Exhibitor Group
Exhibitor Group is a privately held B2B media and education company that serves trade show and corporate event marketing professionals through EXHIBITOR Magazine, the EXHIBITOR*LIVE* annual conference, CTSM certification, eTrak online learning, and the FindIt Marketplace directory.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersRochester, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Exhibitor Group does
Exhibitor Group is a privately held B2B media and education company headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, that serves the trade show and corporate event marketing industry. Its core assets are EXHIBITOR Magazine (a monthly publication covering booth staffing, show selection, exhibit design, budgeting, and measurement), EXHIBITOR*LIVE* (the flagship annual face-to-face conference scheduled for Denver in 2027 with more than 100 educational sessions and a supplier Exhibit Hall), the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program—the only university-affiliated professional certification in the exhibit marketing industry, requiring 23 approved sessions—and the FindIt Marketplace B2B directory for trade show products and services.
The company runs additional live and digital products including Certification Power Week (a five-day, 30+-session professional development conference in Cleveland), eTrak Online Education (university-affiliated virtual sessions), Trade Show Foundations (a full-day introductory workshop), and three recurring awards programs: the 13th Annual Portable/Modular Awards 2026, Corporate Event Awards, and All-Star Awards. The technical stack is content-and-events-centric rather than software-centric; there are no disclosed APIs, integrations, SDKs, or proprietary technology platforms.
Exhibitor Group's business model is multi-stream and event-driven. Revenue is generated through magazine subscriptions, event registration (with tiered early-bird pricing such as $645 savings on EXHIBITOR*LIVE* 2027), CTSM certification fees, award entry fees structured by deadline ($195 early bird, $245 regular, $295 late for Portable/Modular Awards 2026), and advertising across the magazine, ExhibitorOnline.com, and FindIt Marketplace. The company operates a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model, monetizing both sides of the market—practitioner professionals and trade show suppliers—through content, certification, live events, recognition, and a directory.
Exhibitor Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exhibitor Group
- Legal name
- Exhibitor Group
- Website
- https://exhibitoronline.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Exhibitor Group is a privately held B2B media and education company that serves trade show and corporate event marketing professionals through EXHIBITOR Magazine, the EXHIBITOR*LIVE* annual conference, CTSM certification, eTrak online learning, and the FindIt Marketplace directory.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exhibitor Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Show & Event Marketing Media & Education
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent) (THAHACAF)
Keywords
Where Exhibitor Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Exhibitor Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from EXHIBITOR magazine covering trade show and corporate event marketing topics including booth staffing, show selection, exhibit design, planning, budgeting, and measurement.
- Award Program Fees: Entry fees for Portable/Modular Awards ($195-$295 depending on deadline), Corporate Event Awards, and All-Star Awards programs.
- Event Registration: Revenue from EXHIBITOR*LIVE* conference registration, Certification Power Week sessions, and eTrak online education courses.
- CTSM Certification: Certification fees for the Certified Trade Show Marketer program, the industry's only university-affiliated professional certification.
- Advertising and Media Kit: Advertising revenue through the EXHIBITOR magazine and ExhibitorOnline.com, including the FindIt Marketplace directory.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Portable/Modular Awards Early Bird Entry |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Portable/Modular Awards Regular Entry |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Portable/Modular Awards Late Entry |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Exhibitor Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exhibitor Group publishes EXHIBITOR Magazine and operates ExhibitorOnline.com as the central B2B media brand for trade show and corporate event marketing professionals. It monetizes this audience through the annual EXHIBITOR*LIVE* conference, the Certification Power Week professional development event, the eTrak online learning platform, the university-affiliated Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) certification program, the FindIt B2B supplier directory/marketplace, Trade Show Foundations workshops, and recurring industry awards programs (Portable/Modular Awards, Corporate Event Awards, All-Star Awards).
Product overview
Exhibitor Group operates as a unified platform for trade show and corporate event marketing education, consisting of EXHIBITOR Magazine (the core publication), EXHIBITOR*LIVE* (the annual flagship conference), eTrak Online Education (university-affiliated online learning), and CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer certification). The company also runs the FindIt Marketplace directory, Certification Power Week events, Portable/Modular Awards, and Corporate Event Awards programs. Together, these offerings provide a comprehensive ecosystem for exhibit marketing professionals seeking education, certification, industry recognition, and supplier discovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EXHIBITOR Magazine Monthly B2B trade publication covering trade show and corporate event marketing topics including booth staffing, show selection, exhibit design, planning, budgeting, measurement, and industry trends. Available in print and digital editions with subscriptions.
- EXHIBITOR*LIVE* Annual Conference Flagship annual face-to-face marketing conference bringing together trade show and event marketing professionals for education, networking, and supplier discovery. Features more than 100 educational sessions, an exhibit hall showcasing industry suppliers, networking opportunities, and CTSM certification sessions. Next event scheduled for Denver, Colorado in 2027.
- eTrak Online Education University-affiliated online learning platform for trade show and corporate event professionals offering self-paced and live instructor-led sessions on event planning, logistics, marketing strategies, and negotiation skills.
- Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) Certification Professional certification program for trade show marketing professionals, requiring completion of 23 approved sessions covering trade show marketing principles. Positioned as the only university-affiliated professional certification in the exhibit marketing industry.
- FindIt Marketplace B2B directory marketplace connecting buyers with trade show products and services across categories including exhibit producers, rental exhibits, modular systems, convention centers, audiovisual equipment, lead retrieval, and shipping/transportation services.
- Certification Power Week Five-day professional development conference for trade show and event marketing professionals featuring more than 30 sessions and workshops, networking options, and add-on experiences. Held at The Westin, adjacent to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
- Portable/Modular Awards Annual industry award program honoring design excellence in portable, modular, and system exhibits. Features categories including Best Conceptual Design, Best Fabric Exhibit, Best In-Line Exhibit, Best Island Exhibit, Best Reconfigurable Exhibit, Best Rental Exhibit, Best Use of Graphics, Best Use of Technology, plus the Zeigler Award (top honor) and People's Choice Award. Open to exhibit designers and producers via paid entry.
- Corporate Event Awards Award program recognizing excellence in corporate event marketing and event management.
- Trade Show Foundations Full-day educational workshop covering the basics of trade show exhibiting, designed for newcomers to the trade show industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- 130.5% increase in leads across eight shows (Philips Home Healthcare Solutions case study)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Exhibitor Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Exhibitor Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Exhibitor Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Exhibitor Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Emerald (Emerald X): Emerald is a B2B media and events company that owns and operates trade shows, conferences, and content platforms across multiple verticals. Like Exhibitor Group, it combines owned events, content, and marketing services aimed at B2B audiences, and has been active in consolidating event media assets (most recently combining with Questex). Directly comparable as a multi-brand B2B event/media operator.
- BizBash: BizBash is a B2B media brand covering the event industry with news, content, and audience engagement tools for event professionals. It serves a similar professional community (event marketers and planners) and combines editorial content with industry resources, paralleling how EXHIBITOR Magazine and ExhibitorOnline.com serve trade show marketing professionals.
- Event Marketer (Informa): Event Marketer is a B2B media brand serving corporate event and experiential marketing professionals, now part of Informa. It overlaps closely with Exhibitor Group's content + community model and addresses adjacent practitioner segments within the event/experiential marketing universe.
- Questex: Questex operates a portfolio of B2B events, media brands, and digital communities serving specialized industries. Its model of vertical-specific events paired with content and marketing services closely mirrors Exhibitor Group's combination of EXHIBITOR*LIVE*, EXHIBITOR Magazine, and FindIt Marketplace. Recently announced a combination with Emerald, illustrating the strategic value of niche B2B event media.
- Trade Show News Network (TSNN): TSNN is an online trade show industry news and data platform covering exhibitions, conventions, and events worldwide. Comparable to Exhibitor Group's ExhibitorOnline.com as an industry-specific B2B information hub, with similar audiences of event marketers, exhibitors, and trade show organizers.
Broad incumbents
- Reed Exhibitions (RELX): Reed Exhibitions is a major global organizer of B2B trade shows and events, part of RELX. As a broad incumbent, it competes for exhibitor marketing budgets and supplier attention across industries, and its scale and digital platforms (including eventtech offerings) make it a benchmark for large-scale trade show operations comparable to Exhibitor Group's flagship EXHIBITOR*LIVE*.
- Informa (Informa Markets / Informa Connect): Informa is one of the world's largest B2B events, media, and information companies, operating hundreds of trade shows (including events previously owned by UBM). It is a broad incumbent in Exhibitor Group's space — overlapping in trade show organization, B2B media, and event marketing content — but at vastly larger scale and breadth. The recent Paul Miller appointment to lead the combined Emerald + Questex highlights Informa's competitive gravity.
Others
- IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): IAEE is the leading trade association for the exhibitions and events industry, providing education, advocacy, and certification programs (including CEM designation). It is comparable to Exhibitor Group because both serve the same professional community with education and standards-based programs, and it represents a parallel credentialing and community-building structure.
- BCD Meetings & Events: BCD Meetings & Events is a global corporate meetings and events management agency, recently publishing its 2026 Global Client Survey referenced in Exhibitor Group's news feed. While not a media or certification operator, it is an industry participant whose strategic priorities and event budget trends directly influence Exhibitor Group's advertiser and audience base.
- PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): PCMA is a professional association for the meetings, conventions, and events industry offering education, certification (CMP), and a flagship annual Convening Leaders event. Comparable to Exhibitor Group as a community + education + certification + flagship conference operator targeting a related but distinct practitioner base (corporate event planners vs. trade show exhibitors).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Exhibitor Group social profiles
Digital presenceExhibitor Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exhibitor Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Exhibitor Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exhibitor Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Exhibitor Group
What does Exhibitor Group do?
Exhibitor Group publishes EXHIBITOR Magazine and operates ExhibitorOnline.com as the central B2B media brand for trade show and corporate event marketing professionals. It monetizes this audience through the annual EXHIBITOR*LIVE* conference, the Certification Power Week professional development event, the eTrak online learning platform, the university-affiliated Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) certification program, the FindIt B2B supplier directory/marketplace, Trade Show Foundations workshops, and recurring industry awards programs (Portable/Modular Awards, Corporate Event Awards, All-Star Awards).
Is Exhibitor Group a public or private company?
Exhibitor Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Exhibitor Group founded?
Exhibitor Group was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Exhibitor Group based?
Exhibitor Group is headquartered in Rochester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Exhibitor Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are award Program Fees, event Registration, CTSM Certification and advertising and Media Kit.
Who are Exhibitor Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Emerald (Emerald X), BizBash, Event Marketer (Informa), Questex and Trade Show News Network (TSNN). Broad incumbents are Reed Exhibitions (RELX) and Informa (Informa Markets / Informa Connect). Others are IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events), BCD Meetings & Events and PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association).
Does Exhibitor Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exhibitor Group.
What industry is Exhibitor Group in?
Exhibitor Group's product category is Trade Show & Event Marketing Media & Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAB, Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHACAF, Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent). Its NAICS code is 56192 and its SIC code is 2741.