Who We Are The Exhibitions Industry Collective is comprised of six key industry organizations including the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA), International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO).

Our Mission To bring our shared knowledge together to create a visible, meaningful and lasting foothold on careers in the exhibitions ecosystem.

The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), founded in 1954, is an internationally recognized national trade association with more than 300 corporate members from 18 countries that are engaged in the design, manufacture, transport, installation and service of displays and exhibits primarily for the exhibition and event industry.

Its purpose is to provide education, leadership and networking for the advancement of its members and the exhibition industry. In addition to providing regional industry education programs through its six chapters, EDPA organizes one annual meeting, tradeshow and golf tournament in a resort location for industry members and their suppliers. EDPA holds quarterly board meetings, publishes a printed quarterly newsletter, monthly electronic newsletter and membership directory. EDPA also hosts several industry awards, educational surveys and supports the EDPA Foundation.

Organized in 1928 as the National Association of Exposition Managers to represent the interests of trade show and exposition managers, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ is today the leading association for the global exhibition industry. Today IAEE™ represents over 8,500 individuals who conduct and support exhibitions around the world.

In this section, you’ll learn about IAEE™ and the various subsidiaries that make up the organization. You may also join the association online by clicking on To Join IAEE™ where you’ll find detailed info about IAEE’s membership categories.

Representing public assembly venues from around the globe, IAVM’s active members include managers and senior executives from auditorium, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes, and amphitheaters.

Member venues represent huge expenditures of public and private funds. They attract millions of patrons to an astonishing variety of events from football to basketball, baseball to hockey, from rock concerts to conventions, conferences to ballets…the list is almost endless.

IAVM counts more than 500 Allied companies among its members. These companies provide products and services used by managers. Through their IAVM membership, Allied members are able to present their products to this vast market.

In 1990, twelve independent show organizers met to discuss how they could meet with some frequency to discuss industry trends, opportunities and the differences between for profit and not for profit issues that affected the way they could improve their companies’ ability to succeed. It was at this first meeting that The Society of Independent Show Organizers was formed and has been dedicated to meeting the needs of the for-profit show organizer through networking, the exchange of ideas and experiences, and the ability to learn from each other in a non-competitive and candid environment.

SISO members include companies, corporations and other for-profit entities that own, produce or provide full service management of “face to face” trade shows, consumer shows, expositions, conferences and /or similar events as a substantial part of their business. SISO membership is a combination of large corporations and small entrepreneurial enterprises that do business primarily in North America, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. SISO’s more than 150 members produce over 2,700 events, creating an overall $122B impact on the global economy.

SISO’s Mission, is to meet the common needs of our members, by providing peer networking opportunities, education, industry information, streamlined business processes and best practices in the industry.

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance ensures that policymakers understand and support the important role that face-to-face business events have on economies, job creation, and supporting small businesses.

ECA is led by Co-Presidents David Audrain, CEM, CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO®) and David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE).

The Events Industry Council’s more than 30 member organisations represent over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the events industry. The Events Industry Council’s vision is to be the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) programme and signature programme activities. The CMP credential is recognised globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. The four signature programmes – Sustainability and Social Impact, Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), Knowledge and Leadership – represent the key initiatives, assets, services and products for the Events Industry Council.

UFI is the leading global association of the world’s tradeshow organisers and exhibition centre operators, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations, and selected partners of the exhibition industry.

UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry. UFI directly represents around 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally, and also works closely with its 67 national and regional associations members.

809 member organisations in 82 countries and regions around the world are presently signed up as members.

More than 921 UFI approved (International) events proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike. UFI members continue to provide the international business community with a unique marketing media aimed at developing outstanding face-to-face business opportunities.

Welcome to Exhibit City News (ECN), your premier news hub dedicated to the dynamic tradeshow, event, convention, and meeting industry. Embodying the essence of being “true to the trade,” ECN delivers daily news through our dynamic digital platform, visited by over 45,000 industry professionals per month. Additionally, our quarterly high-gloss print magazine, boasting 15,000 dedicated readers, sets the standard for in-depth coverage and insightful features.

Our broad-based readership includes CEOs, CFOs, VPs, managers, meeting planners, suppliers, facility personnel, account executives, show floor workers, and exhibitors—ensuring comprehensive coverage that resonates across all facets of the industry.

Exhibitor Group publishes EXHIBITOR magazine – best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITOR produces EXHIBITORLIVE, the trade show, and corporate event industry’s top-rated educational conference; EXHIBITORFastTrak regional accelerated learning conferences; and EXHIBITOR eTrak live online educational sessions. EXHIBITOR is the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry’s only university-affiliated professional certification program.

The key objective of Exhibitor Group is to be the indispensable source of expert education on trade show and corporate event marketing, through the delivery of high value and demonstrably superior solutions. Our reputation for uncompromising editorial integrity assures readers and customers of solutions they can apply with confidence.

From its monthly flagship magazine to its e-news, website, and semi-annual events, Trade Show Executive (TSE) is the authoritative voice and inspirational muse for senior executives who organize trade shows and events. Develop a tailored package with TSE media and sponsorship opportunities to help your organization build brand awareness and generate leads today.

As the #1 trade show news source, TSNN constantly delivers objective, hard-hitting industry news on every aspect of the trade show and convention industry ~ for over 25 years.