<p>“FACE TIME. It Matters.” is a grassroots industry campaign theme designed to promote the benefits of meeting face-to-face. The campaign was developed in response to one of the most challenging years ever faced by the meeting, convention and exhibition industries. It was based on the findings of a recent national survey of corporate and association meeting planners, plus in-depth personal interviews with the industry’s leading executives as well as focus groups consisting of corporate and association executives, business travelers and professional meeting planners. According to the research:</p><p> Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships;  Education and training are more effective in a live setting;  Live meetings actually save time and money;  Live meetings result in a more effective exchange of ideas;  Face-to-face meetings provide the human connection that powers business;  Face-to-face meetings create jobs and powers the economy.</p><p>Nine leading industry trade associations have adopted the campaign theme that was developed under the aegis of the Convention Industry Council (CIC). </p>