Leigh Harry, President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) announced that AACVB(the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus) has now joined the Council, taking its membership of major international industry organizations to thirteen.
“The addition of AACVB to our Council further enhances JMIC’s ability to fully represent the global meetings industry at a time when there is a greater need than ever for action on key industry issues”, said Harry. “In particular, it will help us further raise the profile of the industry on an international basis, and to demonstrate that this sector has a truly global impact. As we have said previously, it is important that we present a strong and united front when the need arises, and that need has never been greater than at the current time”.
AACVB was formed in 1983 to create regional cooperation in developing Asia’s convention potential and to promote the region as an ideal convention destination. The founding CVB members included Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, with China and Macau joining in later years. Its mission is to raise the platform, level of sophistication and capabilities of the industry in Asia, to increase Asia’s competitiveness and to drive business to its member destinations. Amongst its objectives are to strive for regional cooperation in developing Asia’s convention potential, to stimulate intra-regional conventions, to encourage the formation of national, state/province or city convention organizations to enhance members’ convention-hosting capabilities and to be instrumental in professionalizing the convention industry by developing and promoting sound professional practices and training programs.
JMIC supports industry networking, awards and advocacy programs, and is currently expanding its activities in the areas of information exchange, industry messaging and the development of a collective voice to advance key issues and values. Its programs are supported by partners IMEX and Reed Travel Exhibitions, who are working actively with the Council to help it achieve its goals.
In addition to AACVB, other JMIC members now 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);
EFAPCO (the European Federation of Associations of Professional Congress Organizers);
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).
It is also supported by the CIC (Convention Industry Council).
