Association Show News

Houston to host Expo! Expo! IAEE’s annual meeting & exhibition 2013

DALLAS — After a rigorous selection process, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events announcex Houston, Texas as the host city for Expo! Expo!

IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition to be held Dec. 10-12, 2013.The annual meeting will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center with the headquarter hotel being the Hilton of the Americas, which is adjacent to the convention center by skywalk.

IAEE's Annual Meeting is the single, face-to-face meeting that offers a wealth of education sessions and networking opportunities designed specifically for exhibitions and events industry professionals.

"We are very pleased that we will be holding our annual event in Houston for the first time since 1988," says IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE. "Because so many of our members attend Expo! Expo! partly to visit potential sites for their own events, we are excited to showcase all that Houston now offers. With its unique amenities such as a world-class exhibition facility that embraces environmental sustainability, new trendy shopping pavilions, restaurants and a wide variety of entertainment venues near the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston now offers an outstanding overall experience for attendees. Its two close airports, Hobby and George Bush International, offer convenient and frequent air connections across the world."

IAEE's selection process invites interested visitor/convention bureaus to submit proposals, which are then awarded points based on the following criteria: general appeal of venue, management of the sales process, center and housing package, access to air transportation, and level of support toward IAEE's commitment to its constituents. After extensive review by IAEE staff, the recommendations are presented to the IAEE board of directors for final approval.

"We are so pleased to be hosting IAEE's Expo! Expo! in 2013," said Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Houston is an ideal city for events and exhibitions, and I'm excited to show off our city to the delegates and the exhibitors, especially if they haven't visited lately. Our convention package has changed so much in the past decade — an expanded convention center, a 1,200-room convention hotel, new restaurant and nightlife options — and development continues between now and 2013, including 30 additional miles of light rail. I know attendees will like what they see."

Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition gives exhibitions and events industry professionals the opportunity to come face-to-face with decision makers in a unique environment where industry leaders meet with their peers to learn how to increase the profit potential of their organizations' exhibitions and events, to produce more successful events, and to enhance their professional development and business partnerships.

This year's Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition will be held 8-10 December at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. Visit www.iaee.com/expo for more information.

Since 1928, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events(tm) (IAEE) continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE. Through the 2006 consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEE delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEE also supports IAEE Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that partners with industry suppliers and service providers to offer exhibition products and services to the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: ASP, Inc., Mexico Tourism Board, Orange County Convention Center and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.