Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) President Barbara Maple announced the winner of the inaugural JMIC Profile and Power Award as Martin Lewis of CAT Publications UK.

Mr. Lewis formally received the award at the Opening Ceremonies for the EIBTM Meetings Industry Trade Show in Barcelona, Spain.

"This is a very special occasion for JMIC as it is the first award we have made in this entirely new category", said Maple.

"The award is part of our "Profile and Power program which has been developed to raise the profile of the Meetings Industry and give those of us who work in the industry more influence over global events and decisions that influence our future.”

“Our unanimous choice for the first recipient was Martin Lewis, given the many years of effort he has put into raising awareness of the industry in the UK, and the inspiration he has given to many others who want to increase industry profile similarly in their own communities and countries".

The JMIC Profile and Power Award was established by the Council as a way of recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the awareness and influence of the Meetings Industry in their respective communities.

While this is the first time the award has been made, it will be made annually in the future.

Lewis is Managing Editor of Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine and Managing Director of CAT Publications Ltd which specialises solely in magazines, directories and exhibitions serving the conference and incentive travel markets.

He describes his arrival in the conference business as an accident that took place when he joined Conferences & Exhibitions magazine in 1981 and liked the market so much he stayed.

With colleagues he launched Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine in 1987 and formed his own company, Conference And Travel (CAT) Publications.

National Meetings Week is now in its fifth year and is gaining ever increasing support from a large majority of the UK’s business tourism industry, including meetings as well as travel, live events and exhibitions.

This year supporters included key organisations such as Visit London, ExCeL London, BI Worldwide, EICC, ICC, Business Tourism Partnership and Chelsea Football Club.

This year’s campaign has been the most successful to date with over 150 pieces of coverage in major UK National and regional newspapers with a reach in excess of 35 million people.