Exhibition industry leaders from across Latin America are heading to Mexico at the end of August for two major industry events: Reed Exhibitions Mexico’s ICOMEX, and the AMPROFEC annual congress.

ICOMEX, a part of Reed’s global IBTM business event series, takes place Aug. 24-26 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City. It will be followed by the 18th edition of the Mexican Association of Professionals of Fairs, Expositions and Conventions’ (AMPROFEC) annual congress in San Luis Potosi Aug. 26-29.    

Walking the packed showfloor for the American Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting, held this week at Detroit’s Cobo Center, it was abundantly clear that the busiest booths, by far, were ones that created a really fun, engaging attendee experience.

Some booths went for the straight up business approach with salespeople standing at the ready to talk with customers about the company’s latest offerings, other booths had the traditional promotional items – stuffed animals, pens, water bottles, etc. – and others stepped it up a notch.

International Carwash Association (ICA) and Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) will collocate AOCA’s annual convention and trade show with The Car Wash Show, beginning next year.

The Car Wash Show, the world’s largest car wash convention and trade show, attracted nearly 7,000 car wash and related business professionals this year – a 22 percent increase in attendance, compared with last year.

AOCA’s iFLEX, the international fast lube exhibition, regularly attracts more than 700 attendees.

The Association of Women in Events, a new organization launched in March 2015, recently announced its founding board of directors.

The association received more than 65 applications for membership on the inaugural board, and founders spent several weeks vetting candidates for these important leadership roles.

The Board of Directors is expected to guide the vision of the association throughout the first formative years and shape the community surrounding the organization.

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events Public Events Council will be accepting applications until Sept. 30 for its Top Public Events Recognition Program, which recognizes best practices in the business-to-consumers segment of the exhibitions and events industry.

When the recent United Fresh 2015 annual convention and expo wrapped up at Chicago’s McCormick Place, United Fresh donated 39,019 lbs. of produce and 207 lbs. of assorted dry food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Volunteers helped collect donations from the convention floor, which is filled with fresh produce companies, to benefit those in need serviced by Greater Chicago Food Depository partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchen, and other emergency feeding centers.

The American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) 2015 Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference (MMCC), held June 1—2, at the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, recorded the highest number of participants in its history, With more than 1,000 attendees and more than 60 exhibiting companies.

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Public Events Council recently released the “Public Events Industry Report: 2014 Results” that covered 22 different sectors.

“The Public Events Industry Report, now in its sixth year, demonstrates that public events are performing as or better than expected," said IAEE President & CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA.

A new association for women who are in the events industry, aptly called the Association of Women in Events, recently launched to connect and empower women in the meetings and events industry.

Founded by Carrie Abernathy, Tamela Blalock, Mas Tadesse Harris, Mary Higham and Kiki Janssens, AWE is a national association based in Washington, D.C., and officially launched March 30.