PCMA, RCMA Meetings on Horizon

The Professional Convention Management Assn. and the Religious Conference Management Assn. both are gearing up for their annual events.

The PCMA Annual Meeting, scheduled Jan. 11-14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, has expanded its programs, adding new sessions, features and events.

“The PCMA Annual Meeting has long been viewed as the place to be for the industry's best education and to connect with high-level decision-makers,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO.

Some of the new additions to this year's conference include the latest Executive Edge program, “Master Real-World Negotiations,” led by Harvard Business School's Deepak Malhotra, where participants will learn strategies to mastering negotiation situations; “PCMA Experientials,” which combines New Orleans' culture into interactive learning sessions at venues such as Mardi Gras World's prop shop, Preservation Hall and Antoine's Restaurant; and “Hospitality Helping Hands,” where attendees will be able to volunteer their time in community service projects, including rebuilding storm-affected homes, landscaping New Orleans' historic cemeteries and beautifying City Park, Louisiana's largest park.

“We have seen an increased desire to give back this year, so we expanded the program to three projects,” Sexton said.

The PCMA Annual Meeting's general session speakers will be David Brooks, a political insider who will give his take on the next administration; Jeremy Siegel, a Wharton professor speaking on the economy; and former UN Ambassador Stephen Lewis and his global stories of “Uncommon Leadership.”

The 37th RCMA World Conference & Exposition, scheduled Jan. 27-30 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., has chosen the theme “Catch The Spirit,” and will offer a number of learning experiences to better the meeting and management skills of the industry's planners.

This year's conference will include a special session titled, “Behind-The-Scenes Experience,” where attendees will have the opportunity to work with the staff of a hotel, convention center, public relations firm, advertising agency, production company or newspaper, performing hands-on tasks in those professions.

“At the heart of RCMA's mission are the educational opportunities at its expert-led tutorials,” said RCMA Executive Director Dr. DeWayne Woodring. “This year's lineup continues the RCMA tradition of offering a vast variety of breakout sessions, ensuring there is something for everyone, from the first-time planner to the veteran professional. These tutorials provide planners with what they need to make their religious events run more smoothly, cost less and improve the experience of religious meeting attendees.”

The World Conference & Exposition's daily tutorials will include sessions ranging from “Tips for Savvy and Useful Conference Web Pages,” and “Youth Marketing: Gaining Parent Involvement Through Youth Appeal” to “Going Green At Your Next Conference” and “How To Be A World Class Negotiator,” as well as “University of Expanded Knowledge,” a high-energy event where attendees will use an electronic response system to answer a number of trivia questions important to religious meeting professionals.