Convention Industry Council

What Convention Industry Council does

The Events Industry Council (EIC), formerly the Convention Industry Council, is a U.S.-based nonprofit federation founded in 1950 that operates as the global standards and certification body for the business events industry. Its core product is the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program — a professional certification with 13,000+ holders across 40+ countries — supported by the CMP Learning Portal, CMP Healthcare and CMP Fellows specializations, and a Preferred Provider ecosystem. Complementary offerings include the APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) industry standards library, the Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact (with Sustainable Event Standards and a Sustainable Event Professional Certificate), and research publications such as the annual Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study (produced with Oxford Economics and covering 180+ countries), the Futures Landscape Report, and Quarterly Event Barometers.

EIC is governed by a Board of Directors with association and corporate members, generating revenue from CMP certification and recertification fees, membership dues, publications sold through a Shopify storefront, corporate sponsorships, and Preferred Provider program subscriptions. Distribution runs through self-serve digital channels (Learning Portal, publications store, Career Centre job board) alongside direct enterprise engagement with corporate and association members. Industry recognition is delivered through the annual EIC Global Awards Gala in Las Vegas, the 41st Hall of Leaders, Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), and the co-branded IMEX-EIC sustainability award. The organization is privately held with no parent company, equity backers, or public ownership structure evident in the available data.

Name

Convention Industry Council

Legal name

Events Industry Council

Website

https://conventionindustry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Events Industry Council (formerly Convention Industry Council) is a U.S. nonprofit federation that operates the globally recognized Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification and publishes industry standards, sustainability frameworks, and economic research for the business events industry, serving 13,000+ certified professionals and member associations across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Industry Standards

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Meetings industry certification
• Event professional standards
• Industry research reports
• Sustainability event standards
• Professional development events

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CMP Certification and Continuing Education: Revenue from certification exams, recertification fees, CMP Fellows program, and continuing education resources for meeting professionals
2. Membership Fees: Corporate and association membership dues providing access to resources, networking, and industry recognition
3. Publications and Study Materials: Sale of CMP study materials, handbooks, and industry publications through the EIC publications store
4. Preferred Provider Program: Revenue from approved preferred providers who receive recognition and access through the CMP ecosystem

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Convention Industry Council, operating as the Events Industry Council (EIC), is a nonprofit professional association that provides the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification, industry standards (APEX), sustainability guidelines, research, and recognition programs for the global meetings and events industry. Founded in 1950, EIC serves more than 13,000 certified professionals from 40+ countries through certification, education, advocacy, and thought-leadership initiatives.

Product overview

The Events Industry Council (EIC) operates as a membership-based organization offering a platform-plus-services model centered on professional certification, industry standards, and research. The core offering is the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program, a globally recognized certification for meeting professionals with over 13,000 certified members from 40+ countries. Complementary products include the APEX industry standards, the Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact (CSE) with Sustainable Event Standards, and the CMP Learning Portal for certification management. EIC also produces research publications including the annual Global Economic Significance Study (in partnership with Oxford Economics), the Futures Landscape Report, and Quarterly Event Barometers. Recognition programs include the Hall of Leaders and EIC Global Awards. The organization supports career development through its Career Centre job board and CMP Study Materials Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CMP (Certified Meeting Professional): The flagship certification program for meeting professionals, with over 13,000 certified members from 40+ countries.
• APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange)
• Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact
• EIC Global Awards
• Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID)

Products and services

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Certification A globally recognized, ANSI-accredited professional certification for meeting and event planners, validating competency in strategic planning, project management, and event execution. Aimed at meeting professionals seeking industry-recognized credentials.
• APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) Standards A portfolio of voluntary, industry-accepted standards covering areas such as glossary terms, post-event reporting, and technology integration for the meetings and events industry. Aimed at event organizers, suppliers, and venues.
• Sustainable Event Standards Standards and guidance that help meeting planners and organizations integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability practices into their events. Aimed at event organizers and corporate meeting buyers.
• EIC Industry Research and Reports Original research, benchmarking reports, and industry economic impact studies distributed to members and industry stakeholders. Aimed at industry professionals, suppliers, and policymakers.
• EIC Recognition and Awards Programs Awards and recognition programs that honor individual leaders, organizations, and innovations in the meetings, events, and hospitality industry. Aimed at industry professionals and organizations seeking visibility and credibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global business events industry generates significant economic impact measured across 180+ countries

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oxford EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford Economics is a strategic research partner for the annual Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study. They provide economic modeling and analysis measuring the impact of business events across 180+ countries worldwide.
• IMEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMEX partners with EIC on the IMEX-EIC Award for sustainability excellence, combining IMEX's trade show platform with EIC's sustainability standards expertise.
• CMP Corporate SponsorsminorOthersCorporate sponsors support the CMP program and EIC initiatives. Multiple corporate sponsors are recognized on the EIC website at various sponsorship tiers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• IMEX Group: IMEX operates the IMEX trade shows in Frankfurt and Las Vegas and partners with EIC on the IMEX-EIC sustainability award. An adjacent events industry ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, but a key distribution channel for EIC's programs.

Emerging players

• Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE): SITE is a niche global association focused specifically on the incentive travel segment of meetings/events, with the CITP designation. A narrower-scope peer intersecting with EIC's meetings mandate in a specific vertical.
• Global Business Travel Association (GBTA): GBTA is the leading global association for business travel and meetings buyers, offering the GTP designation. Comparable to EIC in serving corporate travel/event decision-makers, though with a procurement-led rather than planner-led mission.

Direct peers

• International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): ICCA is the global community for the international association meetings sector, providing data, rankings, and education to meeting planners and destination partners. Comparable to EIC in international scope and industry advocacy, though more data- and destination-focused.
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI): MPI is the largest global membership association for meeting and event professionals, offering the CMM (Certificate in Meeting Management) designation. Directly comparable to EIC in mission, member base, and certification focus, making it the closest peer.
• Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA): PCMA serves convention, exhibition, and meeting professionals globally and runs the Convening Leaders conference as well as the CMP-prep ecosystem. Directly comparable in serving the same professionals with overlapping education, certification prep, and advocacy offerings.
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE): IAEE represents the global exhibitions industry with the CEM (Certified in Exhibition Management) credential and industry research. It overlaps with EIC on trade show industry standards and certification in the adjacent exhibitions vertical.

Broad incumbents

• UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry: UFI serves the exhibitions industry globally with research, education (including the EMBA and industry awards), and standards. Comparable in scope and standards-setting role, but focused on exhibitions rather than the broader meetings/events mandate EIC covers.
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE): ASAE is the umbrella association for U.S. trade and professional associations, including CAE credentials for association executives. A broader incumbent than EIC, covering the management of associations generally rather than the meetings industry specifically.

Regional players

• International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC): AIPC represents convention and conference centres globally with management-focused standards and accreditation. Comparable in scope as a peer organization on the venue side of the meetings ecosystem, though venue-focused rather than planner-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/convindustry
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConventionIndustryCouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Convention Industry Council