As the corporate meetings and events industry moves into full recovery mode this year, there are myriad industry events for event professionals to take advantage of. After all, not only are industry conferences an excellent source of professional development with plentiful educational opportunities designed to inform and inspire, but also they’re a great way to connect with peers and make new business contacts, all in one place. 

Here, we’ve curated a short list of upcoming U.S.-based events that meeting and event professionals should consider adding to their schedules in 2024.

Connect Spring Marketplace, April 2-4, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

This not-to-miss annual conference and trade show for meetings and hospitality industry professionals is jam-packed with premium content and valuable programming. Featuring Connect’s signature one-on-one appointments, cutting-edge education, plentiful networking opportunities and a bustling “reverse trade show” with 1,000 suppliers, you’ll be sure to make new business connections, enjoy creative activations and learn about new revenue-producing opportunities at this ever-popular hosted buyer event.

MPI World Education Congress (WEC), May 20-22, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville

Recognized as one of the top association conferences in the world, Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) signature event will deliver more than 70 education sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, and plentiful face-to-face business and networking opportunities for meeting and event professionals. Get ready to feed your mind and feel jazzed up to re-invent your events this year through the valuable connections and actionable education you need to advance your career. Hosted buyer applications are open.

PCMA edUcon 2024, June 23-26, Huntington Place, Detroit

This dynamic industry event — presented by the PCMA, the platform for the business events industry — offers premium-level educational programming geared toward global thought leaders, event marketers, experience designers and business event strategists seeking to elevate their careers and transform their events. Attendees will have a chance to connect with their peers and learn from industry trailblazers, as well as take advantage of progressive learning opportunities, gain insights into current trends and event technologies, and explore new possibilities for the future of business events.

CEMA Summit 2024, Aug. 4-6, Seattle (venue TBA)

Powered by PCMA, the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) works to advance strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level corporate event marketers and industry professionals. Designed to provide event marketing professionals with the knowledge, insights and tools needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving event marketing industry, this year’s CEMA Summit is promising more breakout sessions customized for event professionals early in their careers, mid-career and senior in their careers, quieter spaces and social events conducive to connecting and separate sessions for event marketers and industry partners.

Connect Marketplace 2024, Aug. 27-29, Milwaukee

Business gets done at Connect’s flagship event, which attracts thousands of meeting and event professionals each year. Meet one-on-one with key decision-makers, learn from industry experts, network with like-minded peers and discover intelligent event solutions on an innovative trade show floor. Offering tracks including Association, Corporate, RTO Summit, Specialty and Sports, this leading hosted buyer conference is known for providing fresh inspiration, valuable insights and the necessary resources to help meeting and event planners take their future events to the next level.

The Event Planner Expo 2024, Oct. 15-17, New York City

The Event Planner Expo — a conference for meeting and event planners, corporate decision-makers and marketing and PR professionals — is considered one of New York City’s top trade shows for the events and hospitality industry. Expected to attract more than 2,000 attendees, it offers a bustling expo showcasing top venues and services, its popular Speaker Series featuring more than 50 keynote speakers, panels and fireside chats with top business leaders sharing knowledge and innovative business strategies, and myriad ways to connect and engage with peers as well as expand one’s professional network.

IMEX America, Oct. 8-10, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas

As one of the largest conferences and trade shows for the global meetings, events, incentives and business travel industry, IMEX America brings together meeting and event professionals for four packed days of discovery, more than 150 specialist education sessions and premium networking on and off the show floor. At this hosted buyer event, meeting professionals will find all the suppliers they need to do a year’s worth of business under one roof — from convention and visitors bureaus and venues in major cities across the globe to the latest event technology providers and event management agencies.

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