The Convention Industry Council has changed its name to the Events Industry Council after a rigorous process of assessing the needs of its membership.
With a renewed focus on worldwide event planners and industry leaders, the council decided to increase its commitment to members as a “global champion for event professionals,” it was announced in a press release.
A new association logo accompanies the name change.
Susan Robertson, CAE, Events Industry Council chair, said, “The board of directors recognized a need to refresh and refine our brand to better serve our members and members’ constituents.”
Before reaching the decision to change its name, the council formed a brand task force and developed a process for determining whether an increased focus on the events industry was right for the association.
“We reached out to leaders and influencers on a global level to ensure everyone was aligned with the direction of the council,” Robertson said.
The Events Industry Council represents 33 member organizations comprising more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Key organizations represented by the council include:
–American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)
–Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA)
–Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)
–Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA)
–Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
–Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA)
–International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE)
–Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
–U.S. Travel Association (U.S. Travel)
The council will continue to provide educational leadership for its flagship program, the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential, which has also received a new logo. The CMP program was introduced in 1985 to help meeting planners increase their knowledge and boost the industry’s status on the global stage.
Karen Kotowski, CAE, president and CEO of the Events Industry Council, said, “The new look of our CMP logo represents the fresh ideas and quality that each Certified Meeting Professional brings to his/her employer and clients. Our CMP designation is powered by the Events Industry Council, and we are proud to have that clearly displayed in the new look.”
In addition to the CMP program, the council will expand its reach under four umbrellas:
1. Sustainability
2. Industry Insights
3. Knowledge
4. Leadership
Within these groups, the council offers signature programs, including Green Meetings (Sustainability), APEX Standards (Industry Insights), Webinars (Knowledge), and Pacesetters (Leadership).
In addition, the Economic Significance Study—created under the council’s Industry Insights program—offers in-depth analysis of the economic impact of meetings. The study quantifies how millions of annual meetings, trade shows, conventions, congresses, incentive events and other meetings in the United States contribute to the U.S., state and local economies.
