Meetings and events professionals will come together next year for a first-ever day dedicated to showcasing the value of their industry.

Inspired by the 20-year-old Canadian National Meetings Industry Day, North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) will take place April 16, 2015, and will focus on promoting the impact that meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, tradeshows, and exhibitions have on creating business opportunities and relationships.

“The growth and sustained success of our industry is critical for economies across North America, and we look forward to continuing our work with industry leaders communicating the industry’s unique value and strength,” David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel Company and cochair of Meetings Mean Business, said in a statement.

MMB is a national advocacy campaign created by the U.S. Travel Association in 2009 to promote the industry. Relaunched earlier this year, MMB is supported by a number of industry groups and associations, including ASAE. MMB is a cosponsor, along with the Convention Industry Council (CIC), of the NAMID event.

As part of NAMID, meetings industry organizations and chapters from the United States, Canada, and Mexico will host events illustrating the importance of meetings worldwide. Participants will receive toolkits and resources with suggested activities, campaign materials, and advocacy information. Interested organizations can register to participate online.

Both MMB and CIC will help their chapters and coalition members coordinate the planning and facilitation of NAMID events.

“The impact and reach of CIC’s 33 national and international associations has the unique ability to push this important initiative through the federation members’ chapters and build a grassroots network of advocates for the MMB campaign,” said David DuBois, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and 2015 CIC chairman.

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