NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — Last week, March 7-9, POWER OF PURPOSE: Business Events Industry Week (POPULAR), jointly organized by three of the leading associations in the hospitality and events sector, returned to Gaylord National Convention Center and Resort in National Harbor, Maryland
Its inaugural event took place last March, after two years of restrictions on meetings and events. The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), International Destinations (FROM) and the International Exhibitions and Events Association (IEEE) has launched POP, a series of events designed to help re-establish the meetings industry community.
In 2022 the participation was so strong that it encouraged organizers to make POP a unique annual call to action for business event stakeholders meeting in Washington, DC Attendance was also strong this year. “We were truly inspired by the nearly 2,000 people who attended events throughout the week, including 568 destination representatives and business event strategists who attended the Showcase and more than 230 registrants for the Sales and Services Summit,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “The business events industry is facing a multitude of issues and opportunities. Coming together in person for a week of forward-looking discussions reaffirms that there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings and that when we come together, we can work to address key challenges.”
This year, POP offered event industry professionals a series of co-located, new and existing experiences to do business, plan for the future, demonstrate the power of inclusivity, showcase innovation and ideas, and advance key policy initiatives as a global movement.
POP used venues and rooms throughout the Washington, DC area as the canvas for the week-long series of experiences that include professional development, a business marketplace, idea incubators, community social transformation activities and networking experiences. ““Our industry is about bringing people together. We want to educate, inspire, listen and create enriching experiences where passion, meaning and commerce meet,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA.
Second Annual Trade Events Industry Week Continues Tradition; IAEE, PCMA, and Others Join in Celebrated, Co-located Experience
POP Week kicked off on March 4 with a pre-event, DI’s four-day training program for professionals seeking their Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) certification. The program concluded on March 7, the first day of POP.
On the first day, the American Society of Association Executives kicked off POP with Springtime Revived, which revived the iconic Springtime in the Park event. POP’s opening reception featured a keynote address by Dr. David J. Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, who spoke about how to differentiate authentic DEI efforts from propaganda.
Day two saw the return of DI’s Showcase 2023, a one-day trade show featuring exhibits from more than 100 destination organizations; the PCMA Foundation’s Living in Color fashion show, showcasing fashion inspired by or made in the Palm Beaches; and the first day of the two-day IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum. “The IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum was sold out with over 200 attendees,” said David DuBois, IAEE President and CEO, CMP-F, CAE, FASAE, CTA.
On day three, DI’s 2023 Convention Sales and Services Summit offered a day of education for sales and service professionals, and POP concluded with PCMA’s Visionary Awards, one of the industry’s premier black-tie recognition events.
“Business Events Week continues to be a huge success as we bring together thousands of industry professionals to celebrate the continued growth of the exhibitions and events sector,” said DuBois “We are recovering very well globally and expect to exceed 2019 activity levels in 2024. Many events are already exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.”
Contact David DuBois at ddubois@iaee.com; Sherrif Karamat at skaramat@pcma.org; Don Welsh, CEO and Executive Director, Destinations International Foundation, at (202) 835-4219 or ceo@destinationsinternational.org