Leigh Harry, President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) announced that EFAPCO (the European Federation of Associated Professional Congress Organizers) has now joined the Council, driving the total membership of major international industry organizations to twelve members.“We want to ensure that JMIC has the ability to represent the interests of the full spectrum of international industry organizations, and the addition of EFAPCO to our ranks is a further strengthening in that regard”, said Harry. “As we have said previously, it is important that we can as an industry present a strong and united front when the need arises, and our sense is that time is now”.
“We are delighted to accept JMIC’s invitation to join their network,” said EFAPCO President Nicolas Le Brun. “In just five short years we appear to have made great progress in forging strong links with the EU, and we hope that will help to reinforce JMIC’s drive to gain greater recognition for the meetings and events industry, worldwide, as well as across Europe. We look forward to making an active contribution to the work undertaken by JMIC”.
Along with its existing industry networking, awards and advocacy programming, JMIC is now advancing its activities in the areas of enhancing the exchange of information and programming amongst various industry sectors, creating a more effective collective voice to address key issues, advancing industry value measurement and staging an industry Summit to address key issues and increase industry profile. These programs are in development with the support of new JMIC partners IMEX and Reed Travel Exhibitions, who are working actively with the coalition to help it achieve its goals.
In addition to EFAPCO, other JMIC members include AIPC (the International Association of Congress Centres); COCAL (the Latin American Confederation of PCO and Related Companies); DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), ECM (European Cities Marketing); EVVC (the European Association of Event Centres); IAPCO (the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers); ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association); MPI (Meeting Professionals International), PCMA (the Professional Convention Association Management Association), SITE (the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives) and UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry).
