--- title: "Lunchtime Links: What Meetings Mean for the Economy" id: "21700" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-what-meetings-mean-for-the-economy" published_at: "2014-02-13T18:11:12+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:24:06+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/13/lunchtime-links-what-meetings-mean-for-the-economy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/13/lunchtime-links-what-meetings-mean-for-the-economy.md" excerpt: "Meetings and events continue to bring in more attendees, jobs and money, according to a new study. Plus: Why ferociously fixating on goals inhibits productivity." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Live Events" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: What Meetings Mean for the Economy The events industry has a big impact—and here’s some research to prove it. The Convention Industry Council recently revealed new information about the effect the industry has on the U.S. economy. Today’s Lunchtime Links explores the growing fiscal value of meetings: **Conference booster:** When members requested more face-to-face interaction, associations took notice. [As Associations Now’s Rob Stott recently noted](http://associationsnow.com/2014/01/updated-study-to-show-how-meetings-boost-u-s-economy/) , event participation increased by 10 percent between 2009 and 2012, according to early results from a Convention Industry Council (CIC) study, “The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy.” David DuBois, CAE, president of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the CIC’s chairman-elect, [said that the study (opens in a new tab)](http://www.conventionindustry.org/Newsroom/headlines/14-02-11/CIC_Releases_New_Data_on_Economic_Impact_of_Meetings_Industry.aspx) —released in full this week—showed the industry’s continuing strength. “Meetings really do mean business and we are proud to say that our industry is using one voice to ensure policymakers, consumers, and business leaders truly understand our worth and impact,” he said in a statement. A total of 225 million people attended 1.83 million meetings during 2012, the study notes. More highlights, including a fact sheet, are [available on the CIC website (opens in a new tab)](http://www.conventionindustry.org/ResearchInfo/EconomicSignificanceStudy.aspx) . **Loosen up:** As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Although this sound advice applies to teens and adults alike, it definitely should be taken by driven, dedicated workers who may lose sight of the joy they can take from their work. [The Build Network’s Adam Vaccaro expands on (opens in a new tab)](http://thebuildnetwork.com/leadership/management/setting-goals-can-hurt-productivity/) research published by the University of Chicago and the Korea Business School that claims “staying focused on our goals detracts from inherent pleasures of the activities we need to pursue to achieve those goals.” To balance focus and fun, Vaccaro suggests less communication of goals during the execution process and more immersion in the immediate experience. “So the key is to set goals, and look around, smell the roses, and try not to focus on them,” he says. **Count on me:** When work goes awry and it’s time to play the blame game, holding yourself accountable for your actions can set a new standard of responsibility among your coworkers. *Inc.com* contributor Lee Colan, founder of The L Group, [offers several tips (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/lee-colan/4-ways-to-boost-accountability.html) to boost accountability instead of pointing fingers. Among his, uh, pointers: Say what you mean and mean what you say. “Being accountable is really about being reliable,” he states. “How reliable are you to act upon what you say? The key is to be careful about what you say—and if you say something, be committed to doing it.” How do you handle accountability in your office? Share in the comments below. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Alexis Williams](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) Alexis Williams & Alexis Davis are contributors to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Live Events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/live-events/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [Video2017 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition Monday Recap videoSeptember 8, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/09/08/2017-asae-annual-meeting-exposition-monday-recap-video/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F02%2F13%2Flunchtime-links-what-meetings-mean-for-the-economy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !