Visit Denver, other meetings groups launch national initiative
Kathleen Lavine | Denver Busines
Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver at the Convention Center.
- Ed Sealover[1]
- Reporter- Denver Business Journal
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.[2] | Facebook[3] | Twitter[4] | Capitol Business blog[5]
A coalition of meeting and convention groups launched a national initiative Tuesday to raise awareness about the importance of that type of business travel to the economy — an initiative that Visit Denver’s[6] CEO says could be important to the future of the Mile High City.
The “Meetings Mean Business” campaign aims to let business leaders and government officials know that traveling to conventions, industry meetings and other kinds of get-togethers benefits both the companies that send employees to such events and the hospitality industry in towns that host such gatherings.
It is part of a years-long effort to reverse the “AIG effect” — the perception that spending money to fly company officials across the country is wasteful rather than helpful to all involved.
"AIG effect" refers to a 2008 incident involving American International Group[7]. The insurer was lambasted for spending $443,000 entertaining independent insurance agents at a California beach resort a few days after getting an $85 billion taxpayer-backed bailout package amid the nation's financial crisis.
“At the end of the day, when there are 10,000 trade shows in the United States, ... they are all intended to drive business meetings and economies,” said David DuBois[8], CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, at a news conference. “We’ve got to coalesce all our efforts, and I think that is what we’re doing with this campaign.”
The initiative is largely an educational effort, with local affiliates of national organizations asked to work with influence-makers in their areas.
Conventions and meetings have been a huge business driver in the Denver area, generating $530.1 million in economic impact in 2012.
Ed Sealover covers government, health care, tourism, airlines and hospitality for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Capitol Business" blog. Phone: 303-803-9229.
References
- ^ Ed Sealover (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (feeds.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Twitter (twitter.com)
- ^ Capitol Business blog (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ Visit Denver’s (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ American International Group (www.bizjournals.com)
- ^ David DuBois (feeds.bizjournals.com)