Raleigh, N.C. (June 29, 2026)  At the intersection of professional skill and technological development, Raleigh is an ideal destination for high-impact meetings. For many key industries, the region’s greatest appeal is the innovative and collaborative ethos reflected in its workforce. Following the spring’s ABET Symposium, this summer the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) Annual Meeting will convene in North Carolina’s capital city, underscoring Raleigh’s role as a thriving hub for scientific and technological industry clusters. From cutting-edge educators to STEM society executives, these events reinforce Raleigh’s reputation as a marketplace for cutting-edge advancement and an ideal place to meet, work and live.

ABET held its annual symposium at the Raleigh Convention Center from April 15-18, bringing together an international community of more than 700 educators and industry professionals. The symposium assembled a global audience focused on advancing quality assurance in higher education and preparing learners for the future workforce. As the #4 Metro with the Highest Number of Technology Jobs and its strong connections to research and innovation, Raleigh provided an ideal setting for ABET, an organization dedicated to education program accreditation. Raleigh’s dynamic ecosystem of research institutions and Triangle-based technology employers like IBM, Red Hat, Lenovo and Epic Games made it a natural fit for this event.

CESSE will host its ACCESSE Annual Meeting at the Raleigh Convention Center from July 13-15, welcoming some of the country’s greatest scientific leaders to the area. As the only conference exclusively designed for STEM society professionals, ACCESSE provides a focused environment for leadership development, peer-to-peer cooperation and strategic insight. Attendees will engage in stimulating programming – from expert-led sessions and networking opportunities to rapid-paced peer presentations. This meeting highlights the region’s ongoing growth in key technological industry clusters, reflected by Raleigh’s environment of interdisciplinary excellence and North Carolina State University's reputation in the engineering and scientific community.

“Raleigh’s ability to attract and support these high-caliber events is rooted in its robust industries, highly educated workforce and collaborative ecosystem,” said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh. “The region’s passionate community of skilled professionals creates a unique setting for meetings that inspire innovation and deliver lasting impact.”

Centrally located in the Research Triangle, the city offers proximity to leading universities, global companies and a dynamic talent pipeline. The city is strategically positioned within one of the world’s largest life sciences clusters, which includes over 650 companies and approximately 50,000 highly skilled professionals – while also hosting one of the largest concentrations of tech talent in the nation.

Embodying the region's strong development in key clusters, Raleigh itself is undergoing large-scale growth over the next few years, furthering the city’s status as a vibrant venue for conventions, meetings and events. Currently underway, downtown Raleigh’s Convention Campus will expand to feature:

  • The 29-story Omni Raleigh Hotel, complete with 61,000 square feet of meeting space, 20,000 sq. ft. ballroom and a resort-style wellness facility.
  • A dramatic Raleigh Convention Center expansion, including an additional 298,100-square-foot facility, 50,000 sq. ft. of divisible flex space, an 18,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 13 new meeting rooms.

With world-class meeting facilities, an unrivaled professional landscape and a vibrant cultural scene, Raleigh embodies a destination where innovation thrives and connections endure.
 

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, Visit Raleigh is responsible for promoting Wake County as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, the organization strengthens the industry and community's economic position and provides opportunities for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 19 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.4 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $321 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $720 in taxes annually. visitRaleigh.com

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Hannah Hankins
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.819.8292
hhankins@visitraleigh.com

 

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