IAEE is committed to four areas of social responsibility: Environmental Sustainability; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Community Relations; and Personal Responsibility.
Read more about how we are embracing initiatives with our show partners to be good stewards of the environment, community and exhibitions and events ecosystem.
Accessibility
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) will select accessible venues for its meetings and events to ensure they are barrier-free and will work with all partners to create barrier-free meeting rooms.
Environmental Sustainability
As an industry, we have an opportunity to improve our efficiency, reputation, legacy and environmental impact through sustainable practices. IAEE proudly partners with the Events Industry Council to raise awareness and promote more sustainable exhibitions and reduce the carbon footprint of our industry.
In collaboration with the Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact, an initiative of the Events Industry Council, IAEE is following the guiding principles for sustainable exhibitions:
- Minimize carbon emissions with a sustainable freight, shipping and transportation strategy.
- Focus on materials resource management.
- Select suppliers and partners with sustainable practices, policies and infrastructure.
- Develop policies for your exhibitors and vendors.
- Ensure that your exhibition is accessible.
- Adopt a sustainable food & beverage policy.
- Measure, report and share your story.
What are Expo! Expo! Partners Doing?
Omni Dallas Hotel is U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold Certified. A 25,000-gallon cistern captures rain water to irrigate plantings, including the hotel’s rain garden. Systems also are in place to control lighting and temperature in guest rooms by using the room key. In addition, the on-site Texas Spice is certified as a 2-Star Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association.
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) is committed to supporting and encouraging sustainable practices. Our dedication to resource conservation, sustainability, source reduction, and waste diversion is standard operating procedure. We pride ourselves in working with clients to host environmentally-friendly meetings and offering “green” practices, when possible.
- Water: Our maintenance and housekeeping staffs are trained to detect and report leaks for immediate repairs to conserve water.
- Green Purchases: We purchase and use environmentally friendly cleaning products, which in turn contribute to cleaner effluent.
- Electricity: High-speed dock doors mean efficient temperature control inside exhibit halls. High efficiency motors were installed throughout the HVAC system replacing old high energy consuming motors.
- Recycling: We offer free recycling collection which helps to offset show and exhibitor costs for garbage collection. Paper, cardboard and metals are collected and recycled on a consistent basis. More than 7.6 tons of unconsumed food has been donated to local non-profits, serving those in need. All used cooking oil is collected for conversion to bio-diesel. Our catering partner uses compostable utensils for all disposable applications.
GES, the official service contractor, aim is to LEAVE A SMALL FOOTPRINT WHILE MAKING A BIG IMPACT. Partnering with GES means that all events are run with sustainability measures top of mind, minimizing the impact on the environment. GES is working diligently with IAEE and industry partners worldwide to put an end to unnecessary waste and to create a legacy of sustainability for the entire events industry.
Education is the key to understanding how to be fully sustainable and it is the mission of GES to educate clients like IAEE on what actions they can take for a sustainable event. GES not only aims to reduce the number of resources used for each event like Expo! Expo!, but try to reuse or repurpose as often as possible. The aim is to support local communities’ environmental efforts by repurposing items to continue their life cycle.
Sustainability is more than just being responsible; it’s the right thing to do. IAEE in partnership with GES, gives all the peace of mind knowing that we are reducing waste and the impact of an event on the environment.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) values diversity and inclusiveness. IAEE provides opportunities to all persons who wish to participate in the activities of the association without regard, including but not limited to age, color, disability, family responsibility, gender, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion or sexual orientation.
IAEE’s Board of Directors recognizes their responsibility to provide resources and support to achieve this goal. The association seeks individuals and groups that are under-represented within the membership and leadership of the organization. IAEE encourages its members and the exhibitions and events industry to maintain these objectives in the conduct of their own business by creating an environment that allows all people the opportunity to reach their full potential in the pursuit of corporate objectives.
Further, the IAEE Board of Directors supports IAEE events being held in destinations that value diversity and inclusion and may choose whether to hold events in destinations where any state or local government arm, including a legislature, board or agency in the jurisdiction of the destination, having enacted legislation or regulation that has the effect of:
- Repealing existing legal protections or prohibiting the passage of legal protections for subject individuals
- Allowing discrimination against subject individuals in employment, housing, or public accommodations or services; or
- Prohibiting subject individuals from accessing facilities (including, but not limited to, restrooms), where subject individuals are those identified in the legislation or regulation based on the aforementioned individuals.
At Visit Dallas, our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion extends to our visitors, citizens, employees, customers, communities, and marketplaces that we serve. We act as a catalyst for change within our organization and industry. Our commitment to leveraging diversity and inclusion to drive business growth is important and necessary for the future of this organization. We market Dallas as the ideal convention and leisure destination for all.
Community Relations
Each year, IAEE, Expo! Expo!, and our event stakeholders take part in efforts to deliver high impact initiatives in the communities where we host our event.
- Humanity Rocks
Founded in 2009, IAEE and GES collaborated to produce this annual charity event to build, maintain and strengthen the relationships by raising funds for a local non-profit organization. This event continues to celebrate the finest achievements of the exhibitions and events industry while giving back to the host city’s local community. It is a time for exhibition and event professionals to come together, enjoy music, networking and give back. This year Humanity Rocks is brought to you by GES / OnPeak and supported by Smartsource and will be giving back to The Stewpot Dallas.
- Terence Donnelly Memorial Health & Wellness Event
The first event organized as a 5K run/1-mile walk, was held in 2019 as a memorial for Terrence Donnelly who passed away earlier in the year. Donnelly was a long-time member of IAEE and worked for Experient for many years. The event supports the CEIR Foundation, an organization that Terence was passionate about, and is sponsored by Maritz.
- PRIDE After Party
The IAEE PRIDE After Party honors the LGBTQIA+ community by celebrating pride in the IAEE membership who are as valuable, creative members of a diverse population in the exhibitions and events industry. The IAEE PRIDE After Party is sponsored by GES and onPeak.
- CEIR Silent Auction
Each year, CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) holds a silent auction to raise funds for important research on the business-to-business exhibitions industry. Please consider participating as this organization is critical in providing industry-leading, objective research on the exhibitions and events industry.
- Good Neighbor Program
This year IAEE will be working with the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to donate items from the trade show floor, including items donated by exhibitors. IAEE will also work with Sodexo to donate any excess food to local organizations.
Personal Responsibility
Health and Safety
IAEE is working closely with the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Visit Dallas, GES, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), and other show partners on health and safety measures. The health and safety of our attendees and all event stakeholders to Expo! Expo! IAEE’S Annual Meeting & Exhibition is of utmost importance, and we are committed to safely accommodating all attendees.
GBAC Trained Technician and Awareness Programs
IAEE has teamed with GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, to help exhibitions and events professionals safely and effectively return to the face-to-face business environment amid the challenges presented by COVID-19, as well as other infectious diseases, through a training course designed to prepare for, respond to and recover from biohazards in the workplace. The
The GBAC Fundamentals Online Course teaches participants how to prepare for, respond to and recover from biohazards in the workplace. The principles behind infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease outbreak situations such as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Individuals who successfully complete the course within 30 days will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, and can use the term “GBAC-Trained Technician” to distinguish themselves in their marketing and communication materials. A number of the IAEE staff members are GBAC Trained Technicians.
GBAC in partnership with IAEE offers the Infection Disease Awareness Course from GBAC Academy, designed to increase participants’ knowledge of infectious disease basics, including how they spread and how people become sick. The course will supplement the Security, Risk, and Crisis Management module within the CEM Learning Program curriculum.
Responsible Drinking Culture
IAEE encourages members to make positive personal decisions around alcohol. If an attendee appears to be intoxicated, we ask that assistance in facilitating a safe environment can be fostered by contacting an IAEE staff person. For those local attendees, we can assist in facilitating transportation with a ride share company. IAEE provides non-alcoholic options during all receptions with access to water options. It is important to Pause and Hydrate.
Ethical Business Practices
IAEE has a strict policy on suit casing during the Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Any activity designed to solicit or sell products or services to delegates attending a meeting, conference or event without the proper authorization by the event sponsor or in ways that violate the rules of the event or exhibition. Any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles or other public spaces, in another company’s booth, or in violation of any portion of this policy, is subject to removal and additional penalties.
