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Associations/Press, Awards
IAEE Expands Global Exhibition Ecosystem Through EXHIBITOR Design Awards
7/9/2026
DALLAS – Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced its newest member offering: the EXHIBITOR Design Awards, a program that recognizes the exhibitors who set the standard for creativity, storytelling, innovation and design on the show floor.
As the global voice of the exhibitions and events ecosystem, IAEE represents professionals who plan, produce and support exhibitions around the world. With the recent acquisition of Exhibitor Group, IAEE is expanding the prominence of that ecosystem, bringing Exhibitor Group’s 40 years of independent exhibit evaluation and industry authority directly to IAEE member events.
“For 40 years, EXHIBITOR magazine has identified, documented and celebrated the trade show exhibits that raise the bar for our industry,” said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. “The EXHIBITOR Design Awards offer organizers a meaningful, independent way to recognize their exhibitors and giving exhibitors the kind of credible, industry-trusted recognition they aspire to earn. This is exactly the kind of ecosystem-building we committed to with the Exhibitor Group acquisition.”
For its 2026 event, CONEXPO-CON/AGG partnered with EXHIBITOR to produce its Best of Show Awards program. “The program drove excitement on the show floor and pride among exhibitors, with overwhelmingly positive feedback on the recognition they received,” added Nicole Hallada, Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Marketing for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
The EXHIBITOR Design Awards celebrate exhibit excellence through independent judging, transparent scoring and formal evaluation criteria developed by editorial experts with decades of industry credibility.
Every exhibit at a participating event is automatically considered. There are no submissions, no entry fees and no applications for exhibitors to complete.
EXHIBITOR manages virtually every aspect of the program on behalf of participating events, including:
IAEE members interested in bringing the EXHIBITOR Design Awards to their exhibition floor are encouraged to contact EXHIBITOR to learn how the program can be integrated into their upcoming event by contacting EXHIBITOR Editor Emily Olson at [email protected].
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Brown & Brown, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Snöball and Swapcard. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
Contact:
[email protected]
DALLAS – Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced its newest member offering: the EXHIBITOR Design Awards, a program that recognizes the exhibitors who set the standard for creativity, storytelling, innovation and design on the show floor.
As the global voice of the exhibitions and events ecosystem, IAEE represents professionals who plan, produce and support exhibitions around the world. With the recent acquisition of Exhibitor Group, IAEE is expanding the prominence of that ecosystem, bringing Exhibitor Group’s 40 years of independent exhibit evaluation and industry authority directly to IAEE member events.
“For 40 years, EXHIBITOR magazine has identified, documented and celebrated the trade show exhibits that raise the bar for our industry,” said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. “The EXHIBITOR Design Awards offer organizers a meaningful, independent way to recognize their exhibitors and giving exhibitors the kind of credible, industry-trusted recognition they aspire to earn. This is exactly the kind of ecosystem-building we committed to with the Exhibitor Group acquisition.”
For its 2026 event, CONEXPO-CON/AGG partnered with EXHIBITOR to produce its Best of Show Awards program. “The program drove excitement on the show floor and pride among exhibitors, with overwhelmingly positive feedback on the recognition they received,” added Nicole Hallada, Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Marketing for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
The EXHIBITOR Design Awards celebrate exhibit excellence through independent judging, transparent scoring and formal evaluation criteria developed by editorial experts with decades of industry credibility.
Every exhibit at a participating event is automatically considered. There are no submissions, no entry fees and no applications for exhibitors to complete.
EXHIBITOR manages virtually every aspect of the program on behalf of participating events, including:
- Award category and program development
- Independent judge recruitment and management
- Promotional copy and communications assets
- Finalist selection and notification
- Custom plaques, trophies, and award branding
- Onsite judging and coordination
- Finalist photography and winner video production
- A professionally produced awards presentation
- Winner recognition and editorial coverage
IAEE members interested in bringing the EXHIBITOR Design Awards to their exhibition floor are encouraged to contact EXHIBITOR to learn how the program can be integrated into their upcoming event by contacting EXHIBITOR Editor Emily Olson at [email protected].
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Brown & Brown, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Snöball and Swapcard. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
Contact:
[email protected]
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