The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has launched a grassroots industry initiative to promote the benefits of face-to-face meetings. The “Face Time. It Matters” campaign will debut in January with a logo, slogan and marketing materials on Web sites of the CIC’s 34 member organizations, in trade and partner consumer advertising and at various industry shows and events.

The campaign was created in response to findings from a recent Ypartnership national survey of corporate and association meeting planners where 35 percent of respondents cited “image/publicity/public policy” considerations as a reason they expect to book fewer face-to-face meetings in 2010.

“We’re very excited about the launch of this grass roots campaign,” says Gregg Talley, Chief Strategy Officer for the CIC. “The Convention Industry Council and its members will utilize the message to promote the irreplaceable benefits of human interaction and relationship building that may only be realized only through face-to-face meetings.”