Carol McGury, executive vice president, event and education services for association services company SmithBucklin, has been elected as chair of the PCMA Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which governs the organization. McGury will assume the role following PCMA’s Convening Leaders meeting January 6-9, 2019, in Pittsburgh. She will replace Maritz Global Events President David Peckinpaugh.

Unicorns? Check. A wizard? Check. Dance breaks? Check. Bingo pajama party? Check. Game-changing sessions and connections? That’s definitely a check.

Association services company SmithBucklin acquired 360 Live Media in a move that will significantly augment both companies’ meetings offerings in an environment that increasingly demands a high level of experiential elements, immersive attendee experiences and other format disruptions.

The public profile of LGBT+ people in the meetings industry has grown by leaps and bounds in just the past decade and a half, advancing from what some early adopters describe as the “secret handshake” days to a consolidation into the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (LGBT MPA).

IMEX America 2018 is nearing the finish line, and in addition to the earlier announcement that it had broken previous records for exhibitors, at 3,500, the industry-leading event and exhibit shattered the buyer attendance record as well.

The Smart Monday educational day at IMEX America kicked off at full stride on Monday, October 15, with Event Manager Blog Founder & Editor Julius Solaris revving up the crowd with an inspirational address that illustrated the powerful tool for change that meetings and events provide on a global scale.

IMEX America 2018 opens in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 16, highlighting destinations, venues, hotels, technology specialists and service suppliers from 150 countries. The more than 3,500 exhibitors will set a new milestone for IMEX America, making it the largest ever in the history of the event.

Association management and services company SmithBucklin launched SmithBucklin AXP, a methodology and range of tools that aids its association clients’ conversations about priorities, progress and opportunities for improvement, according to the Chicago-based firm.

Destinations International’s 2018 Annual Convention continued Thursday, July 12, 2018, on a dramatic but uplifting note. A morning keynote address focused on how Visit California and prominent leaders in the community worked to overcome a spate of natural disasters over the past year.

Destinations International kicked off its 2018 Annual Convention earlier this week with over 1,500 attendees from over 16 countries, according to Don Welsh, president and CEO of the association for destination marketing organizations, as well as 65 education sessions and five general keynotes.