PCMA Convene Podcast

Are trade shows still relevant in the digital age? In this episode of the Convene Podcast, the team explores how trade shows are evolving beyond transactional exchanges to deliver meaningful, data-informed, and emotionally engaging experiences. From AI-powered matchmaking to facial recognition technology and immersive booth design, learn how organizers and exhibitors are redefining ROI—return on investment and emotion. Links:·       https://www.convene-digital.org/convene/library/item/april_2025/4264229/·       https://www.pcma.org/using-emotional-ai/·       https://www.thedrum.com/news/2025/03/31/what-shoptalk-2025-tells-us-about-the-evolution-the-trade-show·       https://www.eventmarketer.com/article/things-never-seen-trade-shows-shoptalk-2025/·       https://www.inc.com/shama-hyder/3-ways-to-create-a-standout-exhibit-at-a-conference-or-trade-show/91170312·       https://www.tsnn.com/experts-opinions/are-trade-shows-worth-it-private-equitybacked-companies-want-proof Get News Junkie: https://www.pcma.org/campaign/news-junkie/  Meet the Convene Editors: https://www.pcma.org/contact/ ·      Michelle Russell, Editor in Chief·      Barbara Palmer, Deputy Editor·      Jennifer N. Dienst, Senior Editor·      Magdalina Atanassova, Digital Media Editor Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra 

This episode has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Learn more at GoToLouisville.com/meeting-planners/.Over this past year, representatives from major hotel brands and housing services providers met for three PCMA roundtable conversations to discuss housing booking challenges — and potential solutions.Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene.Read the Article: Unlocking the Event Housing Block Dilemma: https://www.pcma.org/unlocking-event-housing-block-dilemma/Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

As climate-related disasters grow more frequent, event organizers face difficult decisions: Should you still host your event in an affected area? In this episode of the Convene Podcast, we explore how planners can support recovery efforts—ethically and effectively—through respectful communication, timing, and community engagement. Links:·       https://nonprofitquarterly.org/an-awp-conference-in-the-wake-of-climate-disaster/ Get News Junkie: https://www.pcma.org/campaign/news-junkie/  Meet the Convene Editors: https://www.pcma.org/contact/ ·      Michelle Russell, Editor in Chief·      Barbara Palmer, Deputy Editor·      Jennifer N. Dienst, Senior Editor·      Magdalina Atanassova, Digital Media Editor Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra 

CodeMash’s move to make the tech conference more accessible and affordable led to a family-friendly event that spawned the spin-off KidzMash just for attendees' children.Written and read by Jennifer N. Dienst, senior editor at Convene.Read the Article: The Secret to This Tech Conference’s Exponential Growth: https://www.pcma.org/secret-codemash-tech-conferences-exponential-growth/Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, the team discusses how recent U.S. policies and funding cuts are disrupting the business events industry. From international travel challenges to scientific censorship and declining attendance, hear what’s changing—and what it means for planners, speakers, and global collaboration. Links:·       https://www.pcma.org/doge-impact-meetings-industry/·       https://www.pcma.org/trump-administrations-policies-and-cuts-being-felt-by-events-industry/·       https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained·       https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00903-9 Get News Junkie: https://www.pcma.org/campaign/news-junkie/  Meet the Convene Editors: https://www.pcma.org/contact/ ·      Michelle Russell, Editor in Chief·      Barbara Palmer, Deputy Editor·      Jennifer N. Dienst, Senior Editor·      Magdalina Atanassova, Digital Media Editor Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra 

As record-breaking temperatures reach unprecedented levels, event organizers — and their participants — will have to take extra precautions to keep everyone cool, and safe.Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene.Read the Article: Events Professionals Offer Advice on Meeting in Extreme Heat: https://www.pcma.org/events-professionals-offer-advice-meeting-in-heat/Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, the global leader on the future of AI and business Dr. Ayesha Khanna shares how AI is redefining business strategy—from operational efficiency to imaginative co-creation. Discover how organizations can use AI to unlock innovation, manage risk, and empower their workforce—ethically and effectively.Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

Energy Disruptors: UNITE is an immersive energy sector summit that aims to bring together diverse voices — along with an unexpected infusion of the arts — to spark change.Written and read by Casey Gale, former managing editor at Convene.Read the Article: Harnessing the Energy of ‘Unlike Minds’: https://www.pcma.org/energy-disruptors-unite-summit-diverse-voices/Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

This season has been kindly sponsored by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visit discoverPHL.com to start planning your next life sciences meeting.In this episode of the Convene Podcast, Rory G. Archibald from VisitScotland explores the ethical considerations, data security challenges, and job evolution AI brings to the industry. Tune in to learn how event professionals can navigate AI responsibly and effectively.Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

This season has been kindly sponsored by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visit discoverPHL.com to start planning your next life sciences meeting.AI is everywhere, but is it truly driving business transformation? In this episode, Augusto Salvatto explores the gap between AI hype and real-world impact, the importance of machine learning over generative AI, and how organizations can take practical steps to adopt AI strategically. Follow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconveneMedium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazineX: https://x.com/pcmaconvene Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra