USAEXtra HOLIDAY SHOWCASE
V O L U M E 4 | ISSUE 13
DECEMBER 1, 2025
The culinary team at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is hard at work on the property’s 12-foot by 12-foot gingerbread house to celebrate the holiday season. Fairmont’s Executive Pastry Chef Lyndsey Barton (center) and her pastry elves will finish building and decorating the ambitious piece of confectionery in time to unveil it at the hotel’s 22nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 2.
Holiday Showcase Going to NEXT LEVEL in Chicago By Todd McElwee It’s beginning to look a lot like Holiday Showcase in Chicago. On December 3–4, Association Forum will host the largest event for association professionals and industry partners in the Midwest, under the tagline of “NEXT LEVEL.” Holiday Showcase regularly attracts north of 1,500, with the 37th edition to feature two days of education, commerce and community at McCormick Place. “NEXT LEVEL is about investing in yourself and your organization,” says Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President & CEO of Association Forum, “Holiday Showcase isn’t just another event—it’s your launchpad to the NEXT LEVEL. This is where we break old patterns, own our voice, and forge the connections that will redefine leadership in our industry. And the timing couldn’t be more critical—we
need this energy, this action, and this community now.” Organizers call the exhibit hall— which is decked with booths featuring boughs of holly and other seasonal décor—the “pulse” of Holiday Showcase, with 146 entries listed on the show’s exhibitors directory. Along with the booths, the hall will feature the Career Center and Career Advising Appointments, which are confidential 20-minute meetings with association executives to discuss one’s aspirations, job options and more. HR counseling and headshots from Chuck Fazio will also be available. Situated at the heart of the exhibit hall, the “One Idea Can Change the World” stage is where attendees can “come together to share groundbreaking ideas—each with the potential to revolutionize the way we think and operate,” organizers said. A pair of keynote sessions head-
line Holiday Showcase’s expansive educational lineup. On December 3, “Truth Amid Disruption: Leading Change in the Next-Level Era” will feature a panel of industry leaders looking at navigating disruption, governance, membership and more. Erin Fuller, FASAE, CAE, Global Head, Association Solutions, MCI USA; Greg Moore, Director - Regional Sales, United Airlines; Rob Wenger, CEO, Higher Logic; Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA; and David Saef, CEM, SVP, Strategy, Freeman, are leading the discussion. The December 3 opening session is powered by Higher Logic. Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE, author, CEO, Avenue M Group, is presenting “The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Rethinking the Rules, Risk and Real Drivers of Innovation” on December 4. Choose Chicago and Visit
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Inside Page 2 AHLA Leader Rosanna Maietta Testifies Before Congress Page 3 NRF Forecasts $1 Trillion Record Holiday Sales Page 4 OCMD Hospitality Association’s Susan Jones Leans on “The Golden Rule” Page 5 Kenyan Conservationist Sues Marriott Over Luxury Safari Camp Page 6 Conversation with Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International