08/29/2025

What to Know about Exhibitor Management in Today's Association Landscape

Attitudes, behaviors and expectations keep keep changing

The association event landscape is changing. Economic pressures mean exhibitors are more selective about where they spend time and budgets. With tighter marketing spend, government funding uncertainty and fluctuating attendance, many are pulling back or questioning the ROI of in-person events.

This challenges associations, as exhibitor revenue impacts programming and attendee experience. Now more than ever, strong exhibitor management is essential. Let’s explore how associations can strengthen exhibitor relationships, offer more flexible and results-driven options and ensure exhibiting at your event is seen as a valuable, worthwhile investment, even in uncertain times.

Understanding the Current Exhibitor Landscape

To effectively manage exhibitor relationships, associations need to understand the key pressures shaping today’s exhibitor landscape. The past few years have introduced volatility that continues to ripple through the association events industry. Here are some reasons why once eager exhibitors are now more cautious about committing to in-person events.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.