CEO Quarterly Update

As the third quarter of the calendar draws to a close, one thing is clear: this has been anything but a quiet quarter for the global business events industry. We recently concluded the largest CEMA Summit in 36 years. A new global advocacy movement took its first real steps across continents. And just around the corner is Convening EMEA and Convene 4 Climate (C4C). And, yes, last week, we started the countdown to Miami Beach for Convening Leaders 2027 (CL27).

None of this happens in isolation — it happens because this community keeps showing up for one another, in every region, in every sector, and I believe that you will agree with me that I am fortunate to have the best team making it happen.

Our vision is bold; our ambition is even bigger because we believe in the value that business events drive, and business events strategists and professionals need to be recognized for the value they create. That is exactly what propels us towards PCMA’s 2030 Vision — to be the platform for the global business events community.

COMMUNITY

CEMA Summit’s Record Participation

CEMA Summit, hosted in Toronto last month- and only the second time outside of the United States – witnessed the largest gathering in CEMA’s 36-year history, reinforcing the growth trajectory driving CEMA’s next chapter of global expansion. More than 850 corporate event marketers, strategists and industry partners from 19 countries gathered for the three-day Summit, 383 of which were participating in CEMA Summit for the first time. We look forward to the next CEMA Summit in Denver scheduled for July 25–27, 2027.

Introducing the 2027 CEMA Advisory Board

Following the largest CEMA Summit in CEMA’s 36-year history, CEMA’s Advisory Board has been appointed. The exceptional group of leaders represents a collection of the world’s most innovative brands and organizations and joins CEMA at a moment of strong momentum. Together, the Board will help guide CEMA’s strategic direction in its continued focus to build the premier global community for corporate event marketers. The full announcement is available here.

Business Events Summit

Business Events Summit (BES) was a fantastic way to round out the second quarter of 2026. Fajardo, Puerto Rico was the backdrop for three days of education, peer connection and new business relationships for the 686 on-site business events leaders. Formerly edUcon, BES is now an exclusive, members-only program with longer sessions and immersive formats that help participants apply what they learn with their peers.

Our members showed up ready to learn and to invest in each other, and the Puerto Rico community welcomed us with a spirit and generosity that reflects the best of this industry. When destinations and events strategists work together, we create impact that reaches far beyond the meeting room.

Convening Leaders 2027

We look forward to welcoming you to Miami Beach, Florida in less than five months. Miami CVB and the Miami Convention Center, our partners and our education and event experience teams are busy creating an experience that will be memorable, inclusive, push the boundaries on content and help each one of you forge new business relationships. Registration and housing are now open exclusively for PCMA and CEMA members. The “Super Early” rate ends September 17. I encourage you to please register now so that you can get into your preferred hotel and at the same time secure the best possible registration rate.

The Athens Promise

This idea started with a conversation in Athens last February — and last month, it became a movement. The Athens Promise is a global pledge from IAPCO, AIPC, AMCI, and PCMA, uniting for the first time behind one message: the work of business events matters, and the world needs to hear it in one voice. Five years ago, we proved we could gather safely. A year ago, we were rebuilding. Today, four leading global associations are saying the same thing at the same time — that alignment doesn’t happen regularly.

It’s early, and grassroots efforts take time to build speed. Signing is the front door, not the finish line. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to sign the pledge and bring your own local data and story to the conversation.

Medical Meetings Task Force

Medical meetings remain one of the most complex, tightly regulated corners of our industry — and one of the most personal to PCMA, given our roots as an organization founded in 1956 by medical societies. We are not treating that history as a footnote; we are building on it.

The Medical Meetings Task Force established earlier this year is not slowing down. We were thrilled to debut the first-ever medical meetings track at Business Events Summit in Puerto Rico. The track brought together three sessions designed specifically for the strategic challenges facing our medical meetings sector, and the response was incredible. As promised, webinars and behind-the-scenes tours for this community are rolling out this quarter. This is a deliberate, sustained investment — not a one-time gesture — in one of the most consequential parts of our global industry.

APAC

Asia Pacific (APAC) is at the forefront of innovation and growth in business events, and its influence on PCMA’s global community will only continue to accelerate. The 2026–2027 APAC Advisory Board, comprised of 15 distinguished leaders will help shape strategic direction and advance localized initiatives to further grow and strengthen the business events industry across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

Thank you to these exceptional leaders who understand the opportunities and complexities of this region. Their guidance will be vital as we co-create education, experiences, and solutions that drive economic and social progress for our industry.

EMEA

The excitement is building for Convening EMEA and Convene 4 Climate (C4C) taking place in less than two weeks in Lisbon, Portugal. Convening EMEA will host more than 500 business events leaders from over 40 countries connecting through three key themes — Connection, Integrity, and The Future. Across five content formats and four main stages — keynotes, Micro Labs, Insights Series sessions, and Level Workshops — participants will work through the challenges facing our industry: rising delivery costs, the impact of AI, misinformation, and shifting global mobility.

Our industry has an extraordinary opportunity, and a profound responsibility, to take the lead on sustainability. Earlier this summer, I announced the inaugural Convene 4 Climate Global Awards in Frankfurt, at the 4^th Global Forum of National Convention Bureaux. The inaugural C4C Global Awards, is a competition to highlight and champion real-world solutions which are actively driving global change for the business events industry. Finalists were revealed in August and will present in Lisbon on September 16. The winning team will then present during Convening Leaders 2027. Congratulations to all!

Yesterday we announced the newly appointed European Advisory Board, bringing together business events leaders from across a diverse range of markets, sectors and perspectives to further shape PCMA’s strategy, growth and impact across Europe.

The new Board reflects an evolution in our approach to the EMEA region. Informed by market insights and feedback, we established a dedicated European Advisory Board while we develop distinct strategies and advisory groups for the Middle East and Africa. All three will remain connected through PCMA’s overarching EMEA strategy, allowing greater focus on the needs, opportunities and stages of development within each market. Full details are available here.

LATAM

Colombia is part of the PCMA story in LATAM. Recently, a disastrous earthquake struck the west coast of the country, taking lives and leaving thousands without a home. To our members, colleagues, and friends in Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, Manizales, and across Colombia: we see you, and we stand with you.

Last year, we gathered in Bogotá for Convening LATAM. The welcome we received there was generous and unforgettable. That hospitality is part of who we are. Today, it is our turn to give back.

If you are able, please consider a financial gift to organizations already on the ground:

• Emergencia Colombia Sismo
• Inicio – Banco de Alimentos
• UNICEF Colombia

We are at our best when we show up for one another. This is one of those moments.

2027 Board of Directors and Trustees Slate

Last week we issued the proposed 2027 Board of Directors and Trustees slate from Immediate Past Chair and Nominating Committee Chair, Neil Brownlee.

The proposed slate represents an important moment for PCMA, with Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Global Events at Bank of America, nominated as Chair-Elect, and Ong Wee Min, Vice President of Sales and MICE at Marina Bay Sands, nominated as Secretary-Treasurer. If elected, they would become the first executive officers from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in PCMA’s history.

The full announcement is available here.

EDUCATION & INNOVATION

NEW Credential – Business Event Strategist

The Business Event Strategist (BES) Certification is PCMA’s newest credential that formalizes and recognizes strategic leadership in business events. Think of it as the MBA for the Business Events Industry. A certification that will prepare you for your next big career leap. The current cohort is now open for applications through October 15, 2026. BES is the gold-standard credential for leaders who already own strategy, influence stakeholders, and drive measurable business results through events.

PCMA Consulting

Last week, we introduced PCMA Consulting Services, a new practice providing independent research and tailored strategic guidance to help organizations strengthen business events performance, quantify their impact and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.

As the business events landscape evolves, destinations, venues, associations, business events strategists and suppliers face growing pressure to demonstrate ROI, respond to changing stakeholder expectations and make confident decisions in a competitive global market.

A variety of services within this new practice are designed to help clients understand stakeholder needs, assess market demand, measure economic and organizational impact, evaluate investments and develop actionable roadmaps for growth.

AXIS

Axis is your always-on global community featuring conversations, content, and real-time exchanges, allowing you to remain plugged in, think more strategically, and operate with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you want to ask a question, share an insight, or simply stay ahead of industry shifts, Axis keeps you connected to the global PCMA community every day.

LOOKING AHEAD — MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR PCMA’S FUTURE EVENTS

2026

• Convening EMEA | September 13–15 | Lisbon, Portugal
• Convene 4 Climate | September 15–16 | Lisbon, Portugal

2027

• Convening Leaders (CL27) | January 10–13 | Miami Beach, Florida
• Convening APAC | April 18–20 | Singapore
• Convening LATAM | April 25–27 | Lima, Peru
• Business Events Summit | June 20–23 | South Lake Tahoe, Nevada
• CEMA Summit | July 25–27 | Denver, Colorado

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Advisory Boards and the global PCMA team, we are grateful for your continued engagement and partnership as we advance towards 2030.

Sherrif Karamat, CAE

President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA