WE’RE READY
To host safe, state-of-the-art business events
To help rebuild Canada’s economy
To get Canada’s meetings industry back to work!
On April 8, 2021, more than 850 business events professionals, supporters and stakeholders gathered online to support
Global Meetings Industry Day
with 90 minutes of information and discussion
WHAT’S NEXT? Here’s How You Can Take Action!
INFORM government leaders at all levels that our industry is ready to host safe, in-person business meetings that comply fully with local health regulations
TELL EVERYONE that face-to-face business events drive positive economic impact and should not be confused with social gatherings
SHARE our GMID 2021 videos with your federal and provincial members of parliament
VISIT TourismCounts.ca to download the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s 2021 Tourism Recovery Plan and to send a letter to your MP asking them to support tourism recovery
Let’s work together: MMBC can connect you with industry professionals and working groups across Canada who are eager to share strategies and best practices. CONTACT US
WATCH THE VIDEOS FROM OUR GMID 2021 VIRTUAL EVENT
GMID April 8, 2021: Watch the Entire Event
Emcee: Jennifer Spear, MMBC board member
Presentations:
Darren Fisher, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable
Mélanie Joly (05:00)
Clark Grue, chair, Meetings Mean Business Canada (07:30)
Nancy Tudorache, Regional VP, GBTA (11:23)
Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director, Business Events, Destination
Canada (16:47)
Beth Potter, President & CEO, TIAC (20:49)
Stephanie Linnartz, President, Marriott International (23:28)
David Campbell, Managing Director, Encore (27:06)
Joanne Lafreniere, BMO Financial Group (29:00)
Encore (30:32)
Candace Schierling, Director, Business Development, Tourism Saskatoon (32:40)
Destination across Canada are Ready! (34:51)
Tony Baldinelli, MP, Niagara Falls, Ont (37:50)
Hilton (39:50)
Barry Smith, Executive Director, Convention Centres Canada (42:28)
MMBC’s Industry Association Partners are Ready! (44:35)
Panel: How Will Business Events Reopen? (49:00)
Closing Remarks: Clark Grue & Laura Pallotta (1:29:10)
Panel: How Will Business Events Reopen?
Laura Pallotta, MMBC Vice Chair; Regional Vice President, Sales and Distribution, Marriott Hotels of Canada
Joanne Burns Millar, BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group; CEO, Pacific Destination Services Inc.
Learn more about the British Columbia Safe Restart Plan
Bianca Kennedy, Québec City and Montréal Motorcycle Shows; President, Board of Directors, Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM)
Caroline Lepage, Executive Vice President, Agora Opus3
Industry Association Partners Are Ready!
MPI Toronto Chapter MPI Canadian member annual spend influence: $434.8 million
PCMA Canada PCMA member spend influence: $1.2 billion
Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) Business event attendees each spend an average $668 per event
Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP) CanSPEP member annual spend influence: $60 million
SITE Canada Canada’s meetings & events industry sustains 229,000 direct industry jobs
Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Live events host 49.5 million engaged participants
International Live Events Association (ILEA) ILEA Canada member annual spend influence: $150 million
Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM) Business events annual direct GDP impact: $19.3 billion
Hotel Association of Canada Business travellers spend 4x more than leisure travellers
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business events’ direct contribution to local economies: $33 billion
Destinations Across Canada Are Ready!
Whitehorse, Yukon
Victoria, British Columbia
Edmonton, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
Regina, Saskatchewan
Winnipeg, Manitoba
London, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario
Montreal, Quebec
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
LIGHTING UP BLUE: On April 8, cities across Canada recognized GMID 2021 and business events by lighting meeting venues blue.
See who participated in #LightingUpBlue
Letters of Support for #GMID2021
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, Prime Minister of Canada:
“Global Meetings Industry Day offers a wonderful opportunity to highlight the important role professionals in the meetings and events industry play in our communities.”
DOUG FORD, Premier, Province of Ontario: Letter of Support (English version; French version)
LISA MACLEOD, MPP Ontario, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries:
“With ‘We’re Ready’ as the theme of this event, I know that you are looking forward to exchanging ideas on how we can all innovate and create opportunities to succeed in a post-pandemic world.”
BERNARD DAVIS, MPP, Newfoundland and Labrador, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation:
“The meeting and conventions sector is a key market for our capital city.”
BRAD REDEKOPP, MP, Saskatoon West:
“I know that when you say ‘We’re Ready’ — you mean it”
KEVIN WAUGH, MP, Saskatoon–Grasswood:
“Meetings and events professionals here in Saskatchewan are ready to host safe and state-of-the-art business events that will be crucial to reopening our economy…”
APRIL 8, 2021 | 12:00 PM EST
SPEAKERS & PARTICIPANTS
Panel: How Will Business Events Reopen?
How is the industry preparing for the return to face-to-face gatherings? MMBC vice chair Laura Pallotta will moderate a panel that includes Joanne Burns Millar of the BC Meetings & Events Industry Working Group; CAEM’s Bianca Kennedy; and Caroline Lepage of Agora Opus3. They’ll provide the latest update on advocacy work and concrete actions taking place in British Columbia, Quebec and other regions of the country designed to get the industry back on track. Learn more about the panel.