Destinations International, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) will launch Business Events Industry Week, aimed at bringing the global events industry to the U.S. Capital region and consolidating several important annual gatherings into one week.

The inaugural Business Events Industry Week, taking place March 23-25, 2022, at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., will be dedicated to community, commerce, content, awards and advocacy in order to unite the global business events industry and to reinforce the power of business events to advance economies and social good. The week is intended for participants to optimize their time with clients and engage with exceptional learning experiences.

The inaugural Business Events Industry Week will convene all who are integral in staging successful business events outcomes, including associations, corporations, destination organization professionals, industry suppliers and business events strategists. The action-packed week will be curated with client meetings and exciting events to celebrate industry visionaries.

The following industry events will coincide with Business Events Industry Week:

• Destinations International’s Convention Sales and Services Summit will be held Wednesday, March 23, as will a series of PCMA leadership meetings.
   
• The PCMA Foundation’s Visionary Awards will be held Thursday, March 24.
   
• IAEE’s Women’s Leadership Forum will also be held Thursday, March 24.
   
• Destination Showcase, a joint venture between Destinations International and PCMA since 2019, will be held Friday, March 25.

Launching the inaugural Business Events Industry Week was in response to what members and participants have been asking for, according to Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO of PCMA. 

“Covid-19 has accelerated many things in our industry, and participants around the world, regardless of sector and whether they are associations or corporations, are seeking to participate in events that bring them value and allow them to achieve their business and professional objectives,” Karamat said. 

Karamat added that Business Events Industry Week is even more important considering that the pandemic has also accelerated most industries’ 2030 plan to “now.”  

“The business events industry is no exception, which requires bold leadership and bold ideas that are transformative and deliver new value for the current time,” he said. “Combining Destinations International’s Sales and Services Summit, IAEE’s Women’s Leadership Forum, PCMA’s Visionary Awards and Destination Showcase into one location delivers on what our community asked for: professional and business development that is convenient and is an intersection of thinking and ideas from a vast array of participants to challenge the way we do business and increase our competitive advantage.” 

For more information on Business Events Industry Week, click here.  

Photo: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

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