Destinations International and PCMA (Professional Conference Management Association) have announced a joint venture for Destination Showcase, an annual event connecting business events organizers with convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs).

Destination Showcase has been an important program by Destinations International, which is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, CVBs and tourism boards. The one-day event connects meeting planners with CVBs so they can better understand how CVBs can help make meetings and events successful.

“This joint venture with PCMA will truly elevate the value of Destination Showcase for the planner community and our destination organization members,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “We are thrilled about this new element of collaboration with our long-time partner as it will further Destination International’s work in communicating the extensive services that our members provide to meeting planners throughout their event planning progress.”

“This partnership fulfils a vision of bringing together the education PCMA is known for with the important commerce opportunities Destinations International provides,” said Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO, PCMA. “We have had a history of collaboration, so this is a natural evolution of our relationship. Plus, Washington, D.C., where Destinations International is based and Destination Showcase is held, is a global headquarters for many associations and corporations, and is the ideal platform for business events organizers and suppliers to engage.”

“As partners in the meeting planning process, CVBs connect the destination’s unique attributes to elevate the event experience, source local thought leaders, and help evaluate a meeting’s economic impact and success,” said William Pate, Destinations International Board chair and president and CEO of Atlanta CVB.

“This joint venture is a great opportunity for PCMA to continue bringing its industry-leading education program to a broader audience to showcase the power business events have on global economic and social transformation. It also provides us with an opportunity to work with two outstanding entities—Destinations International and Destination Showcase,” said Greg O’Dell, chairman, PCMA.

Destination Showcase 2020 will have exciting new elements, but a major redesign for broader audience engagement and innovation in the marketplace will not take place until 2021.