PCMA and Gevme Roll Out AI-Based Project Spark for the Events Industry

June 9, 2023

In an effort to uncover the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the business events industry, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) are partnering with Gevme, a leading event technology provider, to launch Project Spark. Under this initiative, the AI model will be tested for various practical applications within the scope of business events to understand its impact on workforce productivity.   

“AI in the business events industry is just beginning, but we cannot define its future without our global community,” said Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO of PCMA and CEMA. “We believe business events are about creating social and economic transformation.”

He continued, “Properly channeled, AI has the potential to empower each of us to accelerate innovation and progress for our audiences, our businesses, and our careers.”    

In its first phase, Project Spark offers business event strategists access to a generative AI platform designed to increase efficiency in achieving event goals and is supported by educational content and engagement sessions to aid in the learning process. This is complemented by an online community to foster collaborative research evolution.  

Those who wish to be part of the transformational initiative are invited to visit Project Spark to join the community waitlist.   

Participants in the research phase will experience an early version of an AI platform under development. The platform aims to help business event professionals jump start routine event planning tasks. It is designed to complement their skills and expertise, not replace them. 

“Project Spark is the starting point to explore, together, the challenge of adopting new AI technology and better understand how disruptive technology will enhance the power of the human connections our industry creates,” said Veemal Gungadin, CEO of Gevme. “AI isn’t out to take jobs from event professionals, but to boost their skills. It makes tough tasks simpler and turns ordinary work into something special.”   

The progress of Project Spark will be shared on June 26 during PCMA’s Educon in Montreal, Canada.  

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Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.