PCMA Convening EMEA Rolls to Vienna this Year

From September 28 to 30, 2022, "Convening EMEA", the industry conference for meeting experts of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), will take place for the first time at Meeting Destination Vienna.

The conference will include key notes by Gerd Leonhard, leading futurist and humanist, David Meade, international corporate speaker and Colleen Bisconti, Vice President, Events and Experiences IBM, as well as a series of workshops and "Exploration Tours", which will provide attendees insights into lesser-known facets of the destination.

The "Convening EMEA" conference is an omnichannel event for business event professionals, bringing together experts from the corporate and association sectors – from international technology companies to medical associations – to discuss the challenges of the future. Following a successful bid process the Vienna Convention Bureau of the Vienna Tourist Board, the Austrian National Tourist Office, the Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center and the Hilton Vienna Park are delighted to welcome PCMA to Vienna as their meeting destination of choice.

Under the slogan "Together we move forward", participants can expect three days of exciting presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and case studies in the world's ‘most livable city. Keynote speakers include Gerd Leonhard, futurist, author and CEO of "The Futures Agency", David Meade, international corporate speaker, performer and TV personality and Colleen Bisconti, Vice President, Events and Experiences IBM. Additional industry speakers will be announced over the coming weeks.

"Convening EMEA will create a platform for our entire industry whwere voices are heard, learnings are shared, and collaboration is the key to building a stronger future together. We are looking forward to welcoming our industry to Vienna, a city that has evolved over centuries where tradition meets modernism, sustainability meets inclusivity. The programme has been built across three themes: Future, Engagement and Planning. This coupled with our partnership with Vienna and their stakeholders will ensure an experience for attendees like never before," says Jaimé Bennett, Regional Director of PCMA EMEA. 

Discovering Meeting Destination Vienna

In addition to numerous networking opportunities, attendees will be able to join "Exploration Tours". From sustainable urban development in downtown Vienna to innovative architecture in Viertel Zwei, a new district in the direct vicinity of the Messe Wien, to street art and exclusive glimpses behind the scenes of Viennese handicraft businesses – seven specially curated city tours will provide participants insight into the diverse opportunities Vienna offers as a conference metropolis.

"Vienna is not only one of the leading international meeting destinations, but also the most livable city in the world. On the Exploration Tours, this can also be felt and experienced by the meeting participants. In a green metropolis that gets by without the stress of other big cities, they discover historical flair that meets a smart and forward-looking city”, says Christian Woronka, Head of the Vienna Convention Bureau and Market Management at WienTourismus.

Those who want to learn more about Austria as a meeting destination after "Convening EMEA" can contact the Convention Bureaus individually and arrange site visits or post tours. “The first-time hosting of the Professional Convention Management Association's conference "Convening EMEA" in Vienna is an excellent opportunity for Austria as a convention location to make a strong appearance in front of the international professional audience. Studies prove: Austria is an extremely attractive convention location and we are working intensively to position ourselves as an even more sustainable destination. The conference post-tours give the nine Convention Bureaux of the Austrian federal states the opportunity to present their unique assets to the international participants of "Convening EMEA"," says Sandra Neukart, COO of the Austrian National Tourist Office.

Stay the weekend

Alongside Vienna’s world-class conference and meeting facilities, there is plenty to explore post-Conference. Boasting a rich offering in art, history, contemporary culture and gastronomy, Vienna invites attendees to explore the capital and experience what the ‘world’s most liveable city,’ has to offer.