Log In
BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY WEEK FEATURES NEW and RETURNING EXPERIENCES
PCMA Foundation’s Fashion Show and Visionary Awards Registration Now Open
Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) returns to Washington, DC May 5-7, 2026. Now in its fifth year, BEIW serves as a catalyst to recognize and elevate the global impact of business events as powerful drivers of economic growth, knowledge exchange, innovation, and community advancement and celebration.
New to BEIW this year is Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). Powered by the Events Industry Council (EIC) – previously led by the U.S. Travel Association, the activation on Wednesday, May 6 will serve as the platform to launch the latest version of the Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study. EIC and research partner, Oxford Economics, produce the highly anticipated study last released in 2023. Activations will extend beyond Washington, DC as a coordinated global day of advocacy, education, and regional storytelling that ultimately bolsters economic and workforce priorities and reinforces a unified message. A toolkit will be available mid-March on the EIC website.
“Business Events Industry Week is a powerful reminder that our greatest progress happens when we move forward together,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA and CEMA. “Continued collaboration across destinations, associations, corporations, and partners is not optional — it is essential. When we take time to celebrate our collective impact while strengthening the relationships that fuel it, we reinforce the trust, innovation, and shared purpose that define our industry. By working in partnership and recognizing the value each stakeholder brings, we ensure business events remain a catalyst for economic growth, community advancement, and global connection.”
The PCMA Foundation’s Fashion Show — Living in Color! on May 6 will feature industry professionals who bring Living in Color to life on the runway. Models reflect creativity, confidence, and leadership that define the global business events community. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Events professionals who currently utilize AI yet want to go further can register for Spark Lab 2.0. This half-day workshop on May 6 will highlight how Spark supports real event workflows. Instead of isolated prompts or one-off tasks, participants will learn how to use Spark to plan events, transform complex content, and turn data into actionable insights across the event lifecycle. Learn more and register here.
BEIW will conclude on May 7 with the PCMA Foundation’s Visionary Awards, the annual celebration to recognize outstanding professional achievement throughout the global business events community. Learn more about the Lifetime Honorees and Awards Finalists and purchase tickets here.
For media inquiries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA and LATAM, please contact: Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 72 countries and communities. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org. The role of the Foundation of PCMA is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant-giving focused on scholarships, education and research that will advance the business events industry. Annually the Foundation funds over $900K in impact, and since 1985 has funded over 2,500 scholarships, 100 research studies and education programs, and $2.7M in charitable giving.About PCMA
About PCMA Foundation