EIC names 2026 Hall of Leaders inductees and Global Awards recipients, ceremony in Las Vegas on 12 October

The Events Industry Council announced the recipients of its annual Global Awards, to be presented in Las Vegas on Monday 12 October 2026, hosted by MGM Resorts International. The EIC Hall of Leaders, now in its 41st year and regarded as the industry's lifetime achievement award, has named more than 150 inductees since its launch in 1985. The 2026 inductees are Elliott L. Ferguson II, President and CEO of Destination DC; Robert Priest-Heck, retired CEO of Freeman; David Kliman, CMM, co-founder of ELX and founder and owner of The Kliman Group; Kit Lykketoft, Director of Convention at Wonderful Copenhagen; Weemin Ong, CEM, CMP, Vice President of Sales and MICE at Marina Bay Sands; and Annamaria Ruffini, CIS, CITP, CMP, President and CEO of Events In & Out. The EIC Pacesetter Award, which recognises an emerging leader making an impact on the industry, went to James Filtz, CMP, CPCE, CHE, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at Cvent, and Evan Nielson, CMP, Senior Event Manager at AARP. EIC also presents the Social Impact Award, for work on people, planet and prosperity aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Adaptation and Innovation Award. EIC President and CEO Amy Calvert said this year's honourees unite established leaders who anchored the industry's legacy with newer voices driving its future.