What CEIR - Center for Exhibition Industry Research does

CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) is the official research division of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), a U.S.-headquartered nonprofit trade association. Founded in 1975 and integrated as an IAEE division in December 2025, CEIR produces standardized performance benchmarking, forecasting, and intelligence for the U.S. B2B exhibitions industry. It tracks 14 industry sectors using four core metrics—net square feet (NSF) sold, exhibitor count, attendance, and revenue—aggregated via geometric averaging, with historical data spanning 2000-2028. The organization is small (1-10 employees) and operates from Dallas, Texas, with an operational presence in Beijing managed by Kellen Management and Consulting.

The product portfolio centers on the CEIR Index Dashboard (powered by Oxford Economics' Symphony BI platform), the Event Performance Analyzer (a free self-serve benchmarking tool rendering 13 charts), the annual CEIR Predict conference, and approximately seven sector- and topic-specific research reports. The CEIR Index is the only dataset in the U.S. market that purports to cover the full universe of B2B exhibitions by sector. CEIR also commercially supports IAEE's Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) program, delivered through licensees in 12+ countries, producing roughly 220 graduates and 500 recertifications per year.

Revenue is generated through tiered subscriptions to the Index Dashboard ($799 to $10,999 annually), one-time PDF report sales ($599-$799), multi-tier event sponsorships across Expo! Expo!, the Women's Leadership Forum, and CEM ($5,000-$60,000 per slot), CEM Title Partnership and learning program partnerships, and targeted advertising (email, pop-up, video). Distribution leverages IAEE's member portal, the Expo! Expo! annual show (800-1,000 General Session attendees), the IAEE China office, and the global CEM licensee network. The go-to-market is sales-led, primarily through IAEE membership benefits with direct conversion into paid research products.

Name

CEIR - Center for Exhibition Industry Research

Legal name

International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Website

https://ceir.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEIR is the official research division of IAEE, producing benchmarked analytics, forecasting, and sector-level intelligence for U.S. B2B exhibitions across 14 industry sectors, distributed through subscriptions, reports, and the annual Predict conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Research Subscription/Dashboard Access: Tiered subscription model for CEIR Index data access including Contributor Access (free with data submission), Sector+ ($799-$999), Pro ($4,999-$5,999), and Pro+ ($9,999-$10,999). Revenue from annual subscriptions with different access levels.
2. Research Reports: PDF versions of Index reports available for separate purchase: $599 for IAEE Members, $799 for Non-Members.
3. Event Sponsorships: Various sponsorship tiers for CEIR Predict conference, Expo! Expo!, Women's Leadership Forum, Leadership Conference, and other IAEE events ranging from $5,000 to $60,000.
4. CEM Learning Program Partnerships: Title sponsorship and certification program branding opportunities for the Certified in Exhibition Management program, including CEM Title Partner at $40,000.
5. Advertising and Promotional Opportunities: Email registration confirmations ($6,000), specialty pop-up notifications ($2,500 each), show daily videos ($12,500 per day), eShowMails email marketing program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

CEIR provides objective, comprehensive research and data intelligence for the B2B exhibitions and business events industry. Its core offerings include the CEIR Index Dashboard (powered by Oxford Economics' Symphony BI), the Event Performance Analyzer benchmarking tool, the CEIR Predict annual conference, sector-specific research reports, and the PDF Index Report. Products are sold via tiered subscriptions and one-time purchases, primarily to trade show organizers, exhibition industry professionals, and IAEE members.

Product overview

CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) operates as a research division of IAEE, offering a suite of business intelligence products centered on exhibitions and business events industry data. The core offerings include the CEIR Index Dashboard (powered by Oxford Economics Symphony BI) which provides comprehensive analytics, forecasting through 2028, and sector-specific performance data; the Event Performance Analyzer tool for benchmarking individual events against sector indices; the annual CEIR Predict Conference; and various sector-specific research reports. The product portfolio provides objective, comprehensive, and actionable research for exhibitions and business events industry professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEIR Index Dashboard: A platform powered by Oxford Economics' Symphony BI that provides exhibition industry performance data, forecasting through 2028, and sector analysis.
• Event Performance Analyzer
• CEIR Predict

Products and services

• CEIR Index Dashboard
• CEIR Index Report (PDF)

Quantifiable outcome

• Forecasting through 2028 enables informed strategic planning and budgeting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 4imprintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• B&B Retail (bbrown)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• CNTV NowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• eShowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• FreemanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• GES OnPeakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• IMEX AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing marketing and promotional support for IAEE events and programs.
• New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing venue and convention center support for IAEE events and programs.
• New Orleans & CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAEE Strategic Partner providing destination marketing and CVB services for IAEE events.
• Oxford EconomicscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider powering the CEIR Index Dashboard through Symphony BI platform for data visualization, forecasting, and analytics.
• VerintcoreTechnology or IntegrationSurvey technology provider used for CEIR's online survey system to conduct industry research data collection.
• Visit DallasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor bringing the Women's Leadership Forum to Washington, D.C. area.
• Oscar & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides headshot photography services at Women's Leadership Forum events.
• Kellen Management and Consulting Beijing Co. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessionally manages the IAEE China Office in Beijing, supporting CEIR's international research activities and IAEE's presence in the Chinese market.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Freeman is the world's largest brand experience and exhibition services company, serving as both an IAEE Strategic Partner and a key service provider across the exhibitions industry. It is a broad incumbent in the same ecosystem, offering services (logistics, audiovisual, digital tools) that interact with and complement CEIR's research offerings.
• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): PCMA is a major association serving the broader business events and meetings industry, with a research function producing reports on the meetings, conventions, and events sector. It is a broad incumbent serving a wider portfolio (corporate meetings, associations, conventions) that overlaps with CEIR's B2B exhibition focus but at a broader industry level.
• Exhibitor Magazine / Exhibitor Media Group: Exhibitor Magazine is a leading trade publication for the corporate exhibit and trade show marketing industry, producing research and editorial content for exhibition organizers and exhibitors. It is a broad incumbent in exhibition industry media with research-adjacent content targeting overlapping audiences.
• Cvent: Cvent is an enterprise event management platform acquired by Blackstone, providing event registration, venue sourcing, and event intelligence solutions at scale. It is a broad incumbent in event technology with an overlapping customer base of event organizers, though its core is software rather than research.
• Trade Show Executive (TSE) Media Group: Trade Show Executive publishes industry media, the TSE Gold 100 rankings, and produces industry research covering trade show performance metrics. It is a broad incumbent providing both editorial coverage and research products targeting the same B2B exhibition organizer audience with overlapping benchmarking content.

Emerging players

• Bizzabo: Bizzabo is an event experience platform serving enterprise event organizers with registration, analytics, and benchmarking capabilities. It is an emerging player providing technology-enabled intelligence and benchmarking for event organizers—a partial competitor and adjacent offering to CEIR's traditional research products.
• Swapcard: Swapcard is an event and matchmaking platform provider for trade shows and conferences, listed as an IAEE Strategic Partner providing networking technology. It is an emerging player offering event intelligence and attendee engagement data that intersects with CEIR's research scope while competing in adjacent technology categories.

Direct peers

• IMEX Group: IMEX operates the IMEX America and IMEX Frankfurt exhibitions—the leading trade shows for the meetings and events industry itself, plus an industry research/policy function. It is a direct peer because IMEX both competes for the attention of exhibition industry professionals and produces market intelligence relevant to the same audience CEIR serves.
• SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers): SISO is a U.S.-based trade association serving independent exhibition organizers, conducting benchmarking research and producing the annual SISO CEO Survey. It is a direct peer as another association-led research body publishing performance benchmarks and industry intelligence for the same B2B exhibition organizer customer base that CEIR serves.
• UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): UFI is the leading global trade association for the exhibition industry, operating its own research division publishing the Global Exhibition Industry Barometer and industry statistics. It is a direct peer as a global association providing research and data intelligence to exhibition organizers across multiple geographies, with overlapping product categories (industry indices, sector reports, benchmarking).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IAEEHeadquarters
• Facebookfacebook.com/iaeehq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceir---center-for-exhibition-industry-research
• Instagraminstagram.com/iaee_hq

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CEIR - Center for Exhibition Industry Research