Understanding the Meetings Industry

When was the last time you tried to put a puzzle together? If you had all the pieces and lots of patience, you ended up accomplishing something great. However, if just a couple of pieces are missing, it becomes an impossible task. The same is true about the meetings industry–if you don’t understand all of the "pieces" it will be impossible (or, at least, extremely difficult) to achieve the level of success you aspire to. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the conventions, expositions, meetings, and incentive travel industry is a $75.6 billion industry . . . how would you like a "piece" of that?

This resource area is brought to you by the NSA Strategic Partnerships Council and is designed to provide you valuable information that will help you become successful within the meetings industry.

Meetings Industry Links	NSA is a member if the Convention Industry Council (CIC) along with a number of other meetings industry organizations. Here is a link to the CIC web site that has in depth information and links to all member organizations as well as an overall national meetings industry event calendar.

Meetings Industry Definitions	Do you know a podium from lectern? A lavaliere microphone from a handheld? Search this glossary of almost 4,000 terms, acronyms, and abbreviations created through the CIC APEX program and save yourself time, money, and trouble.

Meetings Industry White Paper	"Meeting the Meeting Industry: Putting the Puzzle Together" by Drew Stevens, PhD. This link also provides access to a PowerPoint presentation that can be presented at a Chapter level to introduce new and aspiring speakers to the meetings industry.

Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX)	APEX is working to unite the entire meeting, convention and exhibition industry in the development and eventual implementation of voluntary standards, which will be called accepted practices.