SAN DIEGO, CA – Thousands of meeting planners from around the world will gather in San Diego next week for their annual conference, PCMA Convening Leaders.
The 7,000-member PCMA is a leading organization in the convention and events industry. The annual conference is one of the industry’s premier events, attracting representatives from professional associations, event planners, service providers and other industry leaders.
PCMA was last held in San Diego in 2002. The city is investing heavily in the event, with a budget of US$2.3 million. The goal is to impress attendees and convince them that San Diego is an ideal destination for their conventions.
The conference, which runs Jan. 7-10, will include a series of events and activities, including educational sessions, sightseeing tours and a Boyz II Men concert. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the city, which offers a wide range of attractions, from beaches and parks to museums and restaurants.
“PCMA Convening Leaders is one of the top conventions in the world,” said Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, CEO of the Convention Center Corp. “It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase San Diego to event planners from around the world and convince them to hold their conventions here.”
The city of San Diego has invested US$2.3 million to attract PCMA Convening Leaders. The money comes from a marketing district run by hoteliers, as well as contributions from the Port of San Diego, Visit California and the Economic Development Administration.
Local tourism officials expect the PCMA conference to generate significant economic impact in the region. The event is expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees, who will spend an average of $2,000 each on convention-related expenses. This could generate a total economic impact of more than $10 million.
In addition to the economic impact, the PCMA conference also has the potential to generate positive publicity for San Diego. The city will be represented to a global audience of convention professionals who may be interested in hosting their own events in San Diego in the future.
