In 2025, business events brought together 1.65 billion participants worldwide and generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending, representing a 12.2% increase over 2019 levels. These findings reinforce the essential role business events play in driving economies, supporting jobs, advancing knowledge exchange and creating the connections that power progress across industries and communities worldwide. Review the Executive Summary of the report. https://ow.ly/t1f150Z1j4l #EIC #IMEXFrankfurt #EventsDriveEconomies
About us
The Events Industry Council (EIC)’s more than 30 member organizations represent more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. EIC facilitates the exchange of information, promotes the adoption of industry best practices, develops programs to promote meeting planner professionalism, and educates the public on the profound economic impact of the meetings and events industry. EIC’s programs include the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program, the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative, and numerous industry resource projects.
- Website
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http://www.eventscouncil.org/
External link for Events Industry Council
- Industry
- Events Services
- Company size
- 10,001+ employees
- Headquarters
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Type
- Nonprofit
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
1120 20th Street, NW
Suite 750
Washington, District of Columbia 20036, US
Employees at Events Industry Council
Updates
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Submit you nominations for the 2026 EIC Global Awards, including induction into the 41st Hall of Leaders, the premier lifetime achievement honour in the global business events industry. Nominations deadline is 1 June. In addition to the Hall of Leaders, the Global Awards recognise excellence across several categories celebrating innovation, leadership and societal impact, including the Pacesetter Award, EIC Social Impact Award, and Adaptation and Innovation Award. Each year, EIC celebrates and honours the exemplary achievements and leadership of professionals at all levels and areas of focus within the global business events industry. We are calling on our global community to help identify the 2026 nominees. Please consider who within your network should be recognised for their exceptional contributions to our great industry and submit your nominations. Submit your nominations https://ow.ly/jbBc50Z1blG #EICGlobalAwards #HallOfLeaders #EventLeadership
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We are looking forward to connecting at IMEX Frankfurt beginning on Tuesday! Join us at the EIC Stand F200 for interactive conversations about the CMP programme with EIC Certification Director Carolyn Patterson-Kemper, M.S., CMP, DES and learn more about the SEPC and the EIC Sustainable Event Standards with sustainability expert Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton. CMPs from around the world are also invited to the CMP Meet-Up to build connections with our global community. #EIC #CMP #SEPC #EventProfs #IMEXFrankfurt
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If you are headed to IMEX Frankfurt next week, join us in the Inspiration Hub for a discussion exploring the latest findings from the Economic Significance of Business Events Study, originally released during our Global Meetings Industry Day live event in Washington, DC. EIC President and CEO Amy Calvert; EIC Board Member and CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM; and EIC Board Member and CEO, PCMA Sherrif Karamat will share key insights and data from the study while highlighting collaborative efforts around advocacy and workforce and talent development. The discussion will also provide regional and sector perspectives, along with best practices for leveraging the research to help organisations and teams advocate for the value of the global business events industry. See you there! #IMEXFrankfurt #EIC #EventsImpact #BusinessEvents
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Business events are more than moments in the calendar. They are engines of economic growth, workforce development, innovation and human connection. Today, we are proud to release the Executive Summary of the 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, developed by Events Industry Council in partnership with Oxford Economics, which reinforces the extraordinary scale and impact of our global sector. In 2025, business events: - Brought together 1.65 billion participants across more than 180 countries - Generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending - Supported US$3.1 trillion in total business sales - Contributed US$1.8 trillion in total GDP - Supported 24.2 million jobs worldwide The findings also underscore something our industry knows deeply: the value of business events extends far beyond direct spending. When people gather with purpose, they build trust, exchange knowledge, create partnerships, advance research, strengthen communities and move ideas into action. At a time of uncertainty and rapid change, this data gives our industry a stronger, more unified foundation for advocacy — and a clearer way to demonstrate what business events make possible. View the report: https://ow.ly/QOvo50YZtQX With - Amy Calvert, Stephanie Harris, Jason Dunn Sr., Dr Senthil Gopinath, Tina Wehmeir, CMP, CAE, Mark Cooper, Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, Annette Gregg, CMM MBA CIS, Sherrif Karamat, Steve O'Malley, Natasha Richards, Paul VanDeventer, Don Welsh Thank you to our Global Visionary Sponsors, Meeting Professionals International and PCMA, and to our Founding Sponsors: Caesars Entertainment, Freeman Company, Hilton, IMEX, The Incentive Research Foundation, Javits Center, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, MGM Resorts International, mci-group, Resorts World Las Vegas, SISO - Society of Independent Show Organisers, SITE, U.S. Travel Association and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Thank you to our contributors, Amadeus Hospitality, Cvent, GBTA | Global Business Travel Association #GMID2026 #BusinessEvents #EventsImpact #EventsDriveJobs #EventsDriveEconomies
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The Events Industry Council is pleased to announce that Marina Bay Sands, a leading integrated resort and meetings destination in Singapore, has achieved platinum level certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. This marks Marina Bay Sands’ third consecutive Platinum certification. The EIC Sustainable Event Standards have been created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration, a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals, at all stages of their sustainability journey, have the support needed to implement and measure sustainable practices. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. The Alliance for Audited Media , a not-for-profit auditing organisation, performed the independent third-party certification. Learn how your organisation can strengthen their commitment to sustainability by certifying to EIC’s global environmental and social responsibility standards. Learn more: https://ow.ly/km4550Y9re0 #EIC #Sustainability #SustainableEvents #SustainableEventStandards
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Events Industry Council reposted this
Last week, the Events Industry Council members and the global business events community came together for an important thought leadership session at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. to mark Global Meetings Industry Day. The event focused on the need to build strong culture and connections as we face the evolving needs of our workforce and celebrated the extraordinary impact of our industry worldwide. We recognise the value of business events as an anecdote to many of the challenges and forces we face as a society and highlight the immense impact and power of face-to-face gatherings to drive innovation, jobs, communities and economies. The event included EIC Board and Council Members, Strategic Partners, CMPs and leaders from across the business events ecosystem, all united by a shared commitment to advancing the value of events as drivers of connection, commerce, workforce development and progress. Thank you to Tariq Khan, Senior Economist at Oxford Economics, for sharing an exclusive first look at the 2026 Executive Summary of Global Economic Significance Study which will be released later this week, and to futurist Greg Lindsay for helping frame the complex forces shaping the future and its impacts on our industry. We are also grateful to our panelists — Amanda Cecil, Ph.D., CMP Fellow (Clinical Professor, Purdue HTM - White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management); Janet Dell (CEO, The Freeman Company (TFC) Brands); Ben Erwin (President and CEO, Encore); and Natasha Richards (Director of Impact & Industry Relations, IMEX) — for their thoughtful perspectives on talent, leadership and the future of work. A special thank you as well to the next generation leaders from George Washington University and Howard University who helped bring fresh insight and important questions into the conversation: Josiah Edouard, Tabara Fall, Sonali Sood and Jonathan Whitehead. As events unfolded across the globe, GMID reminded us of what is possible when our industry speaks with a unified voice. Business events create opportunity. They strengthen communities. They build trust. And they bring people together with purpose. Thank you to our Global Visionary Sponsors, Meeting Professionals International and PCMA, and to our Founding Sponsors: Caesars Entertainment, Freeman Company, Hilton, IMEX, The Incentive Research Foundation, Javits Center, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, MGM Resorts International, mci-group, Resorts World Las Vegas, SISO - Society of Independent Show Organisers, SITE, U.S. Travel Association and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Through this strategic support, our industry and business events professionals are better equipped with the tools and resources needed to share the transformational value of business events — locally, nationally and globally. #GMID2026 More about GMID: https://lnkd.in/en59xp8A Support our research: https://lnkd.in/e8UTQrSX
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The Events Industry Council is pleased to announce that Convening Leaders 2026 (CL26), PCMA’s premier education and networking event, has achieved its second consecutive Platinum Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards. PCMA collaborated with Honeycomb Strategies, sustainability consultants for the events industry on the certification. The EIC Sustainable Event Standards have been created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration, a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals, at all stages of their sustainability journey, have the support needed to implement and measure sustainable practices. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. The Alliance for Audited Media, a not-for-profit auditing organisation, performed the independent third-party certification. Learn how your organisation can strengthen their commitment to sustainability by certifying to EIC’s global environmental and social responsibility standards. Learn more: https://ow.ly/km4550Y9re0 #EIC #Sustainability #SustainableEvents #SustainableEventStandards
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Congratulations to all three finalists and thank you to all who applied and are making the commitment to a sustainable future. The winner will be announced at the IMEX Frankfur Gala Dinner on May 20. #SustainableEvents #SEPC #Innovation #EIC
We’re excited to announce the nominees for the 2026 IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award, recognizing organizations creating positive change through sustainable and innovative approaches. Meet the finalists: ✨ BEFuture An initiative focused on accelerating sustainable transformation across the European meetings industry through innovation, collaboration and stronger connections. “Our nomination reinforces our commitment to accelerating sustainable transformation in the business events industry through innovation, cross-border collaboration and strong links with tech and innovation ecosystems” ✨ Conference Partners International - PCO International Social Housing Festival (ISHF), organized by Conference Partners International - PCO, is a global event that brings together housing providers and policymakers to discuss affordable housing. "Being nominated for this award validates the progress we’ve made and motivates us to keep raising our sustainability standards.” ✨ Design Council Organized by the Design Council and hosted at the Barbican in London, the World Design Congress united designers, leaders and educators to help shape the future of the design sector. "Our nomination for this award validates our transparency model and amplifies our mission to upskill one million designers by 2030." Congratulations to all three finalists and thank you to all who applied and are making the commitment to a sustainable future💚👏 The winner will be announced at the Gala Dinner on May 20. Events Industry Council | #sustainableevents | #impact | #innovationinevents | #IMEX26
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Today, the world showed up. Across cities, countries and regions, the global business events community came together to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day—each activation reinforcing a shared truth: Business Events and Exhibitions are the Human Catalyst for Global Growth. From every corner of the world, one message carried forward: Events drive jobs. Events drive communities. Events drive innovation. Events drive economies. Together, these moments tell the story of an industry that generates more than $1.6 trillion in global economic activity—and delivers impact far beyond the numbers. This is what a unified global voice looks like. Take a look at just some of the cities that came together today. Thank you to our Sponsors Meeting Professionals International, PCMA, Caesars Entertainment, Freeman Company, Hilton, IMEX, MGM Resorts International, SISO - Society of Independent Show Organisers, U.S. Travel Association, Javits Center, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, The Incentive Research Foundation, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, MCI USA, Resorts World Las Vegas, SITE Foundation With - Amy Calvert, Stephanie Harris, Jason Dunn Sr., Dr Senthil Gopinath, Tina Wehmeir, CMP, CAE, Mark Cooper, Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, Annette Gregg, CMM MBA CIS, Sherrif Karamat, Steve O'Malley, Natasha Richards, Paul VanDeventer, Don Welsh #GMID2026 #BusinessEvents #StrongerTogether #GlobalEvents #GMID2026 #BusinessEvents #Advocacy #GlobalVoice #EventsDriveEconomies #EventsDriveCommunities #EventsDriveJobs