This book includes a plain text version that is designed for high accessibility. To use this version please follow this link.
It’s a Small World Aſter All to the


point Deborah Sexton President & CEO deborah.sexton@pcma.org


Think Globally, Act Locally


Our inaugural August issue is full of ideas and information from around the world and closer to home. You’ll find everything from an on-site case study of the 2012 World Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur (p. 69) to an exploration of bed taxes and special assessments around the United States (p. 61). And be sure to check out Convene’s first-ever “Best in Show” package for some of the industry’s top destinations, suppliers, and initiatives (p. 44).


At PCMA, we’re embracing globalization’s unique challenges and tremendous opportunities.


Y


ou don’t have to look any further than the recent election in Greece for evidence of the profoundly global world we live in. That the vote in one relatively small country could have


such a dramatic impact on North Amer- ican and global financial markets shows just how interdependent we are. At PCMA’s first-ever Global Cor-


porate Summit — held last month in Glasgow, Scotland — no one needed to be convinced of the importance of inter- national collaboration. The fluctuating economy, cultural nuances, and CSR were just a few of the hot topics for the senior global corporate meeting execu- tives in attendance from North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The discourse was lively and informative, and it had as much to do with common challenges as with different ways of doing business around the world. The Global Corporate Summit is


just one of the ways we are stepping up our efforts to serve and connect the meetings industry across the globe. We already have an international member- ship, including three international chapters (although all of them are in North America), and typically draw Convening Leaders attendees from many different countries. Yet, there’s tremendous opportunity for our orga- nization — truly, for our members — in expanding our network globally. We can help you learn what it’s like to do business and stage meetings in different countries, and help you forge important relationships with planners and suppliers in different parts of the world. Moreover, we can unite the meetings and conventions industry with a stronger voice around the world. We’re launching what we’re calling a worldwide industry “idea exchange.”


10 PCMA CONVENE AUGUST 2012


So far this year, PCMA has been to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argen- tina, to host panel discussions with planners and suppliers in those areas on their most pressing issues. We’ve also traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, to lead education sessions at IMEX, and to Aca- pulco, Mexico, where we were invited to conduct meetings education sessions at the traditionally leisure-tourism–based Tianguis Turistico. At IMEX, we launched the Global


Meetings Executive of the Year award to recognize meeting planners who demonstrate a commitment to advanc- ing the global meetings industry. Ping He, Experient’s director of global sourcing and partner relations, was this year’s winner. (Read our interview with her on p. 32.) We’ve also joined forces with global public relations agency Davies Tanner to help us spread the word about PCMA’s education and net- working opportunities to more industry professionals around the world. In addition, we’re co-locating the PCMA Global Professionals Conference (formerly the International Summit) with IMEX America Oct. 11–12 in Las Vegas and also hosting buyers at IMEX America. For more information, check out convn.org/gp-conf. How can PCMA assist in your global efforts? I’d love to hear from you.


.


PCMA.ORG


PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL ABRAMSON


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116