Move comes after ACTE woos NBTA
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), a Chicago-based body for the US meetings industry, has pulled out of a strategic alliance with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).
The surprise move comes as the PCMA was carrying out "due diligence"on the link up and immediately after ACTE announced it was seeking a merger with rival business travel body the National Business Travel Association (NBTA).
In a statement sent to "select embers" and seen by ABTN, the PCMA said: "The Board of ACTE has decided, as of this morning, to re-open those discussions with NBTA.
"Based on this decision, PCMA has ceased its due diligence process and will no longer pursue an alliance with ACTE.
"PCMA still believes in the convergence of both Business Travel and Meetings and will continue to create education that will address this for our members and others in the industry that may benefit from it.
"We are truly fortunate that this happened early in our due diligence."
Brad Lewis, PCMA's vp marketing and communications, said today (August 7): "The formal strategic alliance will not proceed.
"We believe our industry will continue to see the convergence of business travel and meetings and expect an education exchange based on that to still happen as opportunities present.
"Our members are increasingly performing both functions. PCMA is known for education and education exchange and partnering to prepare our members and industry for the coming future is an important effort."
ACTE announced its planned a "progressive and innovative" strategic alliance with the PCMA in June after the its board had then decided not to pursue a merger with the NBTA.
www.pcma.org www.acte.org www.nbta.org