Greater Palm Springs, Calif. (Aug. 5, 2026) — Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS), the official destination marketing organization for the Coachella Valley, today announced the launch of its new Customer Advisory Board (CAB), a working advisory program developed in partnership with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). The CAB brings together established and emerging meeting professionals in a collaborative forum designed to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and help shape the future of meetings in Greater Palm Springs.
By connecting professionals at different stages of their careers, the CAB creates opportunities for authentic conversations, meaningful relationships, and mutual learning. Members will leave the program with new ideas, stronger professional connections, and a direct hand in influencing how Greater Palm Springs continues to evolve as a meetings destination.
The inaugural board is intentionally small and invite-only, capped at 24 members organized into three eight-person market “Rings”: Tech Ring (corporate tech and West Coast companies), Association Ring (national associations and nonprofit organizations), and Incentive & Luxury Ring (incentive houses, luxury travel agencies, and high-end corporate programs). Within each Ring, established planners are paired one-on-one with emerging colleagues from the same segment through a structured mentor-mentee model, pairing seasoned perspective with fresh eyes.
As advisory board members, participants will provide candid, direct input to VGPS leadership on destination priorities, infrastructure, and programming; gain early access to destination updates, new venue openings, and product developments; and connect with a curated cohort of peers across experience levels.
"At Visit Greater Palm Springs, we believe the strongest ideas emerge through collaboration. This Customer Advisory Board creates a forum where established meeting professionals and emerging leaders can share expertise, different perspectives, and gain fresh insights that will help shape the future of meetings. We're excited to partner with PCMA on an initiative that strengthens relationships, fosters innovation, and invests in our industry."
— Scott White, President and CEO, Visit Greater Palm Springs
“The future of our global community depends on how boldly we invest in the people who will eventually lead it. Programs such as this CAB don’t simply mentor aspiring leaders, they build the workforce our community will rely on. We are proud to stand behind the Visit Greater Palm Springs team in pioneering a model that strengthens the pipeline of business events strategists, while giving destinations a more direct, honest channel to the events strategists they serve.”
— Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA & CEMA
Membership on the CAB begins in August 2026 and runs through 2028. The inaugural year includes virtual sessions this summer and fall, followed by the program's first in-person convening in Greater Palm Springs. Education accreditation will be offered as part of the program.
Participation in the inaugural Customer Advisory Board is by invitation. However, if you are interested in learning more about how you can participate, contact Tammy Moore, VP, Learning & Professional Development, PCMA. More information is available here.
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.
