The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), an umbrella organisation
representing the interests of international meetings industry associations, has
increased its footprint with the addition of two new members.
JMIC has added Asociación Internacional de Ferias de América
(AFIDA) and International Exhibition Logistics Association (IELA) as its latest
members, as it looks to increase its expertise across key sectors of the
meetings and events industry.
James Rees, president of JMIC, said: "We are delighted
to welcome AFIDA and IELA into the JMIC family. Their inclusion reflects the
continued growth of our organisation, both in terms of global representation
and the diverse range of activities we cover. JMIC is committed to being the
true voice of the meetings and events industry on the global stage, and the
addition of these two esteemed organisations further solidifies our core
mandate of advocacy on behalf of our industry.”
Founded in 1978, JMIC now has 15 association members, including
the likes of ICCA, IAPCO, UFI and UIA, and is the organisation responsible for
administering Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE), the meetings industry’s strategy to reach
net zero by 2050 in alignment with the Paris Agreement.
The newly established partnerships come on the heels of the
recently revised JMIC Global Manifesto. The manifesto aims to serve as a
comprehensive industry rationale that events professionals can use in their
advocacy efforts with policymakers, reinforcing the industry's position on a
global scale.
“The commitment to NZCE will continue to
gain momentum, bolstered by the expertise and dedication of AFIDA and IELA,”
added Rees.
Fernando Gorbarán, AFIDA president, said: “By joining JMIC,
we reaffirm our commitment to the continued growth of our industry, adding
tangible value to our members interests. We are the voice of the exhibition
industry in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, and we’ll keep on working
on behalf of our industry’s needs on a global scale.”
Sandi Trotter, chairperson at IELA, said: “JMIC provides our
industry with a critical service to ensure that our efforts are recognised and
realised. Recently, IELA has been a proud, leading contributor to the NZCE
initiative. NZCE is a critical endeavour for our sector and
JMIC membership is the next logical step in our partnership and evolution. We
are pleased and honoured to join this respected group and believe that we can
make a valued contribution to the organisation.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
