The Medical Exhibitors Association was organized during the Michigan State Medical Convention in Detroit on June 25, 1930. According to historical archives, 12 charter members established a treasury by personal donations of $100 each.  During the first year, MEA membership reached 22.

In the early 30's, information about select medical meetings began to be compiled by MEA, and in 1934, the first Schedule of Conventions was published (now the Directory).

MEA supported a wartime convention program with the U. S. Office of Defense and Transportation during World War II; and by 1948, Handbook (Directory) listings had increased dramatically:  78 meetings were listed!

In 1951, MEA joined forces with convention managers to hold the first Joint Conference on Medical Conventions (JCMC).  This group of convention managers would later organize as the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

During the 60s, the association experienced modest but steady growth.

The Spring, 1973 issue of HCEA's Newsletter carried this headline:  "Metamorphosis at Age 42:  From MEA to HCEA."  The lead article went on to say "...the Medical Exhibitors Association has officially become the Health Care Exhibitors Association.  Purpose of the change is to have the organization's name reflect more closely the broad range of business activities of its members."  A new logo also was adopted.  That year also saw the addition of the Directory of Services to the Handbook.

In the mid-1970s, there was a change in staff of the association and Birmingham, Alabama was the site of the new headquarters.

By 1978 membership stood at 209 and was open only to companies exhibiting at healthcare meetings. (This policy changed in 1983 when membership was opened to suppliers.)

The Spring 1982 Handbook contained listings for 902 meetings.

The year 1984 marked several significant changes for HCEA.  Staff again changed, and the association was now based in New Caanan, Connecticut.  The January JCMC meeting proved to be the last that HCEA and PCMA would hold jointly.  Thereafter, HCEA would hold its Annual Meeting every June, in 1984 in Toronto and 1985, Boston.

"A new beginning" for the association...in January, 1986, The Kellen Company, a multiple association management company in Atlanta, Georgia was selected to manage HCEA.  Many important happenings occurred: the By-laws and objectives were revised; a long-range plan was developed; membership procedures were streamlined; and revision of HCEA’s Guidelines for Health Care Conventions was begun -- just to name a few.

From 1986 to 1990, growth and expansion took place rapidly.  Membership increased by 43%; Annual Meeting attendance increased nearly 100%; member services grew dramatically; and the number of pages in the Directory increased 78% and the number of listings by 106%.

On January 1, 1990, at the beginning of our 60th anniversary, HCEA became the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association, to reflect the wide range of activities in which our members are involved.

In 1993, HCEA Annual Meeting attendance exceeded 600, and membership topped 670 the following year.  The HCEA Handbook listed more than 2,500 meetings.

1994 saw the publication of the HCEA “prototype” study on the value of healthcare exhibiting, which tracked actual changes in prescribing behavior by physicians as a result of receiving a detail at an exhibit.  HCEA held a joint seminar with the International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association in Vienna.

In 1995, HCEA’s Guidelines on International Healthcare Exhibitions & Congresses were published.

The latter half of the 90s saw more rapid changes.  The HCEA Strategic Plan underwent a major revision in 1996 to streamline the document and make it a better guiding force for the association.  In 1998 HCEA was instrumental in forming the Healthcare Congress Alliance, an international body dedicated to developing tools and documents to increase efficiency in global healthcare congresses.  In 1999, the Summit, a one-day educational seminar in the “off-season” from the Annual Meeting, was introduced.

Already the 21st century has been a busy one for HCEA.  Continuing education credits were introduced for the Annual Meeting, and the Research Grant Program was developed to fund academic research on the healthcare exhibiting industry.  The first study from that program, conducted by Dr. Jeff Tanner of Baylor University, was completed and published in 2005.  The Directory is now available online to all HCEA members.  An Email newsletter, Inbox Informer, was introduced in 2002; a ListServe online discussion forum was established; and alternative dues structures for Associate and Supporting members were introduced. 

In 2005, HCEA celebrated its 75th anniversary, and a number of new member benefits and services were unveiled to commemorate it.  The educational curriculum for the Annual Meeting was increased 50%, and a comprehensive review of the Guidelines for U.S. Healthcare Conventions was completed.  A members-only online resource center was created, and (as mentioned above), the first study completed under the auspices of the Research Grant Program was published.  And a staff initiative to conduct exhibitor training and introduce HCEA member benefits to exhibitors at healthcare conventions around the country was launched.  After 75 years, HCEA continues to be a leader and innovator in the meetings and conventions industry.  Here’s to the next 75 years!