By Bob Parker, Chairperson, BEICC
This spring marks the official kick-off of the production of the Canadian Economic Impact Study 3.0 and will commence a year-long study initiated by MPI Foundation Canada to measure the impact of meeting activity on Canada’s economy.
Bringing together project partners Maritz Canada, The Conference Board of Canada, The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council and Greenfield Services, CEIS 3.0 will be the continuation of the benchmark Canadian Economic Impact study initiated in 2008 and updated in 2009. The previous studies were the first to quantify the multi-billion dollar contribution of meetings activity to the Canadian economy, and to detail the meetings sector industries using world tourism organization guidelines.
These studies reported meetings activity created the equivalent of more than 550,000 full time jobs, generated more than $32 billion per year in direct contribution in GDP and, for all levels of government, more than $14 billion in tax revenues. As you can see, meetings mean business… big business!
CEIS will continue to quantify the value delivered by the business events industry to their communities’ economy and recognize the meetings sector as a distinct and significant economic activity within the Canadian economy. CEIS 3.0 will springboard off the original national CEIS to include regional reporting, which will be valuable to meetings-related business decisions at the provincial and local destination levels.
New study methodology will be based on a combination of the original survey research and economic modeling. Data will include measurements of revenues and expenditures both from the demand side and the supply side of the meetings sector. Delegates, exhibitors, speakers, meeting organizers, venue managers will be among the constituencies polled.
Beyond meetings, the study will also address the share of gross domestic product, employment, salaries, wages, and taxes and will demonstrate its importance in delivering educational programs in environmentally sustainable practices.
This project is scheduled for completion in 2014. Findings will be shared with meeting professionals, the broader tourism sector, government agencies, and general public.
Such a monumental initiative would not be possible without the support of committed sponsors for which much gratitude is owed. Thank you to all who have and those who will continue to work on this study, as well as the project management team.
By spring 2014, we can look forward to seeing the results of what we truly mean to our communities across Canada.
(Text adapted from official launch video by Rita Plaskett, Past Chair-BEICC, and Chair-CEIS 3.0)
BEICC strategic plan
At the beginning of the year, the board of directors for BEICC (Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada) met to renew and refresh its strategic direction under the capable facilitation of Karyn Drumble, owner and principal consultant of The Monarch Park Group based in the Toronto area. Karyn guided the board through a series of discussions focused on bringing alignment around a clear purpose and direction for BEICC. As a coalition of diverse interests within the meetings and events industry, this important discussion was extremely insightful, and will serve as the foundation for future initiatives that BEICC will undertake on behalf of its members and the industry in general.
As a result of this planning session, the board developed this purpose statement:
“Our purpose in the Canadian business events industry is to be an organization that is a clear, concise and accurate information platform, promotes and communicates, is an external and internal voice of and for the industry, engages in advocacy, and identifies trends in the business events industry, on behalf of our association members and their constituents.”
This statement will serve as the foundation piece around which the rest of the plan will be developed. When the final plan is approved by the board of directors, you can anticipate the implementation of initiatives and partnerships that will drive home the value of meetings and events within the Canadian economy.
We look forward to involving and engaging more members and volunteers in the important advocacy work of the Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada.
About the author
Bob Parker is chairperson for BEICC, and representative member of CAPS (The Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) where he is the National President-Elect. He has worked in this industry for over 20 years as a thought leader on building high performing cultures and teams. You can contact him at [email protected], or [email protected].
