Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrates Global Meetings Industry Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2021
(Huntsville, AL) - Today, the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) joins organizations across the globe to support the annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). GMID, led by the industry advocacy coalition Meetings Mean Business (MMB), showcases the proven value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions bring to businesses and the economy. This year’s GMID theme is Meet Safe, recognizing the industry’s top priority of operating meetings and events with health and safety top-of-mind.
GMID was created in 2016 to raise the profile of the meetings and events industry, and since 2020, the current landscape for meetings and events is one of the most challenging in our history. Even so, industry professionals rise to the occasion time and time again – from last year, where event planners in all regions swiftly pivoted their plans to virtual; to today, where businesses and destinations are working diligently to return to safe in-person events and embracing the virtual/in-person hybrid model as necessary.
Today, we come together in all settings, stronger and more united than ever, to demonstrate the unwavering value of our industry with leaders in business, government and the media. Showcasing our industry’s value has never been more important – particularly in Huntsville.
“The meetings industry is a vital part of our local economy, supporting thousands of jobs including our hotels, restaurants, attractions, small businesses, and more. It is imperative that our industry make a strong recovery, not just for our visitors and incoming convention attendees, but also for Huntsville residents. Efforts are being made at the local, state, and national level to ensure that in-person events make a strong comeback that keeps the health and safety of attendees a top priority,” said Judy Ryals, President/CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County CVB.
Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company and co-chair of MMB, added, “The participation of organizations like CVBs and other destination marketing organizations is critical to GMID’s success. It reveals the true power of our industry, our emphasis on convening with health and safety top-of-mind and projections for a strong recovery impacting businesses and local economies around the world.”
As part of this year’s celebration, the Huntsville/Madison County CVB is hosting a Tweet Chat today at 10:30 a.m. CST. To participate, follow along with the CVB’s @MeetHuntsville Twitter channel, as well as the hashtags #MeetHuntsville and #GMID21. Be prepared for a rapid-fire style Q&A session about all things meetings and events in the Rocket City.
Through the #iHeartHsv blog and social media channels, the CVB will also be highlighting event planners – “meeting heroes” – that have worked closely with the organization to bring a variety of conventions and sporting events to Huntsville, giving an inside look at the collaborative effort that goes into executing such locally impactful events.
Sharon Carr, a Montgomery-based meeting planner who has worked with the CVB to bring the Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention to Huntsville, is one of this year’s featured meeting heroes. Carr reflected positively on her experience with the CVB. “They are so happy to welcome our group and show off what Huntsville has to offer. Their services, willingness to serve, encouragement of new ideas and hard work to make our events successful makes it an easy decision to return.”
In true spirit of the campaign, Huntsville/Madison County hospitality partners will also join the CVB today at the Jackson Center for an in-person meeting to discuss industry matters, as well as a panel presentation on the strategic approach to recovery and the return of safe meetings.
Learn more about the CVB’s convention team and free meeting services at huntsville.org/meetings. Participate in the digital conversations by following @MeetingsMeanBiz on Twitter, using #GMID21 and watching the live-stream of events provided by Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
To learn more about Huntsville activities planned for GMID, visit huntsville.org/GMID or contact Kristen Pepper, Director of Marketing for the Huntsville/Madison County CVB, at 256-551-2294 or kristen@huntsville.org.
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