Meetings Industry Advocacy Resources

Learn the latest about TARP and the Meetings Industry response.

Overview
By now, most of us are familiar with some of the details of the government’s bailout of companies in distress from the economy. What you may not know is that the government has imposed a set of requirements on companies receiving bailout money, including placing restrictions on how these companies spend money on meetings and travel. The end result has been the cancellation of meetings, not only by companies receiving government funding, but other companies who fear criticism from those in government and the media who have labeled many meetings as unnecessary and frivolous. On this page you will find the resources you will need to better understand the government bailout (better known as TARP), as well as how the Meetings Industry is responding by taking the necessary steps to ensure our officials and the general public are educated as to the value of these meetings and the important role they play in our economic recovery.

What is TARP?
TARP is the Troubled Asset Relief Program, otherwise known as the “bailout.” In Feb. 2009 the U.S. Treasury Department issued a directive on Executive Compensation. That directive included a section on “Luxury Expenditures” for organizations receiving TARP funds. Included under the “Luxury Expenditures” heading was travel related language as excerpted below:

Require Board of Directors' Adoption of Company Policy Relating to Approval of Luxury Expenditures: The boards of directors of companies receiving exceptional assistance from the government must adopt a company-wide policy on any expenditures related to aviation services, office and facility renovations, entertainment and holiday parties, and conferences and events. This policy is not intended to cover reasonable expenditures for sales conferences, staff development, reasonable performance incentives and other measures tied to a company's normal business operations. These new rules go beyond current guidelines, and would require certification by chief executive officers for expenditures that could be viewed as excessive or luxury items. Companies should also now post the text of the expenditures policy on their web sites.

While this section stipulates that "this policy is not intended to cover reasonable expenditures...", the ensuing discussion has had an overall chilling effect on meetings.

The Value of Meetings
Meetings and events are responsible for 15 percent of all travel-related spending, create nearly $40 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level and generate more than one million jobs. Without the jobs generated by meetings, events and incentive travel, the current unemployment rate of 7.6 percent would rise to 8.2 percent and cost the average American household additional annual taxes.

The Meetings Industry Responds
In response to the above and newly proposed legislation, a coalition of industry organizations, including PCMA, have issued travel guidelines for businesses receiving government money. Included are recommended standards which would apply to conferences, events, and employee recognition programs. We encourage you to review the links below which contain those guidelines along with the latest updates, information and resources which help you better understand and prepare for the potential impact on our industry. It is also important that you understand the issues and can educate your stakeholders.


NEW!
Face Time. It Matters! - Read about the meetings industry's public information campaign designed to identify and promote the unique benefits of meeting face-to-face.

NEW!
Travel Promotion Act Signed Into Law

Government Meeting City Blacklists Prompt Legislative Response

The U.S. Treasury Department issues new business travel rules for companies that have received taxpayer assistance.
The Treasury Department has announced that the boards of directors of companies receiving taxpayer assistance must develop a company-wide policy for "excessive" expenditures in the areas of meetings, events and incentive travel. Read the new policy and review resources from the U.S. Travel Association.

TARP and the US Treasury Department executive compensation rules regarding meetings and travel

Meetings Industry Response Press Releases

• February 5, 2009: American Workers, Local Communities Unintended Victims of Cuts in Meetings, Events and Incentive Travel Programs
  
• February 9, 2009: Travel Community Issues Guidelines for Use of Meetings and Events by Recipients of Emergency Government Assistance
  
  
• February 26, 2009: CIC Member Organizations Meet to Create Action Plan to Counter Negative Media Regarding Legitimate Meetings and Events
  
  
• March 5, 2009: CIC Task Force on Meetings, the Media and Industry Research

Meeting Planners Intentions Survey - The Meetings Market: Outlook 2009/2010

Letter from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel - asking for assistance in reversing current informal federal policy prohibiting and/or discouraging government meetings and conferences in Las Vegas and other cities on the basis that they are too leisure oriented to be awarded such business

"Meetings Industry Power Panel" at 2009 CMP® Conclave
At the June 8 CMP Conclave in San Antonio, CIC brought together an impressive panel of industry leaders, including PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton, for an interactive discussion to forecast the future of the meetings industry. Watch the session recap and an interview with Deborah Sexton on Convention News Television. Click on PCMA.

Meetings Industry Recommended Guidelines

• Model Board Policy for Approval of Meetings, Events and Incentive/Recognition Travel
  
  
• Examples of Legitimate Business Purposes for Meetings, Events, Incentive/Recognition Travel
  

Letter from Hotel Executives to Members of Congress


Meetings Mean Business Campaign: - Campaign and Web site launched by the U.S. Travel Association.


Meetings Advocacy Ad - placed by U.S.Travel Association which appeared in USA Today and leading opinion outlets, including Politico, Politico.com, Congress Daily and The Drudge Report. .

Meetings, Events & Incentive Travel Toolkit: The U.S. Travel Association Toolkit is designed
to help formulate your response to the sustained, unfair attacks on ME&I travel. The suite of materials includes: 1) documents to educate you on the value and economic impact of ME&I travel; and 2) resources to help you develop your own communications for policymakers and the media.

PCMA Member Communications

• February 8, 2009: Advocacy alert E-mail to PCMA Members from John Folks, PCMA Chairman and Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO, detailing the industry's response to the US Treasury Department announcement of new restrictions on executive compensation which contains provisions affecting meetings and travel.
  
  
• February 26, 2009: Advocacy alert E-mail to PCMA Members from Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO, reporting collaborative industry short and long-term measures that will reinforce the value of meetings and their positive impact on the U.S. economy.
  
  
• March 3, 2009: Letter to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry from John Folks, PCMA Chairman, and Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO, calling for restrained and specific communication that not all travel consititutes a junket. The letter is in response to comments made by Senator Kerry who has been very vocal in expressing concerns over travel and other expenses by recipients of government funds.
  
  
• March 5, 2009: Upcoming@PCMA, an E-mail to PCMA Members and prospects, informing recipients of Meetings Industry Advocacy news and resources.
  
  
• March 13, 2009: A letter from Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO, to PCMA Members encouraging them to take action by contacting their congressional representatives.