The US travel industry and meetings professionals around the world will advocate for the benefits of face-to-face meetings and business travel on Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on March 30. According to a study by Oxford Economics, for every dollar invested in business travel, US companies received a $5.90 return in terms of revenue. A survey from J.D. Power and Tourism Economics found that 81% of executives view business travel as essential to company operations, and a Harvard Business Review study reported that face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than emailed ones. Professional meetings also fuel economic growth and local job creation, supporting 600,000 American jobs and benefiting industries like manufacturing, education and healthcare. The federal government should encourage returning to the office and getting back on the road to jumpstart business travel activities, according to the article. Various organizations in the US travel industry will celebrate GMID through contests, educational presentations, networking opportunities, video messages, and interactive panels.