Research Resources
Databases
Dissertations
Electronic Books
Journal Locator
Other Catalogs
Research Guides
Search Engines
Subject Sites

Library Catalog
Building the Collection
Forms
Site Map

CONFRERENCES, CONVENTIONS, EVENTS & TRADE SHOWS:  DIRECTORIES


This guide links to sites for the following industry sectors: Conferences, conventions, events, exhibitions, fairs, festivals, meetings, seminars, trade shows.  Some of these sites serve primarily as locators/directories for many types of academic, business, cultural, industry, religious, and social events/gatherings. Other sites are directories which are primarily concerned with the product & services of companies which comprise the conference/convention/event/trade show industry. For information regarding other aspects of the industry, please refer to the JWU Library’s webguide Conferences, Conventions, Events & Trade Shows: General Resources.


All Special Events

• This site links to a wide variety of what is considers “special events,” which are primarily concerned with festivals, cultural events and sports events
• Also links to other useful sites which complement the actual event listings; these include chambers of commerce, an index to events by state, official city guides
• Also links to commercial sites for a variety of consumer products, many which are for entertainment, leisure and recreation
• Searchable
• Excellent; does an admirable job for the sector of events which it encompasses


AllConferences.Com

• “A directory focusing on conferences, conventions, trade shows, exhibits, workshops, events and business meetings”
• Provides access to extensive conference-related sites for the following categories: arts/sciences, business, computers/Internet education, government, health, news/media, recreation, “reference,” science/technology, social sciences, society; these categories are browseable for over 100 sub-categories
• Each conference entry includes the following: address, date, conference type, sponsoring organization, URL/e-mail address, conference description (also may include proposal/draft submission information when available)
• “Advanced Search” includes capability to search by conference title, city, country, date, category/keyword
• Includes “Submit a Conference” information (free service)
• Includes information about AllConferences.com’s conference planning services
• Includes some commercial content
• Outstanding; this is one of the most comprehensive sites of its kind; highly recommended


Conventions/Meetings/Events

• Sub-category of the eHotelier meta-site
• Links to over 750 sites for the following resources: event/meeting planning/management companies, convention services, convention/visitors bureaus (international/domestic), trade show/exhibition/conference facilities, international event/conference planners, publications/magazines, speakers’ bureaus
• Strictly commercial; links only to sites (not annotated)
• Excellent; great resource for business in the conventions/events/meeting industry


Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)

• Formerly known as the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (IACVB)
• “The world’s largest association of convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), serving more than 1,300 members in over 600 destination marketing organizations in 30+ countries”
• “Resource Center” provides DMAI-produced guides/papers for a variety of topics, including compensation/wages, convention center research/issues, employee policies/manuals, job descriptions ; also includes a glossary, news, job links
• Links to over 30 associations/organizations for the industry
• Also provides information on DMAI’s educational offerings, initiatives, programs, publications, resources, services
• Outstanding; one of the best resources for industry research and professional development


Eventective

• Links to event facilities information for over 20,000 facilities and 110,000 “event spaces” in the United States
• Links to the following event facility categories: wedding places/venues, banquet rooms/halls, party halls, reception halls, conference/meeting rooms, “other event locations”
• Browsable by state/city and by up to 30 “facility types” (conference centers, hotels, resorts, amusement/theme parks, museums, restaurants)
• Each listing includes information on “facility amenities,” “facility details” (credit cards, location, airport/accommodations information, number of event/function facilities per facility, total exhibit space, guestrooms) and “event space” (maximum capacity, total square feet)
• No charge for users
• Vendors who register receive a “free courtesy listing”; option to upgrade listing information is available for a fee
• Includes information on Eventective’s services
• Outstanding; not only is this a very comprehensive directory, but the thoroughness and extensiveness of information on each listing is superb; highly recommended


EventsWorldWide

• Directory of worldwide special events; concentrates primarily on arts, entertainment, sports events
• “Events Around the World” allows the user to browse events in over 180 event categories in over 140 countries; dates range from 1997 through 2010
• Each event entry includes the following: event name/location, description (may include information on whether event is family-oriented, availability of workshops, audience participation); also includes information on tickets, local tourist boards, lodging, climate
• Includes “Country Information” for over 100 countries (includes public holidays), currency information
• Searchable
• Includes information on submission of events
• Outstanding; one of the best resources for arts, entertainment and sports events


ExpoWorld.net

• “A search engine linking to over 1000 of the most important tradeshow/event-related websites and web databases serving the events and international trade communities worldwide”
• “Event Search Tools” links to industry-specific, country-specific, world-region-specific events for 17 business, festival, hospitality and sports categories
• “Industry Resources” links to associations by country/industry niche, publications by country/industry niche
• “Industry Information” links to websites for professional development, careers, news, eNewsletters, listservs/chat/forums
• Also links to supplier search tools, including categories, country
• Searchable
• Includes information on ExpoWorld’s 26 fee-based services
• Excellent; country links are not extensive, however; otherwise, this is one of the best places for links to other industry directories/locators, industry associations, and information useful to practitioners (careers, news, professional development, etc.)


Festivals.com

• Sponsored by Festival Media Corporation
• Claims to be “… the largest resource on the Internet for information about community festivals, fairs and special events”
• Currently lists over 40,000 events, nationally and internationally
• “Browse by Subject”: arts, culture, kids, motorsports, music, sports; subjects are divided into sub-categories
• Also browsable by performer, vendor
• “Detailed Event Information” for each listing includes the following: date(s), description, performers, location, directions, times, admission/parking, website (if available), contact information (telephone, e-mail)
• Searchable
• Outstanding; one of the best resources for in-depth information on festivals in the US and worldwide


GlobalEDGE: Resource Desk: Trade: Shows and Events

• Sponsored by Michigan State University – Center for International Business Education and Research (MSU-CIBER)
• Links to conferences/exhibitions/trade shows sites on a regional/national basis
• Excellent annotations accompany each link
• Links to other topical pages at globalEDGE Resource Desk (country profiles, news, analysis of current international business issues)
• Excellent; not extensive, but especially useful for regional resources; the home page is also well worthwhile to anyone interested in international business


Listings: USA: Events

• Links to over 900 sites in 10 events-oriented categories, including entertainment, education, and other online events calendars
• Also browsable for event information by state and 20 additional categories, including commercial services, government, recreation, travel
• Minimal commentary accompanies most links
• Searchable
• Great source for up-to-date information within a state or nationally


MeetingsNet

• Maintained by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc.
• “The meetings industry’s portal for information and resources related to planning meetings and events”
• Provides information on PRIMEDIA’s industry publications: Association Meetings, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Financial & Insurance Meetings, Medical Meetings, Religious Conference Manager
• Provides articles from the latest editions of their publications, free newsletter
• Also includes industry news, career information, “Checklists/How To’s”
• Excellent resource for the sectors of the industry which it covers


Open Directory: Business: Business Services: Event Planning and Production

• Sponsored by the Open Directory Project
• Links to over 2,300 event-planning industry sites for 8 industry sectors (entertainment, planning/management, sports events, venue locating services, etc.); each sector is further sub-divided by specific topics
• Virtually all links are to commercial products/services; a short annotation accompanies most links
• International in scope
• Also links to industry associations, news/media, software
• Links to Open Directory for 24 additional industries
• Excellent for those seeking extensive links to commercial sites; easy-to-navigate


SeminarPlanet.com

• Directory of links to locator meta-sites for conferences, meetings and seminars
• Concentrates on business (including management, accounting, customer service, etc.), continuing education/professional development, “life enhancement” skills (time management, stress reduction)
• Includes offerings from the American Management Association, Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Council of Education in Management
• This site is strictly commercial, although some sites offer a very limited amount of “free” articles, “tips”
• Excellent resource for what it covers


TSSN: The Ultimate Trade Show Resource

• Formerly known as Trade Shows News Network
• Trade show directory information for over 15,000 trade shows/conferences and 30,000 seminars
• Browsable by industry (over 150 from advertising to “youth accessories), state and country (over 190)
• Each trade show/conference entry includes address, date, number of exhibitors, number of attendees (if available), URL/e-mail address, “event description,” exhibitor and attendee information (if available)
• Also searchable (by suppliers, venues)
• Target audiences: exhibitors, attendees, suppliers
• Registration (free) required for accessing some site content levels
• Includes commercial content
• Includes information on TSSN’s research reports/resources/services
• Outstanding; offers the most diversity, in regards to industry sectors; best international coverage; highly recommended


Whatsonwhen

• “Established in February 1999, Whatsonwhen is an award-winning service, providing high-quality travel and entertainment content services”
• “Built to manage different types of content across multiple platforms including web, wireless, iTV, kiosks and print”
• Browse by location (continents, countries, cities), themes (music, film, food/drink, lifestyle, literature, performing arts, sports, visual arts), date
• Includes travel/hotel options
• Excellent resource for these industry sectors


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh, 1/06; links last checked 11/07

back to top