PCMA Convening Leaders 2023: How a Strong Destination Partnership Helps an Event Succeed

Columbus showed off and showed out for the annual event that brought thousands of meeting and event profs to the city.

January 19, 2023

The Party with a Purpose networking event during Convening Leaders hosted attendees at Columbus' KEMBA Live! concert venue, where they were treated to a show from '80s tribute band the Spazmatics.Photo: Courtesy of PCMACOLUMBUS, OHIO—Columbus? In January? The average high temperature is about 36 degrees, but that didn't sway PCMA from hosting its flagship event, Convening Leaders, in the city this year from Jan. 8-11. "That's what we do at PCMA, right? We take risks so you don't have to," said the association's director of events Alison Milgram. "We lucked out with weather, of course. But people came to Columbus, and they were just really surprised and delighted by the city. And to me, that's one of the biggest successes that we had."

With 3,300 attendees at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Convening Leaders was rife with highlights, such as an evening performance from John Legend (who's also an Ohio native) and education from speakers like retired track and field star Allyson Felix and businesswoman Carly Fiorina.

But as Milgram said, maybe the most resounding highlight was the way Columbus—through collaboration with Experience Columbus—was incorporated throughout the programming.

"I think that whether it's a Convening Leaders or a medical meeting or a corporate event, it takes a village to put on a show like this, like any conference," she said. "So I really think it's important that we lean on our partners in the city, have good conversations, and make sure that everybody's involved and everybody's excited. ... I think that any conference brings business into a city, and the cities are excited to have you. So use that, rely on that, and communicate. If everyone feels welcome when they're coming to your event, it just makes a huge difference from beginning to end."

Dan Williams, vice president of sales for Experience Columbus, also commends the DMO's partnership with PCMA in giving attendees a warm welcome. "We knew the impact it was going to have on our community, and that's why it was so important to execute on it," he said, adding that the two teams met weekly across all departments leading up to the conference.

"There were a lot of aspects that we could go to them with, and they were open and welcoming to it, and they could do the same with us," Williams said. "I think there's always give and take, but it was just really a true partnership."

Keep scrolling for more insights from Milgram and Williams and details from Convening Leaders 2023...

The festivities kicked off on Jan. 8 with an opening reception at the convention center dubbed The 411 on Columbus. It stood for "four seasons, one year, one amazing city," said PCMA's director of events Alison Milgram, meaning attendees got to experience what a year (and all four seasons) are like in the city.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

"They're not just your normal or traditional summer, winter, spring, fall," Milgram explained. "They're the summer, winter, spring, fall that you would find if you were in Columbus during those months." Cue things like parks, museums, and other fun nods to what visitors should see and do while visiting.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

You can't have summer in Columbus without Jeni's Ice Cream, the artisan ice cream chain that's gone national and is headquartered in the city.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

"Clearly you can't experience all four seasons when you're only there for two and half days," Milgram said. "But even in two and a half days, it can be hard for people to get out and enjoy a city. So we wanted to bring the city in for everyone."

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

In Columbus in the fall, the can't-miss event is HighBall Halloween, one of the city's biggest parties—and a fashion show in its own right. The Convening Leaders opening reception nodded to this with entertainers in elaborate costumes.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

Aerial performers were also on hand at the opening night party.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

The Sunday night opening event was produced by "The JTeam," Milgram said, which was made up of Columbus creative agency ZenGenius, Ohio-based creative and design firm Jobe & Associates, and rental company Event Source. The trio also produced Tuesday evening's networking event. "The spirit of collaboration here is, I would say, unmatched, and it truly showed when PCMA was here," said Dan Williams, vice president of sales for Experience Columbus.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

About 3,300 meeting and event profs attended Convening Leaders 2023. "The greatest thing to me was just seeing our city back in action," Williams said.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

Columbus swag was available on-site.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

Wellness and fitness were part of the programming as well this year. Convening Leaders held a yoga workshop and a HIIT class (pictured). A 5K run also led participants along the Scioto Mile, where they could take in the views of the Scioto River on one side and the downtown skyline on the other.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

President and CEO of PCMA Sherrif Karamat (pictured) made a big announcement on the first day of the conference: The association acquired the Event Leadership Institute, which is known for offering online and in-person workshops and seminars covering a range of skills and interests related to the events industry.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

Retired track and field star Allyson Felix (right) sat down for a conversation during Convening Leaders' opening main stage session on Jan. 9.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

Businesswoman and leadership expert Carly Fiorina also took the stage as a speaker.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

"I just think it's important that you take a look at all these communities or all these cities [around the country], because there's something special in every single one," Williams said, adding: "Open up your mind to looking at other destinations, and I think it'll create continued success."

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA

The Party with a Purpose networking event during Convening Leaders hosted attendees at Columbus' KEMBA Live! concert venue, where they were treated to a show from '80s tribute band the Spazmatics.

Photo: Courtesy of PCMA