GMID 2019 Philadelphia

Please join us for Global Meetings Industry Day Philadelphia!

Registration and Community Service Activity | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Homelessness and How it Affects the Hospitality Industry | 2:00pm – 3:15pm
Over half a million people are currently homeless with nearly 200,000 homeless persons living in a place not meant for human habitation, such as on the street or in an abandoned building.  Homelessness has a profound impact on the meetings and hospitality industry. Forty-two percent of respondents to a recent Convene survey noted that they had rejected a meeting site because of homelessness.  As part of Global Meetings Industry Day, a panel of experts from the hospitality, association, and social services areas will discuss the problem of homelessness, how you can mitigate its effects on your meetings, and what you can do to help combat this problem.

Learning Objectives:
1) Recognize the main causes of homelessness in America, and how it impacts the hospitality industry.
2) Explain what role the hospitality industry can play in combatting homelessness.
3) Discuss how planners can mitigate some of the challenges posed by homelessness in their destination cities.

Speakers:
John J. McNichol,  President & CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Moderator
Windy Christner, Sr. Director, Meetings and Exhibitions, American Pharmacists Association
Liz Hersh, Director Homeless Services, Office of Homeless Services, City of Philadelphia
Hugh Organ, Associate Executive Director, Covenant House Pennsylvania

Break | 3:15pm – 3:30pm

Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry | 3:30pm – 4:50pm
Human trafficking, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, is the “modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain.” There are an estimated 24.9 million people trapped in forced labor via human trafficking worldwide, with over 70% of victims being women and girls.  Traffickers are known to use hotels, airlines, and other travel infrastructure to exploit or transport their victims.  Those of us in the hospitality industry have a role to play in combatting human trafficking, from increasing awareness to training staff to recognize it. This session seeks to shed some light on the problem of human trafficking and what we can do to prevent it.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the scope of the human trafficking problem within the hospitality industry.
2) Discuss the role hospitality industry employees have in combatting human trafficking.

Speakers:
Julie Coker Graham, President & CEO, Philadelphia CVB, Moderator
Michelle Guelbart, MSW, Director of Private Sector Engagement, ECPAT-USA
Alexis Krieger, Victim Specialist, FBI
Caroline Meledo, Director, Corporate Responsibility & Human Rights, Hilton
Hugh Organ, Associate Executive Director, Covenant House Pennsylvania

Networking Reception | 4:50pm – 6:00pm

Click here to register today!

Notes:
-This program has been approved for 2.0 education credits by the Events Industry Council.
–Speakers’ Bios for Global Meetings Industry Day Philadelphia
-Registration will take place outside of Room 114/Nutter Theatre. Please enter at either the East Entrance at 13th and Arch, or the West Entrance at 12th and Arch.
–Click here to see who’s attending.

During our GMID Event we will be supporting Covenant House Philadelphia. This organization started 40 years ago supporting the homeless youth. Now they stand as a human rights movement for homeless, as well as trafficked youth in over 31 cities across 6 countries. Please take the time to bring NEW items that are listed below to support the youth of our city:

• twin XL sheets and pillow cases
• towels and wash cloths
• tide pods
• sippy cups/bottles
• newborn diapers
• newborn clothes
• 12-24-month girl clothes
• easy mac and cheese
• notebooks
• 3 ring binders
• book bags
• umbrellas
• ponchos
• gift cards (Visa, Target and Walmart)