For more information, please contact Sandy Eitel at 312.423.7271 or seitel@pcma.org.

PCMA Shares Insights from International Focus Group at Mexico Ministry of Tourism Conference
11/12/2007

CHICAGO, November 12, 2007 - Drawing largely from a recent PCMA focus group on international meetings, Brad Lewis - Vice President, Marketing and Communications for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) - was a featured speaker at the Mexico Ministry of Tourism Conference held Oct. 18 in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.

Lewis shared U.S. meeting professionals' expectations of international destinations, and perceptions of Mexico in particular, with approximately 250 representatives of the Mexican Ministry of Tourism, as well as regional convention and visitors bureaus, individual hotels, and other suppliers located throughout Mexico. The presentation was part of PCMA's Strategic Partnership with the Mexico Tourism Board.

"It was exciting to present this prestigious Mexico audience with key insights shared with PCMA last April by U.S. meeting professionals from our international focus group," said Lewis. "I think this will be a catalyst for further development and dialogue between Mexico's hospitality industry and U.S. meeting professionals."

"Leverage destination appeal" and "get involved" were among the general advice offered by Lewis. He also shared Mexico-specific tips about advertising, enhanced marketing materials and resources, CVBs and CVB services, and competition.

To further the learning process and relationship-building, PCMA is offering Mexican meetings professionals a special membership and education package: When they join PCMA, they can also register for either the online Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) course or online Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE) course at a reduced rate.

The CMP and CASE designations can be important indicators of the professionalism to be found in emerging meeting destinations.

"The Mexico Tourism Board is a very forward-thinking government body," said Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO. "Their support of PCMA, coupled with Mexico's continued growth and development as a destination for our members, is a win-win situation for our industry."

The Mexico Tourism Board is a member of a select group of PCMA Strategic Partners - its highest level of partnership - worldwide. Among Mexico's commitments to PCMA are: supporting research by hosting the 2008 PCMA Education Foundation's Partnership Summit in Cancun; promoting education through the PCMA Annual Meeting, PCMA Leadership Conference and Convene magazine; and encouraging networking through PCMA's Party with A Purpose and other meetings and events.

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource center and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 16 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org.

The role of the PCMA Education Foundation is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on education and research that will benefit the meetings and conventions industry. Established in 1985, the Foundation supports educational programs to improve professionalism in the meetings industry and to provide a university-level meeting management curriculum. The Foundation provides educational programs for meeting managers, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the meetings industry. It also conducts ongoing research of industry issues and concerns. The Foundation continually designs and creates new programs to encourage the highest levels of professionalism in the meetings industry.