In the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Brussels-Capital Region is keen to highlight the importance of business tourism through the meetings industry.  

To this end, visit.brussels - in collaboration with JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council), CityDNA (City Destinations Alliance) and EEIA (European Exhibition Industry Alliance) - is organising an event to bring together European meetings industry players to discuss the transition of this sector towards one with a positive impact. The aim is to open a dialogue with the European authorities on the importance of this sector for Europe, both economically and socially. 

The main theme of the conference is a positive impact meetings industry. In other words, how this sector can contribute to organising events that highlight the advantages of a destination, its intellectual capital and its infrastructure, while maximising its overall impact towards greater diversity, equality and inclusion, but also towards an industry that is aware of social and environmental issues and is ready to make sustainable changes to the way it operates. The aim is also to open a dialogue with European authorities on the importance of this sector for Europe, both economically and socially. 

The programme will focus on key themes for the meetings industry in Europe and its development into a positive impact sector such as:

• The importance of professional events for the European Union in terms of economic impact, innovation, trade, etc. 

• Sustainability  

• The EU Tourism Pathway 

• Trade Policy 

• The sector's operational challenges 

• The importance of better representation of the sector - data and statistics

We are delighted to share with you the "Meetings Industry Manifesto: Priorities for the Next EU Leadership" a comprehensive document that emerged from our discussions and collaborative efforts at the conference. This manifesto aims to enhance awareness and recognition of the Meetings Industry’s significant role in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainability across Europe.

We believe that by working together, we can create a robust and dynamic framework that supports the Meetings Industry and aligns with the broader objectives of the European Union.