ECA Legislative Action Day Attendees Make the Case for Exhibitions and Events on Capitol Hill
June 20, 2023
Nearly 100 industry leaders from 24 states — including representatives from leading show organizers, exhibiting organizations, venues and destinations — gathered on June 1 on Capitol Hill for Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Legislative Action Day. View the full list of attendees here.
During more than 100 meetings, Legislative Action Day attendees advocated for ECA’s federal public policy priorities and the vital role that the business events industry plays in helping to spur economic growth, support job creation and empower small businesses across the country.
Watch or listen to our Q&A with ECA Vice President Tommy Goodwin that was recorded on June 1.
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 and support the small businesses who rely on our exhibitions, conferences and trade shows:
- Reduce visitor visa interview wait times
- Help build our future skilled workforce
- Support efforts to stop business impersonation fraud
“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,” said Vinnie Polito, ECA co-president and CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO).
“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 the charting the future course of our industry and those we support,” said David DuBois, ECA co-president and International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) president and CEO.
Next year’s Legislative Action Day will take place on May 30, 2024. Once again, the event will be held in conjunction with the Lippman Connects Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), the one-day information-sharing and networking event for leaders at associations and independent show organizers, which will take place next year on May 29.
“It was amazing to see so many folks on Capitol Hill today on behalf of the industry,” Goodwin said. “I hope everybody makes plans to join us next year in Washington, D.C. 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.”
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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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