ABSTRACT
Although not directly a conference industry trade association, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is, nonetheless, a very important body for the international convention industry because of the scale of convention activity undertaken by its members. ASAE was founded in 1920 as the American Trade Association Executives, with 67 charter members. Today it has over 23 500 members worldwide who manage approximately 10 000 trade associations, individual membership societies, professional organizations and not-for-profit associations, which, between them, serve more than 287 million people and companies. Over 40% of its members are chief executive officers.
