's Global Awards, celebrating this year's Hall of Leaders inductees, will take place during IMEX America on Oct. 6. Proceeds from the awards show go to the EIC Foundation, which supports research and CMP scholarships.
The Events Industry Council — the voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards — announced that it will release the next iteration of the Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study in conjunction with Global Meetings Industry Day on May 5, 2026.
Once again, the EIC will be working with its research partner, Oxford Economics, as well as sponsoring organizations to produce the highly anticipated study.
"EIC's Economic Significance Study provides the foundation for our sector's advocacy efforts, and GMID is an essential platform for amplifying the breadth and impact of our industry and those efforts," said Amy Calvert, president and CEO of the council. "We are committed to uniting voices from every region and sector to ensure the contributions of business events are recognized by policymakers and stakeholders."
Meetings mean business
First published in 2017, the Economic Significance Study evaluates the full scope and economic impact of the $1.6 trillion global business-events industry. The 2023 report has been accessed by more than 10,000 users across 40 countries and has garnered an estimated earned-media reach of more than 10 billion.
Next year, the research will be released as part of GMID, which the EIC will now lead, and Business Events Week in Washington, D.C., with activations, events and campaigns organized around the world. GMID also will evolve into a channel and platform for year-round advocacy on behalf of the industry.
"We recognize the importance of this research and continued global collaboration. Assuming stewardship of GMID reflects EIC's mission to be the global champion of our industry," said Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association and the EIC's board chair. "We will build on the extraordinary foundation laid by U.S. Travel and work with our members and partners around the world, ensuring that GMID continues to grow in reach and influence as we highlight the powerful legacy of events."
Spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association, GMID was launched in 2016 to bring together industry professionals and showcase the impact of meetings, conventions, exhibitions, incentive travel and other business events.
"We are proud to have established Global Meetings Industry Day as a unifying platform for our industry and look forward to working with EIC as they take on the leadership role," said Kevin Hinton, director of group travel for U.S. Travel. "The critical research delivered in the Economic Significance Study has long been an important tool for our work championing the impact of in-person meetings and events with U.S. policymakers."
To help industry organizers plan their own GMID events, EIC will be releasing an activation toolkit in November.