Global Meetings Industry Day set for 6 April 2027, reinforcing EIC’s commitment to research-driven advocacy and industry resilience
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. (22 October 2026) — The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, today released its Q2 2026 Global Business Events Barometer, showing continued confidence in future business events despite persistent economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
EIC also announced that Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2027 will take place on 6 April 2027, coinciding with the release of the 2027 Futures Landscape Study, a global research initiative examining the forces shaping the future of the business events industry.
Together with the recently released 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, these initiatives reflect EIC’s continued commitment to delivering credible research, strengthening global advocacy and supporting an industry navigating increasingly complex economic, technological and societal change.
That work is also being advanced through EIC Pathways, a new initiative designed to build and support the future business events workforce by connecting professionals at every stage of their careers with education, credentials, career resources and opportunities for continuous growth. Together, EIC’s research, advocacy and workforce initiatives are helping the industry better understand the forces shaping its future—and equipping people and organisations to respond with greater confidence and purpose.
Global Events Barometer: Confidence in the Future
The Q2 2026 Global Business Events Barometer, prepared in partnership with Oxford Economics, shows global hotel group room demand holding steady at 92% of 2019 levels, unchanged from a year earlier. Meanwhile, request for proposal (RFP) activity for future events advanced to 113% of 2019 levels, suggesting continued momentum in forward-looking demand.
The findings come amid geopolitical instability, persistent inflationary pressures, elevated borrowing costs and rapidly evolving technology. Together, these forces are influencing business investment, travel decisions and event participation, while reinforcing the importance of strategic planning and resilience.
“The latest Barometer reinforces an important distinction between the pressures organisations are navigating today and the confidence they continue to place in the future,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “We cannot ignore the economic and geopolitical realities shaping our world. Yet even in this environment, organisations are choosing to invest in bringing people together. That speaks to the essential role business events play in building trust, exchanging knowledge, developing talent and creating opportunities for meaningful progress.”
The report also highlights the evolving role of artificial intelligence as a driver of business investment and transformation, creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and professional development.
“These findings illustrate the resilience of the business events sector in an unusually complex global environment,” said Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company. “While current group room demand remains below pre-pandemic levels, the strength of RFP activity points to a sustained pipeline of future events. This distinction is important because it shows how organisations are balancing near-term economic constraints with longer-term business priorities and the continuing value of face-to-face engagement.”
Connecting Industry Performance with Global Economic Impact
The Barometer complements EIC’s landmark 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, also produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, which provides a comprehensive assessment of the industry’s economic and societal contribution.
The study found that in 2025, business events brought together 1.65 billion participants across more than 180 countries and generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending. Including indirect and induced impacts, the sector supported US$3.1 trillion in total business sales, contributed US$1.8 trillion to global GDP and sustained 24.2 million jobs worldwide.
Beyond those contributions, the research examines the catalytic value of business events in supporting innovation, investment, workforce development, knowledge exchange and long-term business relationships.
Together, the Economic Significance Study and quarterly Barometer provide complementary perspectives on the industry’s scale, current performance and future direction, equipping policymakers, industry leaders and organisations with evidence to support more informed decisions.
Global Meetings Industry Day 2027: A Global Moment for Year-Round Advocacy
Building on the momentum of GMID 2026 and EIC’s ongoing global advocacy campaign, Global Meetings Industry Day will return on Wednesday, 7 April 2027.
The annual initiative will once again unite industry professionals, associations, destinations, corporations and partners worldwide to demonstrate how business events strengthen economies, connect communities, accelerate innovation and create opportunities for people and organisations.
GMID is a central component of EIC’s year-round advocacy strategy, which leverages the findings of the Economic Significance Study, Global Events Barometer and other industry research to build a consistent, evidence-based narrative about the value of business events. Through monthly campaign themes and content developed in collaboration with EIC Members, Strategic Partners, CMPs and volunteer leaders, the initiative amplifies the industry’s economic and societal contributions while providing practical resources that organisations can use to engage policymakers, business leaders and local communities throughout the year.
The 2027 observance will also mark the release of the EIC Futures Landscape Study 2027, developed in partnership with Ipsos, a global leader in market research and insights.
Building on the 2025 study, the new report will examine the evolving forces shaping the business events ecosystem, helping industry leaders anticipate change, assess emerging opportunities and risks, and strengthen their organisations’ ability to adapt and thrive.
“Global Meetings Industry Day is an opportunity for our entire industry to unite around a shared purpose and demonstrate the value we create for economies and communities around the world,” said Stephanie Harris, 2026 Chair of the EIC Board of Directors and President of the Incentive Research Foundation. “But our advocacy cannot be limited to a single day. By connecting the Economic Significance Study, quarterly Barometer and Futures Landscape research through a sustained, year-round campaign, we are providing our global community with the evidence, insights and collective voice needed to influence decisions, inspire investment and prepare for what comes next.”
The Futures Landscape Study 2027 will continue EIC’s emphasis on strategic foresight, informed by perspectives from across the global business events ecosystem. Its release during GMID will create a platform for dialogue, collaboration and collective action across sectors and regions.
“At a time when the world is experiencing growing fragmentation and uncertainty, our ability to convene people across borders, sectors and perspectives has never been more important,” added Calvert. “Through Vision 2030, we are connecting our research, advocacy and workforce initiatives to help the industry make better decisions today while preparing for tomorrow. GMID provides a powerful moment to amplify that work, but the real opportunity lies in sustaining the conversation and translating our collective insights into meaningful action throughout the year.”
EIC encourages organisations worldwide to begin planning their participation in GMID 2027 and to engage with its year-round advocacy campaign by sharing research findings, amplifying campaign messaging and contributing perspectives from across the global business events community.
