Communities worldwide are recognizing Global Meetings Industry Day today to spread the word that professional meetings and other group events play a vital role in local economies.

That’s true for the dozens of groups the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau books annually. This year, those groups will generate more than $23.9 million, and that doesn’t include group business booked directly at the city’s meeting venues and sports facilities. 

"Meetings Matter" is the theme of Global Meetings Industry Day this year. Nationwide, the U.S. Travel Association reports professional events drove nearly $100 billion in travel spending in 2022, accounting for 38% of all business travel spending.

Meetings are essential to the economic health of Springfield, said Mark Hecquet, president and CEO of the CVB. Group business helps hotels, meeting venues, restaurants, retailers, service providers and other businesses all over the Ozarks.

“The tourism industry is an economic driver for Springfield and the Ozarks and group business is a significant part of that industry,” Hecquet said. “More than 21,000 people are employed in the hospitality industry in Greene County alone, making it one of the area’s top employment segments.”

Besides generating revenue critical to the success of local economies, meetings bring intangible benefits critical to business success. Face-to-face meetings and events power other industries, spur new ideas, form deeper business connections and fuel individual professional growth.

To learn more about group business in Springfield, contact the CVB at 417-881-5300 or visit springfieldmo.org/meetings. 

The CVB is a destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting travel to Springfield and the Ozarks to drive economic activity to the area. Call 417-881-5300 for more information.