NATIONAL: PCMA and Encore have entered into a three-year partnership to enhance the association’s Digital Event Strategist certification. Designed to support the industry’s new hybrid future, the revamped program consists of six expert-led modules that cover topics from business plans and monetization to measurement and ROI.

Event platform Bizzabo has acquired x.ai, an artificial intelligence scheduling tool that generates compatible times to meet across time zones, sends follow-ups and reminders, manages cancellations and more. Bizzabo’s integration of x.ai’s scheduling engine will make it easy for event participants to schedule meetings, get smart recommendations and more.

Robert Lee, DMCP, is now vice president of global sales for Hosts Global. The 15-year industry veteran was the 2019-2020 president of the Association of Destination Management Executives International, where he helped implement a DMC-specific education program for use in universities worldwide.

ANAHEIM, CALIF: The Westin Anaheim Resort is now open near Disneyland. The 618-room hotel, Westin’s first new build in Southern California in more than 25 years, has 47,542 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, plus seven distinct restaurants, a heated outdoor pool with five private cabanas and a 2,000-square-foot presidential suite.

PARK CITY, UTAH: The Sundance Institute will host a series of live, free summer events in Park City and Salt Lake County. Called For the Locals, the main event will take place July 14-17 and showcase a set of award-winning films at various amphitheater’s and venues; there will also be a variety of both in-person and online community events throughout the season.

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