It was announced this week that VisitBritain has committed to funding 75% of a feasibility study to explore the potential expansion of the Meeting Industry Association’s ‘Accredited in Meetings’ (AIM) scheme on a National level.

This pledge of support from VisitBritain follows the Governments’ Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s own recommendation that a scheme like AIM be implemented in the UK in the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012.

“The AIM scheme has enjoyed fantastic industry support in its first year of operation and I think that a partnership between AIM and VisitBritain’s own Quality and Business Visits and Events Departments will add a great deal of value to the industry,” commented Joss Croft, head of business visits and events at VisitBritain.

The AIM scheme, which was introduced in March 2007, was set up by the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) to provide the meetings industry and its buyers with a long awaited, universally recognised indicator of quality for meetings space and services. The scheme now boasts over 150 members and has received support from organisations including the North West Regional Development Agency who first piloted the scheme.