While the 2020 edition of Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition will look different this year, that doesn’t mean the first-ever virtual “show for shows” isn’t going to be packed with tons of valuable content, business and engagement opportunities.

Set for Dec. 8-10, the annual trade show and conference will once again offer exhibition and events industry professionals the chance to learn about the latest, top-of-mind industry trends and technology, participate in special events and network with like-minded professionals as the industry looks toward a brighter future after one of its toughest years on record.

In typical years, the bustling in-person event draws in upwards of 2,500 exhibition professionals—60 percent exhibition organizers and 40 percent suppliers—and 275 exhibiting companies to a sold-out trade showfloor. According to show officials, Expo! Expo! virtual is expecting more than 700 attendees and 100 exhibiting companies.

This year, the show’s robust educational program will include 75 immersive educational sessions over five tracks covering a wide range of cutting-edge topics, such as virtual event production, leadership and business, safely reopening exhibitions and events, wellness and personal development, and special courses for executives and young professionals. All sessions will be pre-recorded and followed by live Q&A discussions. 

Full meeting attendees will have immediate on-demand content access following each session, and event professionals can earn up to 10.5 CEs with all the sessions the show is offering, according to IAEE officials.

Additionally, traditional face-to-face activities will be transformed into virtual activations for Summit Club, Chapter Leaders, newcomer orientations and more.

Meanwhile, the event’s virtual trade show will include a diverse exhibitor marketplace and buyer experience with multiple ways to network with other attendees and exhibitors via group chats and messaging functionality. The marketplace’s Buyer Resource Center will house important content spanning more than 60 product and service categories through case studies, product demos and research papers.

Other key event highlights will include:

• Opening general session kicked off by IAEE President and CEO David DuBois
• Day two General Session with author and professional speaker Risha Grant, who will focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Women-focused programming
• 7 industry icon interviews
• Showflloor education 
• Start-up pitch competition
• Tech use case presentations
• 7 BUZZ sessions
• Art of the Show Awards watch party

 During Expo! Expo!, participants can also giveback to the industry by joining IAEE, Maritz Global Events and Destination Toronto in the second annual Terence Donnelly (T-Dawg) Memorial 5K Run/1 M Walk, which will benefit the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. The activity is being held in honor of beloved industry icon Terence Donnelly. To learn more and to join this effort, go here.

“We are excited to debut our first-ever virtual Expo! Expo!,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois. “Our core mission at IAEE is to bring buyers and sellers together and we are doing just that, along with robust content across five tracks, to prepare organizers and supplier partners for 2021 and beyond.”

To learn more and register, go here. An Expo Only pass, which provides access to the News & Views Theatre, Tech Theatre, the Awards Watch Party, two general sessions and the marketplace, is available for free to IAEE members.

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