About #GMIDGoesVirtual
Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is a day that showcases the meetings and events industry and its direct impact on the global economy. Celebrated annually, GMID typically is packed with various live events, hosted all over the world, organized by local chapters of various professional organizations.
In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all in person GMID events had to be cancelled or pivoted to virtual. For a fleeting moment, it looked like GMID would be altogether cancelled for 2020.
Shortly after the announcement came out that GMID in person events were being cancelled, Anh Nguyen sent out a tweet. That tweet started a movement.
After 50+ event professionals from around the world answered the, GMID Goes Virtual was born. The organizing committee volunteered their time and skills to create an opportunity for #Eventprofs to connect, and a platform to share a message of resilience with their colleagues.
A Temperature Check of the Industry
GMID Goes Virtual was attended by over 12,500 people from over 30 countries. The event used Sli.do - an audience interaction tool – to conduct an industry survey, live during the event.
These polls helped provide insights into where our industry currently stands, and where we think it is going. GMID Goes Virtual also became the most interactive event in Sli.do history. Over 8,800 people participated, and 46,970 votes were submitted. Crazy!
Click here to see the final poll results.
Overwhelming Support From the Community
None of this would have been possible without the support from the following organizations:
- Meetings Mean Business is an industry coalition that focuses on providing an advocacy voice for the meetings industry. GMID Goes Virtual was supported by Meetings Mean Business Canada, Meetings Mean Business US, Meetings Mean Business India, and Meetings Mean Business Mexico.
- Resolve Collaboration is a company specializing in digital events, and responsible for the technology production of GMID Goes Virtual
- AV Strategies, a full-service AV company based in Canada. AV Strategies provided the webcast platform.
- Snöball Influencer Marketing was used to register attendees for GMID Goes Virtual and their marketing platform allowed GMID Goes Virtual to amplify our brand and mobilize attendees to become brand ambassadors and influencers
- Nifty Method, a full-service marketing agency. The team at Nifty Method offered their time and platforms on support the marketing of the event
- Sli.do, as mentioned, was used to collect live polling data during the event.
GMID Goes Virtual also received support from many industry associations including
the Events Industry Council (EIC), the International Live Event Association (ILEA), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE Global), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and many other industry leaders.
What’s Next?
While we reflect on the success of the GMID Goes Virtual initiative and figure out what's next, we encourage every member our industry to stay connected and start brainstorming what’s next.
In the mean time:
