PCMA and CEMA Team Up to Offer COVID-19 Education Webinars

March 9, 2020

At Convening Leaders in January, PCMA announced a strategic partnership with CEMA. As one of their first joint projects, the two associations have planned a series of interactive webinars to educate the industry on the novel coronavirus, what to expect, how to prepare, and how to react.

“CEMA is proud to partner with PCMA to bring timely and actionable insights on COVID-19 to the event marketing community,” says CEMA President and CEO Kimberley Gishler.  

She continues, “The PCMA webinars cover a range of useful topics from scientific fact, to risk management and contractual preparedness, to response, communications and recovery during and after a major disruption. We will continue to explore new topics with PCMA as COVID-19 evolves and look to collaborate with them on helping our event marketing colleagues remain resilient during this crisis.”

Gishler says that CEMA is working with partners PCMA and the Events Industry Council (EIC), as well as other peer organizations, to ensure coherent information flow across the event marketing industry. 

“What we can do about this issue is arm ourselves with facts, seek expert advice and share those among our community so that every event marketing professional has the best available information to help them decide if and how this issue impacts their event audiences and plans,” she says.

COVID-19 Educational Webinar Schedule

*Update: Please be advised that our 3/19 webinar, "Lessons Learned from Toronto's SARS Outbreak," has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Our apologies for the shift in plans — we will make sure the new date is posted as soon as we have the information.  

PCMA has declared helping the global business events industry navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak to be its top industry priority. Anyone interested in supporting the association's plan is invited to reach out to PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat.

 

Visit our Event Industry Coronavirus Resources page for a list of industry resources and information on COVID-19.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact