The International Association of Exhibitions and Events and the International Association of Venue Managers have formed a strategic alliance that will include cross-marketing each other’s educational programs and networking events and other products developed for their memberships.

IAEE has approximately 1,300 member organizations and more than 8,000 individual member representatives, of which more than 50 percent are directly involved in the planning, management and production of exhibitions and buyer-seller events.

"When our staffs met to discuss an alliance, several areas were identified where it makes sense for us to partner with one another,” said IAEE’s COO Cathy Breden.

She added, “IAEE has a philosophy that when two industry organizations can collaborate and it benefits each other's members, every effort should be made to move forward with the collaboration. We are pleased that this has worked out!”

IAVM represents more than 4,000 venue professionals from arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts halls and university complexes, as well as Allied members that support venues with services and products.

"We are very excited to be able to join forces with IAEE's team and interact with their membership of highly capable and passionate event and exhibition professionals,” said IAVM President and CEO Vicki Hawarden.

She added, “Many of IAVM's goals and our basic mission overlap with IAEE's. The opportunity to encourage their members to participate in our educational and networking events will truly expand the quality of networking and substantially increase the depth and breadth of expertise found within both organization's memberships."

The alliance will allow for cross-participation at live programs and access to digital resources from both associations.

Additionally, both organizations will endorse the certifications offered to their memberships: IAVM offers a Certified Facilities Executive designation (CFE) and IAEE offers a Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation.

The two associations also will partner to co-support women in leadership roles in the exhibition, event and venue industries.

This May, IAVM will promote IAEE's Women's Leadership Forumat the Fairmont Hotel May 30 in Washington, D.C., and IAVM members will be able to register at the IAEE member rate for the event.

As part of IAVM's efforts to recognize women in leadership roles, IAVM will present an educational session at their annual VenueConnect conference, which runs July 27-30 in New Orleans, focused on the development of female leaders.

IAVM also will host the Women of Influence reception presented by Venues Today magazine, recognizing top women executives in the venue industry during the conference.