Jan 21, 2022
While it may have been tempting to sit out an in-person show at the start of this year due to concerns about the Omicron variant, attendees and exhibitors of Convening Leaders 2022 (CL22) stayed the course, just as Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), urged in a statement the week before the event.
“Our industry and our businesses can and will move forward,” he said. “How this happens, it is up to us—all of us. Our audiences need us more than ever. This is our time.”
With open arms, Karamat welcomed roughly 2,500 eager face-to-face… more
Jan 20, 2022
Forty-two newly certified meeting professionals recently joined the ever-growing roster of event professionals who have earned the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
“The Events Industry Council is proud to celebrate the latest class of Certified Meeting Professionals and welcomes them to our global community,” said EIC CEO Amy Calvert. “Your dedication to excellence and continued learning is a testament to the strength and resilience of the global business events industry.”
View the full list of December 2021 graduates here.
Recognized… more
Jan 19, 2022
In a bold show of solidarity, more than 600 leaders from the U.S. tourism and events industry united with the U.S. Travel Association to sign a letter to congressional leadership urging swift enactment of federal policies to spur demand for business and international travel and help stabilize the broader travel economy.
Supporters included representatives from destinations, venues and industry organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the travel industry, providing additional federal relief and stabilizing… more
Jan 12, 2022
As event professionals embark on 2022 amid ever-evolving circumstances of the pandemic, a new research report released by Splash, an event marketing technology company, points to a robust year for in-person, virtual and hybrid events through insights on event strategies, event technology, budgets and attendee attitudes.
The Getting Back to Business: An Outlook on Events in 2022 report, a continuation of Splash’s 2021 version of the same name, is based on a November 2021 survey of nearly 3,400 event professionals and event attendees. It provides insights on how event professionals, event… more
Jan 06, 2022
On Dec. 28, Jeff Guaracino, president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA, passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 48 years old.
A Philadelphia native and passionate tourism leader, Guaracino served two stints at VISIT PHILADELPHIA, first as director of communications and vice president of communications from 2001 to 2012, and then as president and CEO in 2018.
According to VISIT PHILADELPHIA officials, under Guaracino’s leadership, the official marketing agency of the Philadelphia region continued driving leisure tourism throughout the pandemic with omni-channel marketing efforts. These… more
Jan 05, 2022
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Foundation will once again honor and celebrate the global business events industry’s exceptional stars during this year’s PCMA Visionary Awards ceremony. The foundation has announced the 2022 Lifetime Achievement honorees, Groundbreaker Award recipient and Professional Excellence finalists.
The 2022 Visionary Awards celebration will be held March 24 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., in conjunction with the inaugural Business Events Industry Week. Created by Destinations International, the … more
Dec 31, 2021
Christine Duffy, national chair of the U.S. Travel Association and president of Carnival Cruise Line, announced nine industry leaders to serve on a committee to identify the association’s next president and CEO following the retirement of Roger Dow in July 2022.
The search committee, drawn from U.S. Travel’s board of directors, is representative of core segments of the travel industry, including two from destination marketing organizations, the largest segment of association membership. The individuals who will serve on the search committee are:
Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise… more
Dec 30, 2021
The newly launched Global Business Events Barometer from the Events Industry Council (EIC) has found a significant upswing in global group demand during Q3 2021, while overall, business meetings and events activity has recovered to approximately half of pre-pandemic levels.
The barometer, which was created by Oxford Economics on behalf of EIC as part of the 2021 EIC Economic Significance Study, monitors the changes within the market relative to pre-pandemic (2019) levels and explores two key areas: hotel group room nights and request for proposal (RFP) activity.
The barometer indicates that… more
Dec 27, 2021
In an effort to help inspire and empower the global meetings and events industry to create a more sustainable future, experience design company Maritz Global Events recently became a signatory of the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge, a joint commitment across and a global collaboration throughout the events and meetings industry focused on achieving the targets laid out in the Paris Agreement. The goal? To eliminate the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Launched Nov. 10 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland with 100 signatures, the Net Zero… more
Dec 23, 2021
Following the surge in online events that has swept the industry since the pandemic started, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and networking platform AC Forum have unveiled Digital Events Outlook: Insights, Behaviours, Best Practices. Funded by the PCMA Foundation, the report aims to demystify key myths about digital events and provide event organizers with a checklist for planning them in the future.
The release of the research findings coincides with a two-year strategic partnership between PCMA and AC Forum that is intended to strengthen both organizations through… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.
At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more