Four years into an experiment to replace an annual spring event in Washington, D.C. with a collaborative concentration of events organizations all gathering in the same place, Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) has built some popular must-attend features and announced that other pieces will shake off, either going away altogether or moving.
The concept, originally billed as an illustration of the “power of purpose,” was a partnership of Destinations International and PCMA. Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO of PCMA, explained that the idea was to allow people to get more done with one flight to D.C.
History of BEIW
The ambitious list of partners and attractions was long that first year. Events Industry Council (EIC), National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and The Center for Association Leadership (ASAE) joined the founding partners and kicked off the event at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in 2022.
In 2024, the bulk of activities moved to Walter E. Washington Convention Center with others meeting nearby. After light traffic last year, the trade show component was dropped. While popular, IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum moved to MGM National Harbor in May this year.
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A development that surprised many was the buzz The Palm Beaches Florida sparked with a fashion show featuring planner models and vibrant Florida vibes. It attracted more than 500 to Union Station for a joyous celebration of living in color, showing off the creativity and whimsy of Palm Beaches based designer Amanda Perna. It was so popular, that the destination is looking to stage an encore at PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter Bowl Bash in Chicago in November.
Critical Business
While the week afforded happy moments to hug and reunite, many groups also got important business done. Destinations International staged its Convention Services Summit in D.C.-close Hilton Arlington Mark Center and added a new track for convention center professionals. Destinations International President and CEO Don Welsh stressed the importance of what meeting planners do today. “With the potential decline of tourism, meetings will be more important than ever,” he said.
Welsh also announced that the annual training would be moving around the country in future years.
Smart Meetings was there to release a white paper on “Best Practices for Managing Event Risk,” a survey of the planner community and industry experts that found many planners rely on their venues for guidance and resources to keep everyone safe with an increased use of X-ray detectors and shared responsibility for cybersecurity.
Keynote Jim Knight, was on hand to share tips for building a culture of resilience even when times are challenging. “Be like U2,” he said. Keep the beat consistently while changing up the top notes to ensure that you are meeting the needs of the day.
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Meanwhile, ICCA met at ASAE headquarters for a fast-paced dive into managing the geopolitical chaos that is disrupting international event attendance and feasibility even as news was coming in about more tariff uncertainty. As the exclusive media sponsor, Smart Meetings was there to hear how meeting professionals are adjusting to losing international attendance while preparing for higher prices.
Tommy Goodwin, executive vice president with Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) addressed the existential crisis some international association events are facing when they can’t get visas for attendees or people are saying they are afraid to come to the U.S. because of travel warnings being issued against the country or, in the case of Canada, anger over tariff threats.
“The likelihood of geopolitical risks continuing into 2026, and 2027 is very real, so as you’re triaging and thinking about the immediate event, consider the long-term strategies of strategic investments, hybrid or repurposing to continue to be there for your international community. What you’re doing in these moments is going to matter for them years down the line,” he said.
Read More: Navigating International Attendance Challenges in 2025’s Political Climate
Francisco Gomez, CEO of Factum Global, an international growth consultant, went a step further. “Business as usual may be the biggest risk right now,” he said. “Some countries are removing barriers. Opportunities are opening up to diversify revenue streams.”
Celebration and Remembrance
Back at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the sparkling capstone to the week was PCMA’s Visionary Awards, which Karamat said combined with the fashion show raised almost $1 million for PCMA Foundation grants, research and scholarship. He called the evening “a celebration snd and a time for remembrance.” And the winners were:
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Events Strategist: Carol McGury, retired executive vice president, Smithbucklin
- Business Events Strategist of the Year: Lisa Astorga, director of meetings with International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
- Digital Experience Strategist of the Year: Brian Zambotti, vice president of business development with Conexiant
- Experience Design of the Year team: American Academy of Physician Associates led by Anthony Maggiore
- Groundbreaker Award: Laurie Nelson-Choice, director of diversity and national sales with Visit Baltimore
- Impact Award: Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit
- Lifetime Achievement Award Business Events Strategist: David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO of Maritz
- Supplier of the Year: Alison LaFollette, director, Mid-Atlantic Region with Visit Seattle
- Outstanding Service to a Chapter: Annette Suriani, chief meeting strategist, AMS Meeting Solutions
- Lifetime Achievement Award Supplier: Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC
- Lifetime Achievement Award Academia: Donald Getz
- Lifetime Achievement Award Impact: Lyn Lewis-Smith
