Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the members' organisation for meetings planners, has commissioned a three-year study into the value of corporate social responsibility.

It is hoped the study, the most comprehensive of its kind, will shed fresh light on how the meeting and event industry can build a sustainable future through best practices.

Researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University, in the north of England, will carry out the work.

Didier Scaillet, MPI chief development officer, said: “Our goal is that this research will provide our members and our professional colleagues around the world with additional information and tools in practice, reporting and professional development.”

Academics from the university’s UK Centre for Events Management, International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) and Centre for Hospitality, will analyse global trends by interviewing top executives of major venues, organisations and suppliers, and event consumers worldwide.

Project Coordinator Jackie Mulligan, principal lecturer at UK Centre for Events Management, said: “We are delighted to be have secured this opportunity to support MPI in its mission to lead industry and support its members and the sector to meet the demands of the future.

“CSR is a hot topic for businesses increasingly seeking to reduce the negative impacts of their activities and strengthen the positive contributions that events can offer.”

MPI intends to release the results of the survey in three phases at major global industry events in the United States, Asia and across Europe from the middle of next year through 2013.

Research director Dr Xavier Font from the ICRT added:  “Our research will uncover how and why this subject is important and the growing concern for us all in achieving the triple bottom line, people, planet, profit”.