CONTENTS December 2012 Volume 31, Issue 12

COVER STORY/CMP SERIES 62

‘It’s part of a meeting planner’s job to look past what’s obvious.’

79 In the Know

As the knowledge-based global economy expands, meeting planners are looking for destinations with brains as well as beauty. And cities are stepping up to share their intellectual bounty. Barbara Palmer

Features BOOKINGS

Don’t Run From Randomness In his international bestselling book The Medici Effect, Frans Johansson showed us how diversity drives innovation. With The Click Moment, he makes the case that success has as much to do with seren- dipity as hard work — and that there are ways that you can make randomness work in your favor. Michelle Russell

85 97

Cover illustration by Joel Kimmell

2 PCMA CONVENE DECEMBER 2012 PCMA.ORG

The User-Centered Center A fresh approach to designing meeting space connects the experience of everyone who will use it — attendees, planners, and support staff — into a seamless whole. Barbara Palmer

Fast Track The leading global event for high-speed rail comes to the United States just as the industry is gaining steam

— and possibly federal and state funding. Katie Kervin