FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        

Media Contact:
Caitlyn Blizzard
[email protected]
1.202.835.4202

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 17, 2019) – Destinations International, International Association of Venue Managers, and Tourism Economics today announced the launch of the Local and Public Events Module of the Event Impact Calculator (EIC), which will provide destination organizations with the tools they need to quantify the economic value of all events occurring at a convention center.

The EIC is the industry standard for measuring how events generate economic impact and is currently used by nearly 300 destinations around the world. The Local and Public Events Module is the fourth module to be developed for the EIC and brings in four new event types including consumer and public, food and beverage, community, and testing and education events.

“The Event Impact Calculator has empowered destination organizations to quantify the value events bring to a destination which proves the case for ongoing development of the meetings and events sector,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “Thanks to the partnership of IAVM and Tourism Economics, convention centers and CVBs can join together to communicate the importance events bring to a destination as a synchronized voice.”

Traditionally, convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) have calculated the impact of citywide conventions held at a city’s convention center, but other events held at the convention center have been calculated using other methodologies. The Local and Public Events Module now enables CVBs and convention centers to collaborate and report economic impacts utilizing the same platform.

“IAVM is pleased with the partnership and work that Destinations International and Tourism Economics have completed for the Local and Public Events Module,” said Brad Mayne, President and CEO of IAVM. “The module gives our convention centers a quality economic reporting system that aligns with the destination reports to community shareholders. I want to thank the City Pairs Task Force, made up of venue and destination executives strengthening the industry through cooperative efforts in each of our destinations, for their focus and commitment to bringing the module to our collective members.”

“With the launch of the Local and Public Events Module, the EIC is now capable of measuring the economic value of virtually any event hosted by a destination,” said Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. “These measurements are a vital part of understanding the value of CVBs and convention centers alike.”

New features for this module include the ability to use floor space to calculate organizer and exhibitor spending, aggregate spending for organizers and exhibitors, and breakout of event spending to local and visiting attendees. The new module's event report also adds a total spend perspective in addition to the traditional net "new" spending.

For more information about the EIC, visit destinationsinternational.org/event-impact-calculator.

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About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with almost 6,000 destination professionals from around the globe from nearly 600 destinations in 13 countries, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.