Los Angeles Tourism Celebrates GMID

April 10, 2024

Affirming that professional meetings and conventions are one of the largest “unseen” drivers of the local economy, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is joining colleagues across the country in celebrating Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), April 11, 2024.

“Meetings and conventions generate a remarkable $24 billion in local business sales annually with a workforce and supply chain that reaches into every LA neighborhood, including hundreds of small and diverse-owned businesses who depend on these events for their livelihoods,” said Adam Burke, Los Angeles Tourism’s President & CEO, in a media announcement. “From the family-owned catering company in Leimert Park to the florist in Boyle Heights, event planner in Westlake, countless Downtown restaurants, and so much more, hundreds of thousands of Angelenos across the region work in careers that directly support professional meetings.”

To highlight the importance of the vital meeting and convention sector to the national economy, Los Angeles Tourism will sponsor Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI’s) eighth-annual global broadcast, bringing together leaders from around the world for a 12-hour virtual event to discuss best practices and ensure that meetings and events are delivered responsibly, equitably, and sustainably. In addition, Los Angeles Tourism will participate in a series of GMID events in partnership with customers and planners across the country, including in Newport Beach, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Arlington, TX; Chicago, IL; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and Washington, D.C.

This year’s celebration of GMID comes as the City of Angels prepares to host a number of major travel industry events, including U.S. Travel Association’s IPW in May (held in LA for the first time in over a decade); the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ 2024 Expo! Expo! in December; and the American Society of Association Executives’ 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo next year.

On the Meetings Stage: Ready for Their Close-Up

Known for being “red carpet ready,” Los Angeles prides itself on allowing event planners to become producers and bring their creative visions to life. With an unprecedented decade of global sporting events coming to LA, planners and attendees also have the opportunity to experience the host venues that will soon be on the world stage including the brand-new Intuit Dome (host of NBA All-Star 26), SoFi Stadium (host of the FIFA World Cup 26 and the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games), and iconic venues like Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, BMO Stadium, and Rose Bowl Stadium.

“Meetings not only build strong relationships, but they also drive business and provide long-lasting benefits to the communities in which they are held,” said Darren Green, Chief Sales Officer, Los Angeles Tourism in a press briefing. “At Los Angeles Tourism, we strive to provide experiences that are uniquely LA while incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives into each meeting’s agenda to ensure that these events have a lasting, positive impact on our community.”

CSR in the Spotlight

Over the past year, Los Angeles Tourism has doubled down on its commitment to CSR through programming focused on workforce development, paid apprenticeships, supplier diversity, and ongoing partnerships with the Los Angeles Career Academy, Skid Row Running Club, L.A. Works, Feet First LA, and more. As a global leader in sustainability, Los Angeles Tourism is also proud to be the first urban destination in the United States to join the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), recently completing GSTC’s comprehensive destination sustainability assessment, which is tied directly to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As just two recent programming examples, the Los Angeles Career Academy—launched in 2021 by the Los Angeles City Tourism Department (CTD)—brings LA-area high school students together to participate in citywide conventions at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This immersive experience gives students the unique opportunity to learn about professional meetings and events while gaining valuable insights into a variety of industries, including medical, technology, and entertainment.

At the heart of LA’s commitment to environmental sustainability in meetings and events, the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), recently achieved Certified Green Business status under the esteemed California Green Business Network. This certification underscores LACC’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its aim of making Los Angeles the preferred choice for eco-conscious event planners and attendees.

For more information, visit meetla.com.