IAEE Awards
Each year, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) recognizes and honors professionals in the exhibitions and events industry for their contributions. Industry professionals can be nominated for any of the awards as long as they meet the criteria outlined by IAEE. These awards represent IAEE’s highest honors and will be presented at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
The IAEE Awards Program is designed to recognize those professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry. This is your chance to recognize an individual who has forged new ground within IAEE and/or the exhibitions and events industry. Nominate someone who has dedicated his/her career to the exhibition and event industry, has attained outstanding achievement and/or has contributed significantly to the profession.
Once nominations have been received, the IAEE Awards Committee and IAEE Board of Directors will make their final selections based on merit.
Congratulations 2024 IAEE Award Winners!
Bob Dallmeyer Educator of the Year Award
Bob Dallmeyer Educator of the Year Award
Cathy Breden Woman of Achievement Award
Chapter Merit Award
Chapter Merit Award
Chapter Merit Award
Chapter Merit Award
Distinguished Service Award
Humanitarian Award
Innovative Business Solution Award
International Excellence Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Outstanding Marketing & Sales Award
Pinnacle Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Young Professional of the Year Award
The 2025 Call for Nominations is open!
Submissions Deadline: 29 August 2025
*NOTE: The International Excellence Award deadline is 28 March 2025 since it is presented at IMEX Frankfurt in May.
Click on the links below to find complete information about that award category and to submit nominations:
General Guidelines
- In order to be eligible for an IAEE award, both the nominator and nominee must be active IAEE members or currently employed by an IAEE member company in good standing.
- Self-nomination is not permitted, except for the Innovative Business Solutions Award and Outstanding Marketing & Sales Award categories.
- The IAEE Board of Directors must approve all award recommendations of the Committee.
- Awards Committee members are not eligible for awards during their active term on the task force.
- Members of the IAEE Board of Directors are not eligible for awards during their active term on the board.
- Awards may be bestowed posthumously in all categories except Emerging Leader of the Year, Innovative Business Solution, International Excellence, and Outstanding Marketing & Sales.
- Nominations submitted without supporting documentation will not be eligible for consideration.
How to Submit a Nomination
- Review all of the awards criteria and eligibility requirements.
- Decide for which award you would like to nominate someone, making sure all criteria for that award is met.
- Log in to the IAEE Member Dashboard and go to Award Management to select Award Submission.
- QUESTIONS? Click here to e-mail Mary Tucker or call +1 (972) 687-9226.
Important Note to Nominators
Candidates are considered based on how well they meet the criteria listed for the award category (this information is listed on each award category’s page) as well as additional contributions that go beyond those criteria. This is your opportunity to show the IAEE Awards Committee and Board of Directors how your nominee has gone above and beyond the call of duty to merit recognition for their outstanding achievement.
HINT: The more specific you are about how your nominee meets and/or exceeds the criteria for the award category you are submitting, the higher their chances of winning!
The nomination consists of providing a PDF file that explains in detail how your candidate meets/exceeds the award criteria. Note that all information must be included in the PDF, no additional attachments will be accepted. Your nomination may include, but is not limited to:
- A detailed description of the candidate’s contributions/achievements or case study presentation.
- Letters of support from fellow IAEE members/colleagues/customers.
- Photos that are embedded into the PDF (please make sure they are large enough to be seen clearly).
- Direct links to videos that support your nomination.
- Any other details that support your nomination, as long as they are included in the PDF.
