Meetings Mean Money

It's been a long time coming, but well worth the wait....The meetings industry finally has substantial and definitive data on the economic significance of face-to-face meetings to the U.S. economy.

The historic study - conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers under the guidance of 14 meetings industry organizations - was the first ever and is crucial to our ability to defend and proactively promote the value of face-to-face meetings.

The study revealed that each year the U.S. meetings industry directly supports:
• 1.7 million jobs,
• $263 billion in spending,
• a $106 billion share of the GDP,
• $60 billion in labor revenue,
• $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue, and
• $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Now those are some incredibly powerful numbers. And there are many, many more valuable statistics.

But having all this data doesn't mean much at all if we don't get out there and USE it.

Our industry coalition is currently working to promote the study's findings nationally to media, legislators, regulators, economists and business leaders.
And make no mistake, we'll be continuing to cultivate opportunities to promote the value of face-to-face meetings for a long time to come.

But, these numbers are so powerful, we need every single person in the meetings industry to get out and spread the word.

First, carve out a small amount of time to review the findings if you haven't done so already. There is a lot of information, but it's broken up well into digestible pieces. Once you've had a chance to take it all in, you'll have a better idea of the breadth and depth of this powerful study.

Second, check out the industry toolkit. You'll find all kinds of valuable tools to help you pass along the findings. There's a customizable newsletter article, a PowerPoint template, letterhead, a research presentation, and social media guidelines. Each make it easy to cut and paste the data into a format that makes sense for you, while adding in any information pertinent to your individual organization or industry.

Third, get the word out! These tools can be used to promote the economic significance of meetings to your media contacts, government leaders, and business community, not to mention your members, exhibitors, volunteers or any stakeholders. Send a letter, post it on your website, tweet about it. It doesn't have to be anything complicated.

The more we work together on getting the word out, the better for the entire meetings industry. Yes, the economy - and our industry - is in a much better place now than it was even a year ago. But as the country looks for ways to work its way out of a recession, we've got a huge opportunity to communicate the meetings industry's critical role in supporting jobs and tax revenue.

Besides, the more we can get the word out, the even better foundation we'll have for the future.

Sincerely,


Susan Katz
2011 PCMA Chairman of the Board

My Areas of Focus in 2011

I'm thrilled to be serving as your Chairman this year. PCMA is an incredible organization, adjusting to changes in the business landscape while constantly looking out for "what's next."

PCMA's new Strategic Plan takes effect this year. It is a plan that re-emphasizes the importance of PCMA members and stresses education and research. This will be our guidepost for all of our activities going forward.

There are three areas I'll be focusing on in the coming year:

- Continuing to promote the importance of face-to-face meetings and reinforcing that meetings are a critical part of our economy and a critical part of doing business.

- Getting more members active and involved. When I look back on my career, I am so grateful for how PCMA provided me with a more strategic vision, helped me develop my skills, and connected me with a lifetime of contacts. This year, take the opportunity to volunteer, get involved with your chapter, and get to know more of your fellow members. The stronger each of our members is, the stronger PCMA can be.

- Engaging young meeting professionals in their 20s and 30s or those just starting off in meetings careers. They are the future of PCMA. I’ve put together a task force to examine what hurdles stand between them joining or getting involved with PCMA, what and how they want to learn, and what they would like to gain from membership.

I'm so pleased to be able to give back to the organization that I'm so passionate about and I look forward to working with you - and getting to know you - in the coming year.

PCMA has a great history but I truly believe we have an even greater future.

Sincerely,


Susan Katz
2011 PCMA Chairman of the Board