International Association of Exhibitions and Events

What International Association of Exhibitions and Events does

International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1928 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that serves as the professional body for the global exhibitions and events industry. It represents more than 12,000 industry professionals across 50+ countries, including exhibition organizers, corporate event and exhibit marketers, suppliers, and faculty, and operates specialized communities for major trade show producers (MATSO), independent and small-to-mid organizers, healthcare events, women, emerging leaders, and young professionals. Its wholly-owned research arm, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), produces industry benchmarks including the CEIR Index, sector playbooks, and the Event Performance Analyzer.

The association operates a diversified product portfolio anchored by Expo! Expo!, its annual meeting and exhibition (held November in Milwaukee in 2025 with 1,800+ attendees), the Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) professional designation (3,700+ certified professionals in 26 countries), and a KnowledgeHub learning platform. It also publishes standards artifacts including the Art of the Show textbook (6th edition), Guidelines for Display Rules and Regulations, and a Skills Matrix developed with the U.S. Department of Labor; runs free member webinars plus paid Insights Hours programs; maintains MemberLink as its peer community; offers consulting via partnership with Dr. Sam Potolicchio and MBB-Consulting; and convenes advocacy through the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and Exhibitions Industry Collective.

IAEE generates revenue across five streams: company-based membership dues (renewed annually on a July–June cycle), events and conferences, certification and professional development, publications and products (Art of the Show $79.95/$109.95; Skills Matrix $249 member/$639 non-member), and advertising/sponsorship. Distribution runs through direct membership sales, chapters, reciprocity partners (UFI, ICCA, SACEOS, AEO, SITE Global), and preferred partners (Brown & Brown insurance, 4imprint). In 2026 IAEE completed its acquisition of Exhibitor Group (EXHIBITOR magazine, EXHIBITOR LIVE), extending the association's footprint into the exhibitor and experiential marketing side of the industry.

Name

International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Legal name

International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Website

https://iaee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IAEE is a global trade association founded in 1928, headquartered in Dallas, that serves 12,000+ exhibitions and events professionals across 50+ countries with membership, the CEM professional certification, the CEIR research division, the Expo! Expo! annual meeting, publications, and advocacy through the ECA coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IAEE generates primary revenue from company-based membership fees. When a company joins as a member, any employee from administrative assistant to executive can be included, providing comprehensive team access to resources. Membership renews annually on a single cycle each July.
2. Publications and Products: Sale of educational publications including the Art of the Show textbook (6th edition), Guidelines for Display Rules and Regulations, Skills Matrix and Job Descriptions Template, RFP Templates, and IAEE Priority Points Systems report.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue from flagship event Expo! Expo! and related conferences including CEIR Predict, IAEE Leadership Institute, Healthcare Forum, Women's Leadership Forum, and various Insights Hours programs.
4. Certification Programs: CEM (Certified in Exhibition Management) certification program with learning modules, CEM Week, and professional development offerings generating fees for both members and non-members.
5. Advertising and Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities across events, publications, and digital platforms; advertising on IAEE websites, newsletters, and at conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

IAEE is a global trade association (501(c)(6) nonprofit) that serves exhibition and event industry professionals through company-based membership, the CEM (Certified in Exhibition Management) professional certification program, industry research produced through its CEIR division, publications, and the flagship annual meeting Expo! Expo!. It also delivers advocacy through the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, professional development via webinars and the KnowledgeHub learning platform, and networking through chapters and specialty communities.

Product overview

IAEE is a trade association (not a software product company) offering a unified platform of membership services, events, certification, research, and publications for the global exhibitions and events industry. The core portfolio includes: Expo! Expo! (annual meeting and exhibition), CEIR (research division providing industry benchmarks and forecasts), the CEM Learning Program (professional certification), Webinars and Knowledge Hub (educational content), MemberLink (online community), Consulting Services, and various publications including the Art of the Show textbook. IAEE also provides member communities, grants/scholarships, sustainability resources, and a career center. In 2026, IAEE acquired Exhibitor Group to expand its offerings to include experiential marketing and exhibit design expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IAEE Company Membership Annual subscription membership providing exhibition industry companies and their entire employee base with access to research, education, networking communities, advocacy, publications discounts, and preferred partner benefits.
• CEM (Certified in Exhibition Management) Learning Program The industry's premier professional certification in exhibition management, delivered globally through IAEE's KnowledgeHub learning platform with both in-person and virtual learning modules, including CEM Week events.
• Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition IAEE's flagship annual meeting and exhibition event serving as the central hub for the global exhibitions sector with education, networking, and industry recognition; held each November (2026: November 16-18, Milwaukee, WI).
• CEIR Research Reports & Index The Center for Exhibition Industry Research's portfolio of reports, including the CEIR Index, sector-based performance benchmarking playbooks, and the Event Performance Analyzer Tool providing objective, comprehensive exhibition industry research.
• CEIR Event Performance Analyzer Benchmarking tool enabling exhibition organizers to compare their performance against industry standards using CEIR's proprietary data and analytics.
• IAEE Sustainability Toolkit Practical member-benefit guide with five steps and 16 modules for exhibition organizers to implement sustainable practices and reduce environmental impact.
• Art of the Show Textbook (6th Edition) Industry-standard textbook (6th edition) on requirements for planning and holding successful B2B and B2C exhibitions, written by industry experts and used in university classrooms worldwide.
• Guidelines for Display Rules and Regulations Standards publication established by IAEE to promote continuity and consistency among North American exhibitions and events, used by organizers to create consistent exhibiting standards.
• Skills Matrix and Job Descriptions Template Compilation of all job competencies, skills, knowledge, and abilities needed for various job levels along with corresponding job description templates, developed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
• IAEE RFP Templates Standardized request-for-proposal templates designed for exhibition industry procurement needs; available for purchase.
• CIEP (Certified International Conference Manager) Program Joint training program with CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade) designed to develop professional competencies for international conference industry practitioners.
• ShowDown Event Cancellation Insurance Program Event cancellation insurance program offered to IAEE members through preferred partner Brown & Brown (formerly Risk Strategies) to mitigate risk of show cancellation.
• IAEE Consulting Services Executive-level consulting services delivered through IAEE and CEIR's partnership with Dr. Sam Potolicchio and MBB-Consulting to help exhibition organizations navigate challenges, drive growth, and optimize performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• CEIR Total Index Forecast to Grow 2.1% in 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• China Trade NewsregionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026IAEE announced a strategic media partnership with China Trade News (CTN), the official state-affiliated media outlet of the MICE and trade exhibition industry in China. The partnership aims to expand IAEE's global reach and strengthen industry connections in the Chinese market.
• Exhibitor GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026IAEE acquired Exhibitor Group, the organization behind EXHIBITOR magazine and EXHIBITOR LIVE. This strategic acquisition unites exhibition organizers and exhibitors in unprecedented industry collaboration, combining IAEE's global reach with Exhibitor Group's expertise in experiential marketing and exhibit design.
• eShowcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 December 2025IAEE and eShow continued their partnership to power Expo! Expo!, entering the second year of the partnership. eShow is an IAEE key provider of event management technology.
• SwapcardcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 November 2025IAEE and Swapcard announced a strategic partnership to deliver a fully integrated digital experience for Expo! Expo!, IAEE's annual meeting scheduled for December 8-10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. The collaboration utilizes Swapcard's event engagement platform to enhance participant interaction, streamline operations, and support revenue growth within the exhibitions and events industry.
• Exhibitions & Conferences AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the face-to-face business events industry. IAEE collaborates with ECA to drive advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill affecting trade, tariffs, international travel, taxes, workforce, and sustainability.
• Exhibitions Industry CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Exhibitions Industry Collective brings together six key industry organizations including ECA, ESCA, EDPA, IAEE, IAVM, and SISO to create a visible, meaningful and lasting foothold on careers in the exhibitions ecosystem.
• Global MICE CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a partnership between IAEE, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), the Global MICE Collaborative provides a 'best of' collaboration with access to a combined network of 126 chapters worldwide for MICE professionals in emerging markets.
• Events Industry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Events Industry Council is comprised of 33 member organizations representing more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties. EIC focuses on certification, standards, best practices, and collaboration on industry issues. IAEE works with EIC on sustainability initiatives and professional standards.
• Meeting Professionals InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a strategic partnership, MPI emphasizes the significance of in-person interactions and is dedicated to advancing the meeting and event industry through professional development opportunities.
• Dr. Sam Potolicchio and MBB-ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIAEE and CEIR partner with Dr. Sam Potolicchio (geopolitical strategist and leadership consultant) and MBB-Consulting (B2B specialists) to deliver executive-level consulting services helping organizations navigate complex challenges, drive growth, and optimize performance.
• 4imprintminorGTM or Marketing Partner4imprint, the leader in promotional products, is an IAEE preferred partner offering members an additional 10% off their already Guaranteed Lowest Prices.
• Brown & BrownminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIAEE partners with Brown & Brown (formerly Risk Strategies) to offer members event cancellation insurance through the ShowDown program and cyber asset protection insurance coverage.
• CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEIR is the official research division of IAEE, providing insights and intelligence for the exhibitions and business events industry. CEIR houses the world's largest collection of primary, exhibition-related research studies and produces the CEIR Index report.
• The Annabelle ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a partner of IAEE, The Annabelle Project (TAP) is a talent acquisition accelerator designed to identify, develop, and connect high-potential college students and recent graduates to careers in the business events industry.
• CNTVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Exhibitions Industry Collective partnered with CNTV to produce a new Workforce Development Video Series highlighting careers in the exhibitions ecosystem.
• Association of Event OrganizersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAEO is a reciprocity partner collaborating with IAEE to promote the value of exhibitions and events globally.
• UFI (The Global Association of The Exhibition Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFI is a global reciprocity partner working with IAEE to advance the exhibition industry worldwide.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICCA is a reciprocity partner collaborating with IAEE to promote international conventions and exhibitions.
• SACEOS (Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSACEOS is a reciprocity partner in Singapore working with IAEE for mutual member benefits.
• SITE GlobalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSITE Global is a reciprocity partner in the incentive travel sector working with IAEE.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Events Industry Council (EIC): EIC is a federation of 33 member organizations including IAEE itself, representing over 103,500 individuals. It focuses on industry standards, certification, and sustainability — directly comparable in mission and overlapping in member base.
• Exhibit Designers & Producers Association (EDPA): EDPA is the association for exhibit designers and producers and a fellow Exhibitions Industry Collective member alongside IAEE. EDPA serves the supplier side of the same exhibitions ecosystem that IAEE's organizers and corporate exhibitor members participate in.
• International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): ICCA is the global association for the international meetings and conventions industry, a reciprocity partner of IAEE. It serves an overlapping community of event organizers on a global basis, providing comparable services like industry data, networking, and education.
• Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA): ECA is the advocacy coalition in which IAEE is a leading member, jointly representing the $396 billion face-to-face business events industry before U.S. policymakers. IAEE's regulatory moat is partly delivered through this multi-association platform.
• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM): IAVM represents venue managers and is a fellow member of both the Events Industry Council and Exhibitions Industry Collective alongside IAEE. It shares a similar association model with conventions, certifications (CVA), and global member programs targeted at the same face-to-face events ecosystem.
• Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO): SISO is a membership community specifically for independent exhibition organizers in North America. It is one of IAEE's closest peers because both target for-profit show organizers and collaborate within the Exhibitions Industry Collective alongside IAEE.
• UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): UFI is the leading global association for the exhibition industry, headquartered in Paris. Like IAEE, it represents exhibition organizers, venues, and service providers, runs research, training, and advocacy programs, and serves overlapping members through a global chapter structure — making it the closest international counterpart.
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI): MPI is a major global association for meeting and event professionals, IAEE's partner in the Global MICE Collaborative. It is structurally and functionally similar — membership dues, certification (CMP, EMCP), global chapters — but serves a corporate/association meeting audience rather than trade shows.

Regional players

• Association of Event Organizers (AEO): AEO is the leading UK-based association for exhibition and event organizers and a long-standing reciprocity partner of IAEE. It addresses the same organizer and supplier community but is geographically focused on the UK market rather than the U.S./China footprint IAEE serves.

Emerging players

• Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE Global): SITE Global is a reciprocity partner of IAEE and a fellow member of the Global MICE Collaborative. It specializes in the incentive travel segment of the broader MICE/events industry that IAEE also serves, providing comparable certification and community programs to a narrower audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IAEE_HQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IAEEHeadquarters
• Facebookfacebook.com/iaeehq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/763287
• Instagraminstagram.com/iaee_hq

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Association of Exhibitions and Events