The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has announced that both the Meetings Industry Association (mia) and Meetings Professionals International UK & Ireland (MPI) have re-joined the partnership as full members. This takes the number of full partners in the BVEP, which is the umbrella body and advocacy group for the UK’s £70 billion events industry, to 28.
The mia represents more than 800 members within the business events industry from hotels, venues and industry suppliers. The association also runs the AIM accreditation scheme, the UK’s only recognised accreditation scheme for the meetings and events industry.
Jane Longhurst, Chief Executive, mia (left on the picture) said: “Business meetings and events have been decimated by the impact of COVID-19 so there has never been a more crucial time for us to work collaboratively to gain government recognition and ongoing support for our sector. With our objectives now aligned, the mia is delighted to be re-joining the BVEP under the unified goal of helping the UK to continue to host world class events and cementing the nation’s position on the global stage.”
MPI, which is the largest meeting and events industry association globally, represents more than 17,000 event planners, suppliers and students worldwide. The association has more than 70 chapters and clubs across 75 countries.
Judy Elvey, President, Meetings Professionals International UK & Ireland (right on the picture) said: “BVEP are a crucial voice for the business events industry here in the UK and through these uncertain times it is working hard, with its members, to gather and feedback information and evidence to the government to ensure that the sector can recover as quickly as possible. As a global association we can feedback best practice and initiatives to our global chapters to help aid the recovery of the international meetings and events industry.”
Commenting on both mia and MPI re-joining the partnership, Michael Hirst OBE, Chair, of the BVEP said: "I'm delighted that the BVEP's activities and voice on behalf of the Events Industry is being strengthened by the membership of MPI and MIA, both of which are leading representative bodies in their sectors. This is clearly the time for the Industry to come together to demonstrate it is unified around core messages and working collaboratively to resolve the many issues arising out of the consequences of COVID19".
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Notes to editors
For further information on BVEP please contact Hollie Luxford on 07506 016507 or at
About the BVEP
The Business Visits and Events Partnership’s (BVEP) vision is to support sustainable growth for the UK’s £70 billion UK Events Industry. BVEP’s mission is to support growth across the entire sector via advocacy, networking, collaboration and a collective voice.
BVEP’s objectives are to:
- Operate an umbrella organisation to represent, promote and further the interest of member organisations involved in the United Kingdom Events Industry
- Advance the interests, standing, quality, sustainability and growth of the United Kingdom Events’ Industry
- Seek greater collaboration across the Events’ Industry sectors on common issues
- Forge close links with Government departments, including devolved Governments where possible via representation that can influence favourable policies towards the Industry. In particular, maintain strong relationships with key sponsoring departments, DCMS, DIT and BEIS
- Seek a stronger link with the Creative Industries and other related sectors
- Encourage joint events
- Increase the focus on professionalism and skills development.
BVEP Partners
- ABPCO (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers)
- AEME (Association for Events Management Education)
- Business Travel Association
- Core Cities
- Events Industry Alliance (AEO, AEV, ESSA)
- Events Industry Forum
- EMA (Event Marketing Association)
- EVCOM (Event & Visual Communications Association)
- HBAA (Hotel Booking Agents Association)
- ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association)
- London & Partners
- Meetings Industry Association (mia)
- Meet in Ireland
- Meetings Professionals International UK & Ireland (MPI)
- NOEA (National Outdoor Events Association)
- PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association)
- PSA (Production Services Association)
- Tourism Northern Ireland
- VisitBritain
- Visit Wales
- VisitScotland Business Events
About the mia
The mia (www.mia-uk.org/) is one of the fastest growing associations in the conference, meetings and events sector, founded by a proactive group of hotel and conference centre operators and booking agents to lead the conference, meetings and events industry, providing accreditation, industry awards, research and a voice to government. It has 800 accredited members.
The mia supports members by:
- Providing extensive regional networking opportunities on a monthly basis.
- Helping them to achieve the highest standards of facilities, service and hygiene protocols through achievement of AIM, the industry standard of quality and excellence.
- Providing a library of best practice and quality standards guidelines.
- Promoting AIM to industry buyers.
- Delivering tangible benefits which support members in the achievement of their own business goals.
- By the provision of information, education, research and advice all of which lead to improved business performance.
- By sharing issues of sector importance with them.
- By raising the profile of business tourism with government.
About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry. MPI has a global community of 60,000 meeting and event professionals including more than 17,000 engaged members and its Plan Your Meetings audience. It has more than 75 chapters and clubs with members in 70 countries. "When we meet, we change the world." www.mpi.org