Plan Your Meetings

What are the Associations for Hospitality Professionals?

 Send to a friend

There are over 30 associations for hospitality professionals. Some organizations have monthly educational meetings, annual educational conferences, tradeshows, networking opportunities, leadership roles for hospitality professionals, and other benefits that can help identify the resources needed to advance your career. Use the list below to determine which organizations meet your special needs and find local chapters.

• Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors – International (ASSED-I)
• AMC Institute – Formerly AAMC
• Alliance of Meeting Management Companies
• American Hotel & Lodging Associations (AH&LA)
• American Society of Association Executives and the Center (ASAE & The Center)
• Association for Convention Marketing Executives
• Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM)
• Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME)
• Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)
• Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE)
• Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) – formerly IACVB
• Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA)
• Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
• Financial & Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) – formerly ICPA
• Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA)
• Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
  
• Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
• International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM)
• International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)
• International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) – Formerly IAEM
• International Association of Protocol Consultants (IAPC)
• International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB)
• International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
• International Festivals & Events Association
• International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA)
• International Special Events Society (ISES)
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
• National Association of Catering Executives (NACE)
• National Business Travel Association (NBTA)
• National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP)
• National Speakers Association (NSA)
• Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
• Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA)
• Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP)
• Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE)
• Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA)

— Jackie Thornton, M.S., CMP

Jackie Thornton, M.S., CMP, is President of Global Marketing and PR Inc., which offers event planning, marketing and public relations services. She also has taught event planning certificate courses.