MEETINGNEWS THIS WEEK - Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010

In the wake of one of the meeting industry's most challenging years, nine industry associations have collaborated in order to launch a new grassroots marketing campaign—"Face Time. It Matters."—to promote the economic benefits of face-to-face meetings and events.

Spearheaded by the Convention Industry Council (CIC), the campaign will position face-to-face meetings as tools that businesses can use to:
1. Build trust and relationships
2. More effectively deliver education and training
3. Save time and money
4. Stimulate creative thinking
5. Establish the human connection that powers business
6. Create jobs that power the economy

With number 6 the industry has always pointed towards hotel jobs, restaurant jobs, taxi jobs, etc in the destination of the venue.
1, 2, 4 and 5 however are clearly value drivers on the content side Which is of interest to the MSI. This is good news, recognizing that the value of face to face lies also in the deeper value of meetings;
-in the learning (2 and 4)
- in the networking (1 and 5).
   

RESEARCH TOPIC

What we here at MSI would love to do, is gather scientific evidence that this actually is true, that Face to face is really more effective, for learning and networking.
How does that work? Can we point toward empirical evidence? Who studied what?
Can we take this from a great marketing campaign paid by the industry into even greater and applicable knowledge and proof in practice. 

Are you interested to study this topic? or do you know literature in this field? Do you want to write about this?
please contact us info@meetingsupport.org