What to expect at Business Events Industry Week 2024
The meetings and events industry calendar is a crowded place, filled with must-attend association conferences, regional gatherings and our own projects, especially in the summer and fall. One that has been distinguishing itself since it started four years ago is Business Events Industry Week (BEIW). This gathering, which started at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C., has grown into a collaborative effort between PCMA, Destinations International, ICCA, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. It brings together these silos of membership and mission to build a critical mass to advance the issues they share.
To find out what is on the agenda at this collective, we asked Sherrif Karamat, CAE, president and CEO of PCMA.
Learn More: Lessons from Leaders with Sherrif Karamat
A Cooperative Start
In the two Covid years after that first small event at Gaylord National, the original founders, PCMA and Destinations International stepped back to consider what they were trying to do. One thing the group did this year is move to Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., April 8-11 to incorporate the spirit of Global Meetings Industry Day in the festivities.
“We are bringing the world to the nation’s capital to focus on education, learning and commitment. It is an opportunity for us to raise our voices and to be heard on the global political stage and the larger media stage,” said Karamat. “We want to show the contribution that business events make to economies around the world.”
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In the process of evolving the offerings, what was Destination Showcase became Showcase, a place modeled after the energy of South by Southwest for technology companies, agencies, hotels, airlines, any supplier that works to make events successful can get connected to meeting producers who need their help. This one-day cross-country journey will anchor the week on Wednesday, April 10.
“We’re all in this industry to make it successful; we need each other,” said Karamat.
A Robust Agenda
The week starts with Certified Destination Management Executive certification April 6-9 and Convention Sales & Services Summit, which has expanded to two days. Then Global Leadership Conference, which brings together PCMA Advisory Boards, partners and chapter leaders from around the world.
New to the partnership is ICCA’s The Future of Association Meetings and Societal Transformation, an event which will address the role of associations in societal transformation. The group will meet April 9 at ASAE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the same time, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals will welcome Sharinda Williams-Simmons, chief creative officer with The PTO Nomad, for a deep dive on workplace culture in a presentation titled “Reclaiming My Time.”
On April 10, the expanded Showcase takes center stage back at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with new educational offerings on the expo floor. Two theaters will feature strategies for career development, a next generation stage will focus on skills with industry speakers sharing their stories and leadership while campfire areas will cover technology. Look for insights on budgeting, negotiations, what motivates attendees, legislation impacting the industry and how to give people what they want.
Followed by PCMA Foundation Fashion Show, Living In Color to raise money for the foundation while celebrating authenticity, pride, compassion and living life boldly in color.
Also expanded is IAEE’s Women’s Leadership Forum, under the leadership of President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, which will now be two days of strategies to help women succeed in their current positions while motivating them to take their career to the next level.
On April 11, Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), PCMA Capital Chapter is marking the occasion with a discussion of the strategies required to conquer the challenges that lie ahead. The evening will end with the Visionary Awards, honoring industry leaders for their contributions.
Meetings Industry Power Takeaways
In addition to fun activation experiences to celebrate GMID, Karamat hopes the confluence of industry groups delivers an important message. “Events are a catalyst for economic growth and create jobs,” he said. “And event organizers are not just logistician, they are strategists using their incredible talent to advance their organizations’ objectives” Whether they are in healthcare, finance or any other industry, they set the stage to share knowledge and get business done.
“In a world that needs more caring, event organizers bring people together, solve economic issues and are a platform for social issues from gender equity and inclusivity to accommodating those with unique abilities.” BEIW is taking a demand for equity for all in terms of pay and access to boardrooms to the legislative capital in hopes that the industry can serve to make a better society. “Our world needs the contributions of everybody.”
Keys to Building a Better AI Future
When the meetings industry comes together, of course the topic of AI will be addressed. “AI can have transformative abilities to help organizations or individuals become much more productive, as well as much more strategic by getting meeting organizers out of the hamster wheel of not having enough time,” Said Karamat. PCMA has partnered in the development of Project SPARK, an AI platform designed for meeting professionals with tools to assist in evaluating contracts, creating agendas and summarizing content. “I want to ensure that people understand the liberating impact of AI on their day to day, how we can actually create some white spaces, so that they can be more strategic,” he said.
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At the same time, Karamat acknowledged the pitfalls of the technology. “I want us to face it head-on so we can avoid the problems caused by the internet and email by putting in place some guiding principles and rules,” he said.
