Mark your calendars and clear your schedule for Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2025 this 8-10 December in Houston, Texas. Trust us when we tell you this isn’t just another industry conference… this is ONE EPIC EVENT that’s about to raise everything you know about professional development, networking and industry innovation to new heights!
EPIC Host City
The George R. Brown Convention Center sits at the heart of a walkable convention district where your hotel is just steps away, world-class dining is around every corner and the entertainment options are endless. Whether you’re a foodie, a culture enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates not breaking the bank while experiencing premium amenities, Houston delivers. Plus, getting around is a breeze thanks to the city’s robust transportation infrastructure. It’s basically the perfect playground for professionals who work hard and network harder.
EPIC Learning Experiences
Expo! Expo! is the place to be for discovering strategies and solutions that will completely redefine how you create, scale, and experience events. Curated discussions and roundtables bring you face-to-face with industry trailblazers who will share actionable advice and real-world success stories you can actually use.
If you are currently enrolled in the CEM Learning Program, you won’t want to miss the full day of CEM courses on Monday, 8 December. It’s the perfect way to finish the year strong, take an EPIC leap toward completing the program and set yourself up for a great 2026.
Five distinct learning zones will infuse hands-on education straight into the action on the exhibition floor – more about that later – but first, let’s talk about the learning sessions because this is where you get to really dig into what’s keeping you up at night. Five content tracks will address every aspect of taking your events to EPIC heights:
Captivate, Engage, Elevate: The Ultimate Marketing Playbook
Ready to make your marketing actually work? Dive into everything from digital strategies and content creation to brand management and attendee acquisition, all designed to help you cut through the noise and drive real business growth.
Monetize & Maximize: Sales and Sponsorship Mastery
We all know that exhibitor and sponsorship dollars don’t just fall from the sky, but what are the best ways to get those numbers up, especially amidst rapid-fire changes in the business environment? Discover practical tactics for identifying new revenue opportunities, mastering the art of the sell and keeping your sponsors so happy they’ll be begging to come back next year.
Event Excellence: Elevating Design, Operations and Engagement
From contracting headaches to sustainability wins, this track covers the nuts and bolts that make events actually work. Walk away with actionable takeaways and creative ideas for planning and executing exhibitions that don’t just run smoothly, but wow attendees and redefine the look and feel of your face-to-face meetings.
Forward Thinking: Innovations and Insights Shaping the Future
The future of events is happening now, and you need to be ready for it. Explore workforce development trends, data-driven insights and cutting-edge research that’ll help you stay ahead of the curve and keep delivering knockout value to your stakeholders.
The Power of AI’s Impact on Event Evolution
AI isn’t just buzzword bingo anymore; it’s a game-changer for event operations. Get hands-on tips from fellow show organizers who are using AI to streamline logistics, boost productivity, cut costs and create attendee experiences that feel like magic (but are really just smart technology).
EPIC Exhibition Floor
Things get really exciting on the exhibition floor as Expo! Expo! 2025 is flipping the script on the typical floor scheme. We’re bringing education directly to where the action happens with five immersive Learning Zones hosting more than 50 activations on the show floor. That’s right: no more choosing between catching a session or connecting with exhibitors. Now you can do both, seamlessly.
And get this: approximately 250 exhibitors will have extended face-to-face time with attendees, which means more opportunities for you to discover game-changing solutions, forge powerful partnerships and maybe even find your next favorite industry vendor.
But wait, there’s more! The General Session is adjacent to the show floor. When it wraps up, the airwalls will dramatically open onto the exhibition floor like the curtain rising on an EPIC performance. Talk about making an entrance! This same versatile space transforms throughout the event for breakout sessions, maximizing every square foot for your benefit.
And here’s something truly special: the IAEE Sustainability Sanctuary. This isn’t just a “let’s talk about being green” pavilion. It’s a multi-zone collaboration hub where industry leaders, solution providers and sustainability advocates roll up their sleeves and tackle real-world challenges together. The goal? Crafting innovative solutions that will actually shape our industry’s future. Come be part of the movement!
EPIC Networking Opportunities
Let’s be real: the connections you make can be just as valuable as the sessions you attend. That’s why we’ve packed three days with networking opportunities that actually matter.
Kick things off Monday evening with IAEE Chapter Receptions at the Marriott Marquis, then head to the Opening Reception and IAEE/TSNN Awards Celebration at Avenida Plaza right in front of the convention center.
Tuesday morning’s General Session is packed with EPIC moments, one being the 2025 CEM Presentation where we will commemorate the program’s 50th anniversary with a special surprise. That’s five decades of excellence and 5,000+ industry professionals worth celebrating!
You’ll also hear from IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM and 2025 IAEE Chairperson Chuck Grouzard as they take you through an inspiring year in review. Plus, we’ll officially welcome incoming Chair Brian Pagel to the stage.
Keynote speaker Kyle Scheele will present THINKING INSIDE THE BOX: How Tough Times Fuel True Creativity and Innovation, where he will explore how embracing constraints can spark creativity.
Extended exhibition floor hours on Tuesday means there’s plenty of time for those organic, “Hey, weren’t you at…?” conversations that turn into lasting professional relationships. And when evening rolls around, choose from multiple community parties tailored to different industry segments.
The grand finale is the Expo! Expo! 2026 Milwaukee Party on Wednesday evening that will give you the opportunity to bond with colleagues through lessons learned, ideas for the coming year and, oh yeah, FUN! Plus, get a sneak peek of why you should go ahead and save the date to do it all over again next year in Milwaukee.
EPIC Launching Pad for 2026
Whether you’re dreaming up your next big event or looking for fresh strategies to take your current shows to the next level, Expo! Expo! 2025 is where you need to be. End the year with the knowledge and connections that will transform your events in the year ahead.
Register by 17 October to lock in the BE SMART Rate (why pay more when you can pay less?) and secure your spot at the industry’s ONE EPIC EVENT of the year before prices go up! You can also take advantage of fantastic savings for First Timer and Sophomore Attendees, Hosted Buyers and Group Deals.
