The International Special Events Society has officially changed its name to the International Live Events Association.
In a statement, the organisation that represents creative event specialists, said the name change reflected the “now fully global nature of the association and the more relevant term of ‘live’ used by its members to describe the wide range of events delivered”.
Robert Rogers CSEP, a senior official with the association’s Hong Kong chapter, who also runs Eventsman, told MIX: “I am quite excited by the new name. It reflects where we are going and how we have grown. The term ‘Live Events’ better reflects our diverse membership.
"In the past 'special events' were separate from meeting and conventions, but as the demand for greater experiences has grown the lines between special event and meetings have blurred. We find our members are at the cutting edge of a wide variety of events from event marketing, live communications, meetings, conventions, festivals – generally, all live events,” said Rogers.
He added that the change showed how the organisation had evolved. “The word ‘society’ has connotations of a small elite group. ILEA has grown to be a worldwide group with a diverse range of members on six continents ranging from small businesses to members on government bodies and universities influencing and steering the industry. It is a very exciting time to be part of ILEA.”
A wider roll out of the brand will be carried out over the coming months to encompass a new logo, website and other marketing collateral. The association will be also modifying its social media presence to create new names and pages.
Jodi Collen, ILEA’s global president, said: “The world has changed phenomenally since the International Special Events Society was founded in 1987, and our industry has always kept up and changed with it. This is the culmination of a process that began several years ago and that will continue as our association continues to evolve.
She also addressed members by video.
“We are known by our global members and partners as the live events industry. ‘Live’ is quite simply the best way to express and communicate in one powerful word the fantastic energy and clarity that live events, no matter what kind, bring to human communication.”
ILEA has also designed a new website.
