Representing the combined interests of Canada’s strong and vibrant business events industry, the Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada (BEICC) announced its formation today at IncentiveWorks 2009, the domestic industry’s largest annual tradeshow. Business events generate $71 billion for the Canadian economy, return huge tax revenues and impact virtually every industry, from tourism to financial services.
“Business events are a powerful economic driver in Canada,” said Stephen Dempsey, Interim Chair, BEICC. “In 2006, over 70 million people participated in 671,000 business events across Canada. That’s more than 1,800 events each day that help drive business success. Business events inspire employees to yield higher productivity and better results, which allow for increased profitability and a strengthened economy. From training and development to innovation and lead generation, business events are invaluable to Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness.”
Communicating the economic impact of business events on Canadian competiveness is a key focus of the Coalition. Industry data shows that business events support job creation and tax revenues received by all levels of government, generating activity in virtually every industry from travel and hospitality to financial institutions, healthcare and professional service firms. Business events – which include conferences, tradeshows, congresses, conventions, incentive programs and meetings – are vital to the face-to-face interactions that drive business success.
According to the Canadian Economic Impact Study,
Meetings Activity in 2006: A Portrait of the Canadian Sector, an independent study commissioned by MPI Foundation Canada, the business events industry:
- Generated $71 billion in economic activity for Canada in 2006, a number equal to that produced by forestry, fishing and agriculture combined.
- Created the equivalent of more than 550,000 full-year jobs in 2006 – with less than 14 per cent concentrated in meetings industries.
- Tax revenues generated by the industry returned a total of $14.6 billion to federal, provincial and municipal governments.
- For every dollar spent on meeting activity, an additional $1.21 in spin-off activity was spent in another part of the economy.
The Coalition will also work to anticipate and respond to key current and future challenges that affect the business events industry such as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), the proposed Federal NRCC tariff #5 and increased regulation resulting from the Ministry of Labour’s heightened awareness of health and safety issues.
“I am personally invigorated by the potential of this Coalition to act as a unified and consistent voice representing the events industry. Together, we can reinforce the economic value and need for business events, create face-to-face interactions that drive productivity, and help Canada increase its competitiveness. From the moment we began this dialogue with our industry partners, the response to collaboration has been tremendous. We are well on our way to developing a shared vision of success and building a strong foundation for the future of the events industry in Canada,” said Dempsey.
The Coalition’s founding members include the Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM); the Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP); the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS); Canadian Hotel Marketing & Sales Executives (CHMSE); the International Special Events Society – Canada (ISES Canada); MPI Canada and Site Canada. With more than 20 associations at the table, the Coalition represents the interests of more than 6,000 members across Canada.
About BEICC
The BEICC is an umbrella organization comprising representatives from a broad spectrum of business events industry associations across Canada. In its early stages, the Coalition is seeking to sign up participants from among 20 national industry groups who have been actively discussing founding principles and common goals. To create momentum, early signatories, or “founding members” have agreed to act as an interim leadership team, with the formal ongoing structure and Board in place by January 1, 2010. The Interim Chair is Steve Dempsey, Publisher and General Manager Meetings & Incentive Travel Magazine and IncentiveWorks.