COVID-19 Realities are Driver for Decision

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events^® (IAEE) today announces that due to the enhanced negative realities of COVID-19 around the world, the in-person portion of this year’s Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition slated for 8-10 December in Louisville, KY will not take place. IAEE will refocus its efforts on the virtual Expo! Expo! with many of the same show elements presented in an engaging virtual format.

“I’m proud of the IAEE staff’s work toward planning for the IAEE Expo! Expo! scheduled in Louisville, Kentucky, next month,” said IAEE Chairperson of the Board, Bob McLean CPA, CAE, CEM. “Our board, staff and members were excited to take part in this annual, in-person event. However, in light of current health and safety concerns, the board has unanimously decided to transition this face-to-face event to a wholly virtual experience. With this decision, the board and staff have recommitted our efforts to deliver the same high-quality event you have come to expect from IAEE.”

The virtual Expo! Expo! will feature a robust buyer experience with multiple ways to network with other attendees and exhibitors through chats and messaging functionality; a Buyer Resource Center housing important content spanning 60+ product/service categories through case studies, product demos, and research papers; and an exhibitor marketplace to conduct business for 2021 and beyond.

Relevant and timely content for planning future events will be presented through five education tracks on Virtual Event Production; Wellness & Personal Development; Young Professionals; an Executive Experience; and Safely Reopening Exhibitions & Events. Sixty-five sessions will be pre-recorded followed by live Q&A discussions, including the IAEE Asia Forum. Additionally, specialty content including seven BUZZ sessions, and a general session with Risha Grant who focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, will be featured over three days along with elements from the in-person show including a Tech Theatre presenting tech use cases and new product pitches and industry icon interviews through News and Views theatre.

Key face-to-face activities will be transformed into virtual activations for Summit Club, Chapter Leaders, new comer orientations and more.

“While our core mission is to bring buyers and sellers together face-to-face, we are utilizing the Swapcard platform to deliver valuable content to plan future events while also providing an engaging marketplace to meet and make plans for 2021 and beyond,” added IAEE President and CEO, David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA.

Registration is open for the virtual event at $299 USD for IAEE members and $499 USD for non-members.