Philippe Fournier (pictured), managing director of MCI France, is stepping down as president of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) in 2016, the group announced yesterday. He will be replaced by Joachim König, president of the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) and managing director of the Hannover Congress Centre in Germany.
The decision was made at a recent JMIC meeting in Barcelona, where the group also decided to create a body of event case studies demonstrating the benefits of meetings, conventions, and exhibitions. The program will involve the development of case study guidelines administered by an academic review committee to ensure continuity and consistency in reporting.
"We have come a long way in a few short years, and this will be built upon with the decisions arising from our most recent meeting," Fournier said. "These are all steps that will further enhance JMIC's core mission of raising awareness of the meetings industry and the broad roles it plays in supporting economic, professional, and community development. We are increasingly seeing a greater appreciation of the industry's importance by governments and destinations, and we want to maintain that momentum going forward."
JMIC was established in 1978 as a forum for the exchange of information and perspectives amongst international associations engaged in various aspects of the meetings industry. According to the council, it is now engaged in the process of "building better communications and linkages amongst member organizations" and advancing the industry's profile "along with a greater appreciation of the value the industry brings to the global economy." Its members include many of the major meetings associations in the United States and abroad, including Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE).
MeetingNews Minute is now 30 Seconds to Smart. Up your meetings-industry IQ now!