To participate in the PCMA Student Competition, teams must meet the following requirements:

• All participants must be currently enrolled undergraduate or master’s students pursuing a diploma or degree in meetings/events management, business, hospitality, tourism, or a related field. Teams may include students from different academic levels.
• Each team must have 3 to 5 members
• Students may only participate on one team.
• Teams must register via the registration link on the competition homepage and receive a confirmation with their official PCMA-issued team name before submitting a proposal.
• At the time of proposal submission:
  • The team’s college or university must have an active PCMA student chapter.
  • All team members must be PCMA student members.
  • Both chapter setup and student membership are free—learn more here.

The winning team receives: 

• Complimentary round-trip airfare (up to $500 USD per person), hotel stay, and registration for Convening Leaders 2026
• Opportunity to present your ideas live at the event 
• Hands-on collaboration with the PCMA Team for Convening Leaders 2027 in the design of The District or another component  
• Exposure to 5,000+ global event professionals and industry leaders 

To help guide your proposal development, we’ve provided a suggested structure below. These sections and page lengths are flexible—teams are encouraged to adapt as needed.

• Executive Summary (1 page)
  • A high-level overview of your event concept and goals.
• Introduction (2 pages)
  • Context for your project, including relevance and key considerations.
• Event Concept (3 pages)
  • Outline of the proposed event, including revenue model and core elements.
• Landscape Analysis (Up to 5 pages; may be placed in appendices)
  • Research on current trends, competitive events, and industry context.
• Detailed Program (4 pages)
  • Schedule and description of event activities, with rationale for selections.
• Event Project Plan (10 pages)
  • Venue or destination plan, space design, logistics, and innovation element.
• Marketing Plan (3 pages)
  • Target audience, messaging, and channels used for promotion.
• Staffing Plan (2 pages)
  • Management of staff, volunteers, partners, and sponsors throughout the event lifecycle.
• Financial Plan (2 pages)
  • Budget overview, P&L, revenue projections, and cost analysis.
• References & Appendices (10 pages)
  • Supporting sources and materials, including interviews, AI tools, or other research.

Teams are strongly encouraged to propose new and innovative ideas for these components. Proposed ideas need not be new for the industry, however, have to be an improvised version of the existing.

To ensure consistency and professionalism, please follow the formatting guidelines below when preparing your submission.

• Maximum of 40 pages in length (not counting any references or appendices)
• Submit proposals as PDFs.
• Record final pitches via a video platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams), using visual aids like PowerPoint or Canva. See the competition homepage for past examples.
• APA formatting is allowed for references.
• Use a readable 10–12 pt font of your choice.
• Proposals should reflect a professional presentation—similar to what you’d share with a client or executive. Incorporating visuals, branded elements, and clear formatting is encouraged and will be factored into judging.

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, covering both the written proposal and final pitch presentation.

Proposal Evaluation

• Idea & Concept Formulation: Clarity, originality, and strength of the core concept. Does the design thoughtfully address the competition brief and clearly articulate the problem and proposed solution?
• Relevance to the Business Events Industry: Connection to the evolving needs of event organizers, sponsors, and participants. Does the idea demonstrate understanding of industry trends, challenges, and opportunities?
• Marketing Approach: Strategy for attracting, engaging, and retaining attendee attention. How effectively does the plan promote brand discovery, community, and ongoing engagement?
• Innovation: Use of emerging tools, experiential design, or creative activations that differentiate “The District.” Does it push boundaries while remaining practical?
• Commercial Viability & Overall Impact: Potential for measurable outcomes – lead generation, brand visibility, attendee satisfaction, or other ROI indicators.

Pitch Presentation & Q+A
In addition to the proposal criteria:

• Presentation Delivery

• Judge Engagement & Communication

Finalist teams will move on to present their ideas to a panel of industry judges through a recorded pitch and live Q&A.

• Five (5) finalist teams will be selected following an initial review by the Competition Committee.
• Finalists must submit a 5–6 minute recorded pitch presentation with supporting slides (e.g., PowerPoint).
• Each team will also participate in a live Q+A session (10–15 minutes) with the judging panel via Microsoft Teams.

• Finalist presentation dates will be announced in advance.