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
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.
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