PCMA ANNOUNCES CONVENING LEADERS’ HOST CITIES FOR NEXT FOUR YEARS

CHICAGO, IL — PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat, CAE today announced the future host cities and dates for Convening Leaders (CL), the association’s annual flagship education and networking event for the years 2024-2027. San Diego will 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 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 | January 7-10 | San Diego, CA

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 & 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 which perfectly aligns with the forward-thinking nature of the 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 | January 12-15 | Houston, TX

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 meetings professionals in the country when Convening Leaders comes to Houston in 2025. Not only is Houston a great destination enjoyed by millions of visitors annually, 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,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO, Houston First Corporation.

Houston is a world in a city—one of the best places on the planet to live, work, and visit. Recently named by Travel & Leisure as one of the 50 best places in the world to travel in 2023, Houston is home to a dynamic district of 18 museums, a first-of-its-kind Galapagos Islands exhibit at the Houston Zoo, Space Center Houston, award-winning performing arts groups, and champion professional sports teams. Aside from amazing entertainment and attractions, your adventure in Houston includes more than 160 miles of hike and bike trails, several pro golf courses, world-class shopping, and hotel accommodations offering more than 85,000 rooms citywide. And you can get to Houston from just about anywhere in the world with two major airports offering a combined 6,000 flights a week serving more than 50 million passengers a year.

Convening Leaders 2026 | January 11-14 | Philadelphia, PA

Hosted by Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), CL26 will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

As America’s founding and first World Heritage City, Philadelphia will be the centerpiece of America’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026. It will also be PCMA’s first time back in the City of Brotherly Love since 2006, featuring an entirely new destination portfolio that opens minds and wins hearts with every new visit. Philadelphia is also pacing to host its most citywide events in two decades in 2026 that will bring over a million convention attendees to the city, boosting visitation projections to new heights.

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026 than by hosting Convening Leaders in the city that founded our nation,” said Gregg Caren, president & CEO, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB).

“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. Philadelphia, a must-visit destination in 2026, together with Convening Leaders will give so many the opportunity to experience how our city activates and embraces marquee events. 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. Together with our hospitality partners, we are grateful to PCMA for selecting Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and for the positive economic impact this event will have on our city.”

Convening Leaders 2027 | January 10-13 | Miami, FL

Hosted by the Greater Miami CVB, 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 & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “PCMA and its members are at the epicenter of our meetings, conventions, and tradeshow ecosystem. Host cities share the incredible responsibility and opportunity to expose these meeting planners with three key elements – product, sense of place and the overall attendee experience. This will be our and our partners’ time to shine.”

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