PCMA’s flagship event achieves second consecutive Platinum certification from the Events Industry Council
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced today that Convening Leaders 2026 (CL26), PCMA’s premier education and networking event, has earned Platinum Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards — the program’s highest distinction.
“Earning Platinum certification for CL26 reflects PCMA’s continued commitment to advancing sustainability as a core principle of how we design and deliver experiences for the global business events community,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA. “This achievement demonstrates what’s possible when the global community comes together to lead with intention, accountability, and a shared vision for a more sustainable future.”
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards were developed through a global collaborative process involving subject-matter experts across all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration and a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey have support to implement and measure sustainable practices.
The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organizational management, marketing, communications and engagement, climate action, water management, materials and circularity, supply chain management, diversity, equity and inclusion, accessibility, and social impact. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. The event organizer standard is one of several comprehensive standards aimed at making events more environmentally sustainable.
EIC President and CEO Amy Calvert said, “PCMA continues to raise the bar for what sustainable events can achieve. Their leadership reinforces the role of business events as a powerful force for positive environmental and social impact.”
CL26 — held in Philadelphia, PCMA’s founding city 70 years ago in 1956 — saw an official total of 4,211 registrants, representing 43 countries and over 1,100 first-time participants. PCMA collaborated with Honeycomb Strategies, sustainability consultants for the events industry, to ensure alignment with EIC standards. Independent verification was conducted by the Alliance for Audited Media.
“PCMA is setting a strong example for how sustainability can be embedded into event operations in a meaningful and measurable way,” said Richard Murphy, AAM’s CEO, president, and managing director. “Through independent validation, PCMA is reinforcing trust and advancing greater transparency across the global events ecosystem.”
For media inquiries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA, and LATAM, please contact:
Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications
About PCMA
PCMA, PCMA Foundation, and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose, and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA, and LATAM, and members in 72 countries and communities. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org.
About PCMA Foundation
The role of the Foundation of PCMA is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant-giving focused on scholarships, education, and research that will advance the business events industry. Annually the Foundation funds over $900K in impact, and since 1985 has funded over 2,500 scholarships, 100 research studies and education programs, and $2.7M in charitable giving.
