EACA News
Register for the EACA Leadership Conference @ ExhibitorLive. The EACA invitation only Leadership Conference takes place on Sunday, March 29 in conjunction with ExhibitorLive at the Tampa Convention Center. The Leadership Conference has an outstanding Program for senior level members on Sunday March 29- the day before the ExhibitorLive Exhibition – in Tampa, FL.
The Leadership Conference will bring together members and tradeshow industry professionals for a dynamic exchange of ideas, insights and best practices at a time when operating conditions, customer expectations and show environments are evolving faster than ever. But this won’t be just a sit-and-listen experience. You’ll have the opportunity to put ideas into action through interactive roundtable discussions on topics that matter most to you. These small-group conversations are designed to encourage open dialogue, fresh thinking, and practical takeaways you can immediately apply. Registration is Now Open.
If your company is considering several people attending you may want to consider a Conference Sponsorship.
EACA Thanks our Current Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
There.App
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
EACA Intrepid Award Presentation. Voting has been finalized for the 2026 EACA Intrepid Award. More than 65 votes have been cast for this year’s Intrepid Award which will be announced at the EACA Leadership Conference on March 29 at the Tampa Convention Center in conjunction with ExhibitorLive. Please be sure to be in attendance at the Leadership Conference to celebrate the 2026 Intrepid Award winner.
Here are the 2026 Intrepid Award Nominees.
EACA to Exhibit at ExhibitorLive. The EACA will be exhibiting and sponsoring Exhibitor Live in Tampa this March. We will be located in Booth #122 in the Industry Association’s Pavillion. In addition the EACA Board will meet on March 29, the day before the Expo Hall opens. Please feel free to forward any issue of concern or opportunity that you’d like the Board to review and discuss at that meeting.
We encourage all our members to attend ExhibitorLive in Tampa and we look forward to seeing you there.
EAC Registration Schedule EACA is supporting the following events with our EAC registration services:
BIO Jun. 22-25 San Diego
Summer Fancy Foods Jun. 28-30 New York
EACA Member News
EACA Welcomes CVS Studios The EACA would like to welcome our newest member CVS Studios. CVS, located in Oakville, Ontario has been designing and building experiences that inspire for over two decades. Providing design build services for trade shows and interiors, CVS also have U.S. offices in Las Vegas and Orlando. In addition, CVS recently announced the expansion of its services to include a dedicated Installation & Dismantle division supporting projects across Canada.
On Location Welcomes Thompson <Exhibit City News>On Location, a nationwide provider of labor and management services for exhibits, events, activations, and branded environments, is proud to announce the appointment of John Thompson to the newly established role of Sales & Growth – Branded Environments.
Exhibit City News Offers Exclusive EACA Member Discount. Exhibit City News (ECN) has introduced an exclusive directory listing discount for members of the Exhibition and Convention Alliance of Canada (EACA). The offer applies to new listings and annual renewals for EACA members in good standing. EACA members receive preferred pricing on two tiers in the ECN Service Directory. The Standard Listing is $1,000 per year, a savings of $275 off the standard rate. The Premium Listing is $2,000 per year, a savings of $300.
“This exclusive offer will help drive more options for consumers of professional labor services, be they exhibit and event producers, or end user exhibitors,” says ECN publisher Don Svehla.
To access the discount, EACA members can use code EACA10 during registration. The code will automatically apply within the ECN system. For details on listing options, visit the ECN Service Directory on Exhibit City News.
Industry News
8 Top Trends for Exhibitions in 2026 <TSNN> TSNN has analyzed economic conditions that can impact the event and exhibition industry and has published the following trends:
1. Positive outlook in U.S. In 2025, 92% of respondents indicated a year-on-year country increase and only 8% reported a decline. For 2026, the forecast is in line with last year, with 92% of respondents are predicting an increase and 8% are predicting a reduction.
2. Sponsorship revenue grew the most in 2025. Compared with 2024, 75% of respondents reported an increase of more than 5% in selling sponsorships in 2025. By comparison, 33% of respondents reported an increase of more than 5% for renting space when comparing 2025 to 2024.
3. Operating profits expected to rise or remain stable in the U.S. Compared to the previous year, 31% of respondents reported an increase in operating profits of more than 10% in 2025 while 8% are predicting the same increase in 2026. No companies are indicating a decline in operating profits of more than 10%.
4. No staff reductions ahead in U.S. Workforce plans are one of the clearest indicators of how confident companies feel. Overall, 38% of U.S. respondents will add staff in the next six months of 2026 while 62% indicated they will keep current staff numbers stable. No respondents report they will be reducing staff in the next six months. Bottom line: U.S. organizers are budgeting and hiring as if 2026 will be a year of continued opportunity, not a step backwards—even as they remain wary of macroeconomic risks. Read more.
IAEE Acquires Exhibitor Group On February 12 IAEE announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Exhibitor Group, publisher of the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine and producer of EXHIBITOR LIVE, the industry’s premier exhibition for trade show and corporate event professionals. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to building a more comprehensive and inclusive exhibitions and events industry,” said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, President and CEO of IAEE.
The acquisition is expected to be finalized by 30 April 2026. Following the completion of the acquisition, IAEE will work closely with the Exhibitor team to ensure a seamless integration of operations and maximum impact for all stakeholders.
Exhibitor Advocate Welcomes IAEE Acquisition. In a related story, the Exhibitor Advocate, the leading non-profit association dedicated to the success of trade show exhibitors, welcomes the announcement of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) acquisition of Exhibitor Group. This strategic move signals a continued momentum in recognizing exhibitors as critical stakeholders within the exhibitions and events industry. For years, The Exhibitor Advocate has promoted a unified industry in which exhibitors are integral partners, not merely revenue sources. IAEE’s acquisition of Exhibitor Group is an important move toward bridging the historical gap between show organizers and the companies that invest in them. By bringing Exhibitor Group—and, by extension, the exhibitor voice—into the IAEE fold, there is renewed expectation that the needs, challenges, and contributions of exhibitors, as prioritized by The Exhibitor Advocate, will now be recognized across the industry.
Central to this transition is the preservation of the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program. As one of the premier certification programs for exhibitors, CTSM is vital to professional development and industry excellence. Many members of The Exhibitor Advocate hold the CTSM certification and participate in the program. We look forward to IAEE building upon and strengthening the program. The investment in the CTSM program ensures that exhibitors continue to have access to high-quality education and certification, as well as best practices in the industry as they are identified.
Jessica Sibila, Executive Director of The Exhibitor Advocate, said, “We look forward to working with IAEE to bring the voice of the exhibitor to an association that values an inclusive exhibitions and events industry.”
Gary Shapiro Steps Down as CES CEO. <Variety> Gary Shapiro is exiting as CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the owner and producer of the annual CES confab in Las Vegas, after more than 35 years at the helm. Shapiro, 69, will step down as CEO of the CTA May 1, 2026, at which time president Kinsey Fabrizio will take over the chief executive role. Shapiro will continue to serve as the trade group’s executive chair, a position he has held since Jan. 1.