Association News

Face-to-Face messaging campaign launched by CIC promotes meetings

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — “Face Time. It Matters.” is a grassroots industry campaign designed to promote the benefits of meeting face-to-face.

The campaign was developed in response to one of the most challenging years ever faced by the meeting, convention and exhibition industries.

It was based on the findings of a recent national survey of corporate and association meeting planners, plus in-depth personal interviews with the industry’s leading executives and focus groups with professional meeting planners.

According to the research:

• Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships;
• Education and training are more effective in a live setting;
• Live meetings actually save time and money;
• Live meetings result in a more effective exchange of ideas;
• Face-to-face meetings provide the human connection that powers business.
• Face-to-face meetings create jobs and powers the economy

Nine leading industry trade associations have adopted the campaign, which transpired as a result their collaboration under the aegis of the Convention Industry Council. However, all CIC member organizations will be asked to use the messages in their communications and promotion.

“This campaign along with U.S. Travel Association’s Meetings Mean Business campaign will drive home the message that face-to-face meetings drive business, build important relationships, provide a forum for innovation as well as stimulate local economies,” says Deborah Sexton, CIC Chair and President and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), one of the organizations that funded the messaging research.

This public information campaign to identify and promote the unique benefits associated with meeting face-to-face will be implemented by CIC members. Through their members and in all communications, the organizations will convey the advantages of attending meetings as articulated in the research of why “face time matters.”

CIC member organizations participating in the campaign include:

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
International Special Events Society (ISES)
International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE),

Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)
Financial and Insurance Conference Planners (FICP)

For More Information on Face Time. It Matters. go to www.facetimematters.org.
For More Information on Meetings Mean Business go to www.meetingsmeanbusiness.org

The Convention Industry Council’s 32 member organizations represent more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. CIC facilitates the exchange of information develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry and educates the public on its profound economic impact. CIC’s programs include the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program, the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative, the Hall of Leaders and numerous industry resource projects.