Edmonton — The importance of meetings and events to Canada’s economy was the focus of National Meetings Industry Day celebrations as Edmonton and area meetings and events professionals gathered at the Shaw Conference Centre, as part of a cross-country, eight-city celebration. Edmonton’s celebration today — a partnership of Meeting Professionals International – Edmonton Chapter, Edmonton Tourism and Shaw Conference Centre — was among Canada’s largest.

“So much of our economy is affected by meetings and events. From hotels to photographers, from limousine drivers to caterers, these events form participants’ impressions of Edmonton,” said Brent Taylor, President of Meeting Professionals International – Edmonton Chapter. “When we do our job well, visitors will consider bringing back a major conference with them to our city.”

Nationwide, the industry generated $32 billion in direct spending and 223,000 full-year jobs in 2008. Over 673,000 meetings were attended by 70 million participants in the same year in Canada.

For its significant contribution to the local meetings and events industry, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, represented by President and CEO Martin Salloum, received the 2010 Meeting Professionals Industry Influence Award. In addition, web expert Amber MacArthur spoke about social media’s impact on the meetings and events industry.

Proceeds from this event benefitted Edmonton’s Food Bank. “Nourishing event participants is just one part of what the meetings and events industry does,” said Cliff Higuchi, Assistant General Manager of Shaw Conference Centre. “By targeting the Food Bank, we are supporting the tourism industry’s FRESH initiative, which encourages socially and environmentally responsible eventplanning.”

Media contact:
Brent Taylor
Meeting Professionals International – Edmonton Chapter
Phone: 780.444.3773
E-mail: brent@timewiseevents.com

Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) provides leadership in economic development, markets Edmonton as a must-see destination, manages the Shaw Conference Centre and Edmonton Research Park, and acts as a stakeholder in TEC Edmonton, a joint venture with the University of Alberta. For more information, visit www.edmonton.com or www.edmontonstories.ca.