Mariana Gonzalez - Event Industry Association Meeting

This past Monday I attended the IAEE DC Chapter Spring Reception. IAEE is the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. IAEE was founded in 1928 and now represents over 9,500 individuals in over 50 countries all over the world. The reception was held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which is an incredible venue I had never had the opportunity to be at. The IAEE reception was held in conjunction with the Women’s Leadership Forum.

Two of the ladies I met work for National Trade Productions. When I asked them about what they specifically do in their jobs they mentioned that they are in charge of researching, selecting, and finalizing the range of vendors who will be at an exhibition or trade show. They said that a lot of people think it is easy to find vendors to exhibit, but the reality is that in their position they really need to understand what each vendor will bring to the trade show, why the vendor would like to exhibit and why attendees would be interested in seeing and meeting with this vendor. I told them that I had just submitted my Event Experience Project on Capital Bridal Affair and Fashion Show and that one of my questions while conducting research was how exhibitions and shows select their participating vendors. Both of them were very interested in the project itself and what my overall results had been.

I also had the opportunity of meeting and talking to the manager of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is a DMO for the city.  We talked about my current and previous internships in private event planning and she offered some advice and insight on the other side of event planning, association meetings and trade shows. I look forward to talking to her again and get her advice and recommendations on my career path in the long term.

Out of all the association and meeting industry events I have been to this year I believe that this has been one of the most successful and satisfactory. Although I am not a member of the D.C. chapter, everyone I met and talked to was incredibly supportive and willing to offer academic and career advice. IAEE also offers career services so I will most definitely look into becoming a member of their community.