PCMA Selects Host Cities for Convening Leaders for Next Four Years
June 6, 2023
PCMA has selected the future host cities and dates for Convening Leaders (CL), the association’s annual flagship education and networking event, for 2024-2027. San Diego has been tapped to host the event in January 2024, followed by Houston in 2025, Philadelphia in 2026 and Miami in 2027.
“The business events industry plays a critical role in bringing people together that drives economic growth and social good for individuals, organizations and communities” said PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat. “Each of these destinations has a unique identity and offers a diverse range of experiences for our participants. We look forward to bringing our global community together to learn, connect and innovate for the future.”
Convening Leaders 2024: Jan. 7-10, San Diego, Calif.
Hosted by the San Diego Tourism Authority, CL24 will be held at the San Diego Convention Center.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Convening Leaders to our beautiful city in 2024,” said Julie Coker, president and CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority. “San Diego’s stunning beauty, combined with our diverse culture and vibrant atmosphere, fosters an environment of innovation and collaboration that perfectly aligns with the forward-thinking nature of Convening Leaders. We can’t wait to welcome participants from around the world and embrace them with San Diego’s warmth, charm, and welcoming spirit.”
Convening Leaders 2025: Jan. 12-15, Houston, Texas
Hosted by Visit Houston and Houston First Corporation, CL25 will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
“We look forward to hosting the premier gathering of meeting professionals in the country when Convening Leaders comes to Houston in 2025,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO, Houston First Corporation. “Not only is Houston a great destination enjoyed by millions of visitors annually, but our George R. Brown Convention Center campus is the perfect place for event professionals to collaborate and be inspired while also enjoying the world-class culinary and cultural offerings of the nation’s most diverse city,”
Convening Leaders 2026: Jan. 11-14, Philadelphia, Pa.
Hosted by Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), CL26 will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, just in time for America’s 250th birthday celebration, with Philadelphia as its centerpiece. It will also be PCMA’s first time back in the City of Brotherly Love since 2006.
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch America’s semi-quincentennial in 2026 than by hosting Convening Leaders in the city that founded our nation,” said Gregg Caren, PHLCVB president and CEO. “250 years after America’s first convention, we will again convene with the brightest minds in the business events industry to spark innovation and growth opportunities. There is a real sense of pride in saying that Philadelphia will be the host site of the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game and now, PCMA’s flagship event in 2026.”
Convening Leaders 2027: Jan. 10-13, Miami, Fla.
Hosted by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, CL27 will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
“The privilege and opportunity to host Convening Leaders is directly attributable to our city and county leaders who invested over $640 million to reimagine and significantly expand the Miami Beach Convention Center coupled with the eagerly anticipated completion of a new on-campus host hotel,” said David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “PCMA and its members are at the epicenter of our meetings, conventions and trade show ecosystem. This will be our and our partners’ time to shine.”
As the world’s largest community for business events strategists, PCMA provides senior-level education, networking and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Headquartered in Chicago, the organization boasts 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 59 countries. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals.
Registration Convening Leaders 2024 is set to open June 26. To learn more, go here.
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Partner Voices
Every day, MGM Resorts hosts organizations and individuals from around the world with a diverse array of business purposes, needs and expectations. But they all have one thing in common—a host committed to making their meetings sustainable and unforgettable through close partnership and responsible meeting practices.
Harnessing the Sun
Meetings at MGM Resorts are predominantly powered by the sun, thanks to its innovative 100-megawatt solar array. As the largest directly sourced renewable electricity project in the hospitality industry, the solar array features 323,000 panels and produces up to 100% of MGM Resorts’ daytime power needs in Las Vegas.* Built in 2021, the solar array reduces the carbon footprint of meetings—and all of MGM Resorts—while still delivering an enlightening and electrifying guest experience.
Leading Water Stewardship
Knowing water is essential to operations, guests and employees, MGM Resorts has long employed various conservation measures and has doubled down on its commitment in recent years to become a leading corporate water steward. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate, a United National Global Compact, becoming the first gaming company to endorse the initiative. The company replaced more than 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas and pledged to reduce water use by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. Between 2007 and 2022, MGM Resorts saved more than 6 billion gallons of water through water conservation.
Fostering Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
MGM Resorts serves a world of diverse people, perspectives and experiences by cultivating a workforce culture that embraces all of humanity. From mindful recruitment and hiring practices to meaningful social responsibility initiatives, MGM Resorts is a welcoming and inclusive space for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members and more. The company’s commitment to supplier diversity drives innovation by extending competitive opportunities to local and diverse-owned suppliers, while the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program provides diverse-owned businesses tools and resources to enhance and grow their businesses.
Paying it Forward
MGM Resorts knows that great companies must serve the greater good. That’s why paying it forward is part of its approach to meetings and events. Through the Feeding Forward Program, MGM Resorts collects and preserves unserved and untouched food from conventions held at its properties, then safely donates to food-insecure people through a partnership with Three Square, Southern Nevada’s primary food bank. Since 2016, MGM Resorts has donated more than 3.7 million meals, with a goal of 5 million meal donations by 2025. Donations include unserved perishable prepared foods from events, perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens and nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses.
From world-class venues and experiences to industry leading responsible meeting practices, MGM Resorts is proud to host meaningful and sustainable events.
*Not including The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
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