ES Endorses Keep America Meeting
Event Solutions today announced that it would join a broad coalition of events industry organizations in endorsing Keep America Meeting, a grassroots effort to draw attention to the vital role these gatherings play in building successful businesses and supporting the American economy.
The campaign asks supporters to go to KeepAmericaMeeting.org and sign an online petition. Keep America Meeting will deliver petition signatures to the U.S. Travel Association and industry leaders from key organizations to fuel industry-wide efforts with the White House and the U.S. Congress.
“Events, meetings and incentives are the backbone of business,” said Event Solutions President John Baragona. “We represent a significant sector of the American economy, and it’s high time we joined together as one to show Congress and the public the vital role we play.”
Indeed, meetings and events are responsible for 15 percent of all travel-related spending, create nearly $40 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level, and generate more than 1 million jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Keep America Meeting, created by TBA Global in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association with support from the Event Marketing Institute, secured backing from a broad coalition of industry players. A preliminary list of endorsers includes the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE), Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), Red 7 Media (publisher of Event Marketer, Event Design, Agenda, EXPO magazines), MeetingsNet (publisher of Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Medical Meetings, Financial & Insurance Meetings, Association Meetings, Religious Conference Manager magazines), Special Events and Northstar Travel Media LLC (publisher of Meetings & Conventions and Travel Weekly magazines).
Other early supporters include the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, PGA National Resort & Spa, DGO and HotelBlox.
“The event industry has been abuzz with discussion about the way we are represented in the mainstream media via email, countless discussion forums and Twitter,” said Event Solutions Managing Editor Rachel Globus. “Keep America Meeting gives our industry a platform to begin framing that discussion on our terms. It’s a very strong statement about the energy and vision of this vibrant industry.”
The petition had garnered over a thousand signatures before it officially launched today.
To sign the petition, visit KeepAmericaMeeting.org.