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Leading organizations representing the meetings, events and incentive travel industries have united to issue guidelines on acceptable business travel practices to companies that have received emergency government lending. The guidelines, built upon existing corporate best practices, are designed to ensure transparency and accountability and protect the one million American jobs supported by corporate meetings and events.

"The business practices of our customers impact the welfare of our industry, our employee base and the economic health of the communities where we do business,” said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Working collaboratively, associations representing the meetings, events and incentive travel industries are addressing an urgent public need by developing clear, prudent guidelines for companies that have received taxpayer dollars.”

Highlights from the guidelines include: conferences or events with a cost exceeding $75,000 must be supported by a written business case identifying a specific business purpose and positive return on objective and investment metrics at least 90 percent of incentive program attendees shall be other than senior executives (as defined by Treasury Department guidelines) from the host organization; and total annual expenses for meetings, events and incentive/recognition travel shall not exceed 15 percent of the company’s total sales and marketing spend.

The complete guidelines are available here: http://www.facilitiesonline.com/blog/11-02-2009/

“At a time when the Department of Labor reports a loss of nearly 200,000 travel related jobs in 2008 and U.S. Commerce Department data predicts a loss of an additional 247,000 travel related jobs in 2009, it is critical that every effort be made to protect beneficial meetings and events,” said Dow. “Our associations are hopeful that with stringent, transparent standards in place, policymakers and the business community can embrace meetings, events and incentive travel as responsible economic stimulants.”

According to industry sources, 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. This new coalition includes: American Hotel and Lodging Association; Destination Marketing Association International; International Association of Exhibitions and Events; Meeting Professionals International;National Business Travel Association; Professional Convention Management Association;Site (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives); and U.S. Travel Association.