As I write this column, I've just returned from our annual meeting in Toronto. It was a tremendously successful event, as those of you who were able to attend will attest. [ What I found most inspiring was the sense of excitement and camaraderie in the air. Whether at networking events, education sessions, or just in the hallways, you could see that attendees came back from their holiday breaks rested and enthusiastic to get back to business … the business, that is, of growing, learning, connecting, and reconnecting with colleagues and friends.

There wasn't a sense of obligatory business card exchanges or those dreaded meet-and-greets that you can find at a traditional buyer-seller event. Instead, you heard people saying, "It's great to see you," and you knew that they truly meant it. Attendees of all backgrounds were enthusiastically talking about educational events in the halls, exchanging ideas and sharing thoughts.

That, to me, is the key to a successful meeting. You can draw people from around the globe, snare the biggest name speakers possible, and offer more education sessions than ever … yet, in a vacuum, a successful meeting they do not necessarily make. You need to offer all these elements - and foster a sense of community - in order to create a valuable personal experience for each attendee.

Were people inspired to grow and develop? What did they actually take away from their education sessions? Did they meet or reconnect with people with whom they have things in common or can learn from? The answers to these questions spell the difference between a rich experience and a lackluster meeting and determine whether people will come back next year for more.

Education remains the pillar of PCMA's mission, and our annual meeting is the single event that helps guide and inspire us throughout the year. We took some risks this year and were pleased that they paid off. The experiential learning sessions were extremely popular and well received, as was the new Masters Series, where hot topics were covered in- depth for attendees of all experience levels. The Masters Series will be offered as a standalone program later this year.

Executive Edge, our business school education program for senior-level professionals, was again very successful. No one else in the industry is offering this level of education, and we plan to continue to be at the vanguard.

Other highlights included a fascinating discussion on international travel with Newt Gingrich and Former Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien, as well as an enlightening plenary session with travel industry expert Peter Yesawich and panelists Roger Dow (Travel Industry Association of America), Michele McKenzie (Canadian Tourism Commission), and Steve Porter (InterContinental Hotels).

Our general sessions were thought provoking and energizing, thanks largely to ProActive, Leading Authorities, emcee Mark Walberg, and Toxic Audio. The Zero Waste Zone was a big hit: We were the first group at the Metro Toronto Convention Center to put on a truly green meeting. We also hosted a very hands-on orientation. Lastly, we were very fortunate to have such an excellent host and destination in Toronto.

You can be certain that we'll continue to cultivate a positive experience to benefit you every time you attend our annual meeting - and we look forward to helping you do the same with your meetings. Best wishes for a successful 2007!