Visit Raleigh’s Kathryn Short, CMP, and Malinda Harrell, CMP Fellow, CASE, recently traveled to San Antonio, Texas, for the 2026 Meeting Professionals International (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC), held June 2-4. The event brought together meeting professionals from around the world for several days of education, networking and business development, providing a valuable opportunity to connect with planners and share Raleigh, N.C.'s growing story.

A highlight of the event was the Hosted Buyer program, where Kathryn and Malinda participated in one-on-one appointments with planners actively sourcing destinations for future meetings and conventions. These conversations helped build relationships while showcasing Raleigh’s momentum, including the Raleigh Convention Center expansion, the under-construction, 600-room Omni downtown convention hotel and strengths in innovation, technology and higher education. 

Throughout the conference, key industry trends reinforced Raleigh’s strong positioning. Conversations focused on AI in event planning, growing demand for meaningful and flexible attendee experiences and the importance of authentic connections, along with continued emphasis on wellness, sustainability and measurable outcomes. WEC also showcased how these trends are coming to life through more interactive session formats, intentional networking design and locally inspired elements that enhance the overall attendee experience.

"WEC 2026 reinforced that successful meetings go beyond space—they’re about creating connection and memorable experiences," said Malinda Harrell, CMP Fellow, CASE. "Visit Raleigh looks forward to building on these conversations and welcoming future events to the destination."

Where is the Visit Raleigh Convention Sales team at next? Planners can catch the team in person right here in Raleigh at the ACESSE Leadership Conference, July 13-16, 2026, at the Raleigh Convention Center.