At the concluding plenary session of ‘The Millennium Leaders Summit’ in Kuala Lumpur in June 2003 - attended by over 100 senior executives from the world’s leading meetings, corporate events incentive travel and exhibitions industry associations – delegates were unanimous in their condemnation of the use of the term MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions/Events).

However, the ‘rodent’ is still with us with new people entering our business assuming MICE is part of the lingua franca. There are some companies that even adopt the dreaded word as a title/designation.

Here at MWA we cringe every time we see it in print or hear it.

I would like a high powered assembly of our industry leaders (perhaps at one of the major trade shows?) agree to kill off this derogatory expression once and for all. The sooner the better.

Business Tourism. Another plea - to those who use this term, which is an oxymoron because ‘Business’ is work (a job) and ‘Tourism’ is leisure There are few conference delegates or business travellers who regard themselves as tourists or holidaymakers!

So let’s stop using these nonsensical expressions right now!

Geoffrey Gray-Forton, FCIM, is founder and chairman of Meetings World (1969) Associates. www.meetingsworld.co.uk

Do you agree? If so what terms should we be using let us know…