Nearly 100 industry leaders and advocates from 24 states assembled 1 June on Capitol Hill for Exhibition and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Legislative Action Day.
At Capitol Hill, the leaders advocated for ECA’s federal public policy priorities and reinforced the role that the business events industry plays in economic growth, job creation, and empowering small businesses.
“As advocacy continues to become part of the DNA of the industry, it was great to see so many leaders from coast to coast come to Washington, DC to meet with their elected officials about the issues that impact our industry,” says Vinnie Polito, ECA co-president and Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO) CEO.
During over 100 meetings, ECA Legislative Action Day attendees focused on three policy areas where Congress can take on a leadership role to help advance the business events industry:
- Reduce visitor visa interview wait times,
- Help build our future skilled workforce,
- Support efforts to stop business impersonation fraud.
“From fully bringing back international exhibitors and buyers to events in the United States to attracting and training our next-generation workforce, today’s conversations on the Hill were critical to charting the future course of our industry and those we support,” said David DuBois, ECA co-president and International Association of Exhibitions & Events president and CEO.
ECA also announced that the next Legislative Action Day will occur on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The event will be held in conjunction with the Lippman Connects Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF): a one-day networking event for leaders at associations and independent organisers, May 29, 2024.
“It was amazing to see so many folks on Capitol Hill today on behalf of the industry,” said Tommy Goodwin, ECA vice president.
“I hope everybody makes plans to join us next year here in Washington, DC as we continue to share the story of how our business events are growth engines for small businesses across every major sector of the U.S. economy with policymakers.”
