In 2005, in response to the devastation of the Gulf Coast meetings and hospitality industry by Hurricane Katrina, PCMA partnered with Association for Convention Management Operations (ACOM), Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE), and other hospitality-related organizations to form the Hospitality Industry Relief Fund (HIRF).

Relief is still needed in this area. Donations made to the fund are earmarked exclusively for those in the meetings and hospitality industry directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. HIRF beneficiaries include Seedco Financial Services and Build Back the Coast Fund. Seedco's work in New Orleans includes helping small businesses in the hospitality industry gain access to grants as well as capacity building technical assistance in the form of workshops and one-to-one business strategy sessions. Seedco targets locally owned neighborhood restaurants and other small businesses in the hospitality industry that aid in reviving communities abandoned after Katrina. The Build Back the Coast Fund focuses energy and resources on regenerating jobs and business in Mississippi's Gulf Coast tourism sector.

Thanks to the generous donors, more than $220,000 has been contributed to the fund to date. The fund helps hundreds of businesses and truly revives the meetings and hospitality industry on the Gulf Coast.