Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/107551
E V E NT R ECA P Continued from page 22 and director of the International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Center, discussed the fragmentation of the global economy and provided an economic outlook for 2013 and beyond. "Te world is not in sync anymore," said Garelli. "Tere is some infation and some defation. You name it, you have it. We need a lot of fexibility in the business model." He said taxation will be a hot issue for the future, as governments around the world deal with rising debt burdens. On the fnal day, Tomas Friedman, Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author of Te World is Flat, talked about a fundamental revolution in the labor market. "I'm 59, and when I graduated from college, I just had to fnd a job," said Friedman. "I told my kids that they have to invent their jobs. If they fnd a job, they have to invent and reinvent that job to advance in it. Tat's a big change." Friedman also discussed highlights from his latest book, Tat Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back. "If we go weak as a country, your kids will not grow up in a diferent America, but in a fundamentally diferent world ordered by China and Russia or, more importantly, a world ordered by no one at all," he said. Expanded Hybrid Event Offerings PCMA featured 19 keynotes and concurrent sessions that were simulcast live online for free. In addition, PCMA ofered an All Access Pass, featuring on-demand archived digital content for $99.95 if purchased before the close of the meeting or $199.95 afer the meeting. "Tree days before the event opened, we had about 700 people registered for the hybrid event," said Sexton. "Tat preliminary number is about 30% higher than last year. I am absolutely convinced that digital events will drive attendance to face-to-face." Last year, 225 virtual attendees spent more than 10 hours logged into sessions, compared to 109 in 2011. Total hours spent in virtual sessions increased from 3,123 in 2011 to 5,123 in 2012. At PCMA's town hall meeting, Sexton said that more than 550 people had spent "a signifcant" amount of time viewing Monday's virtual sessions. According to a survey of registrants in 2012, more than 300 indicated they were infuenced to attend Convening Leaders in person based on their previous participation in a PCMA virtual or hybrid meeting; of those, 112 had either never attended Convening Leaders or had not done so in the past six years. Total hours spent in virtual sessions increased from 3,123 in 2011 to 5,123 in 2012. At PCMA's town hall meeting, Sexton said that more than 550 people had spent "a significant" amount of time viewing Monday's virtual sessions. Networking: Orlando Style PCMA kicked of the meeting with an opening reception at SeaWorld Orlando on Sunday, January 13. Te event featured a variety of food, entertainment and experiences for attendees. Tis year's Party With A Purpose featured the Spazmatics, an '80s cover band, at Hard Rock Live Orlando. More than 1,500 attendees participated, raising $25,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. John Patronski, executive vice president, Global Experience Specialists (GES), presented a check to the organization at Tuesday's general session. On Tuesday, January 15, PCMA held a networking reception at Universal Studios Florida. PCMA announced that its 2016 annual meeting will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Next year's PCMA Convening Leaders will be held in January 12-15, 2014, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Big Splash. Shamu showed all the right moves at the opening reception at Sea World. The Party With a Purpose at the Hard Rock Live Orlando drew more than 1,500 attendees and raised $25,000 for charity. 24 February 2013 | Trade Show Executive Reach Deborah at (312) 423-7262 or deborah.sexton@pcma.org