Formerly the International Special Events Society, ILEA was founded in 1987 to foster enlightened performance through education while promoting ethical conduct. ILEA works to join event professionals to focus on the "event as a whole" rather than its individual parts.
After nearly four decades, ILEA is comprised of over 2,000 professionals across 35 countries and 30 chapters who work in the live events industry.
ILEA is a global community of thousands of creative event professionals whose skills, expertise and experience power some of the most influential live events around the world. It is a community centered around celebrating all aspects of live event production and management. This enables our members to deliver the very best work to their clients through collaboration, thought-leadership and idea sharing.
Members include planners/producers, caterers, decorators, audio-visual technicians, entertainers, educators, journalists, photographers and more. And, across a wide spectrum of sectors, including corporate, non-profit, sports, tech, tourism, retail, fashion, arts, entertainment, government/politics, education and beyond.
For nearly 40 years, ILEA has been your partner, your community. Together, we elevate the impact of live events, foster collaboration and fuel creativity. With members worldwide, we are shaping the future of this essential industry.
Mission
Our mission is to ensure an inclusive, thriving and impactful global creative events profession by providing our members and stakeholders with:
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Collaborative Networking – Build meaningful, cross-border relationships
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Education & Professional Development – Elevate skills and careers
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Inspiration – Share ideas, trends, and creativity
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Industry Advocacy – Recognize and champion the value of live events globally
Vision
We aspire to foster a truly global and inclusive community, ignited by creativity and innovation, where diverse talents unite to shape unforgettable experiences and deliver better events worldwide.
We are committed to creating a long-term, sustainable future for our association and to achieve broad external recognition for the vital role we play in advancing the events industry.
Connecting, inspiring, and supporting creative event professionals worldwide.
