Houston Convention Showcases Industry Innovation
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) brought together more than 1,800 industry professionals to Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2025, held December 8-10 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
"Houston delivered an extraordinary week of learning, celebration and transformation! From start to finish, this year's Expo! Expo! showcased the innovative spirit that defines our industry," said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. "The immersive learning zones on the exhibition floor brought education to life in exciting new ways, and the networking both on and off the show floor was remarkable."
Exhibition Floor Features Five Learning Zones
The event introduced an innovative layout featuring 230+ exhibitors across more than 35,000 net square feet, incorporating five immersive learning zones directly onto the exhibition floor: Captivate, Engage, Elevate: The Ultimate Marketing Playbook; Monetize & Maximize: Sales and Sponsorship Mastery; Event Excellence: Elevating Design, Operations and Engagement; Forward Thinking: Innovations and Insights Shaping the Future; and The Power of AI's Impact on Event Evolution.
New this year, the Sustainability Sanctuary offered a collaboration hub where industry leaders, solution providers and sustainability advocates tackled real-world challenges through informative discussions and idea exchanges.
CEM Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The event marked a significant milestone for IAEE's Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) program. This year's 1,300 graduates join more than 5,100 CEMs worldwide. More than 40 new graduates took the stage, alongside two industry professionals who earned their CEM-AP designation and the newest CEM Fellow.
2025 CEM Commission Chair Kyle F. Jordan, Ed.M., MS, CAE, CEM-AP, CMP Fellow, DES, CMM led an enthusiastic audience engagement chant celebrating the program's 50th anniversary, joined by Carrie Freeman Parsons, Chair of the Board at Freeman Company, the proud sponsor of IAEE's CEM Learning Program.
CEIR Integration Announced
Incoming IAEE Chairperson Brian Pagel announced that in January 2026, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) will fully integrate with IAEE, streamlining services to members and providing resources from both brands in one convenient place. This change is part of a strategic effort to connect members to industry-leading research as CEIR becomes the official research division of IAEE.
Milwaukee Set for 2026 Event
Expo! Expo! 2026 is scheduled for November 16-18 at the newly expanded Baird Center in Milwaukee, featuring state-of-the-art amenities. The announcement was celebrated with the Expo! Expo! 2026 Milwaukee Rustic Roadhouse Rally hosted by VISIT Milwaukee.
Based on reporting by IAEE. Read the original article.