Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Kicks Off New Year With Public Policy Agenda; Announces 2023 Legislative Action Day

January 17, 2023

Following the swearing-in of the new Congress on Jan. 3, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) announced its public policy priorities for 2023, reflected upon its advocacy accomplishments over its first two years and encouraged industry professionals to join its annual Legislative Action Day, which is returning to an in-person format this year in Washington, DC.

Founded in early 2021, ECA is an advocacy group for the face-to-face business events industry, designed to champion and support its recovery and advancement with legislators on Capitol Hill and in states and cities nationwide. 

2023 Public Policy Agenda

For 2023, ECA’s ten alliance partner organizations have identified four key areas of focus for ECA. They include ensuring a favorable operating environment for the industry going forward;

fully welcoming international exhibitors and attendees back to the U.S.; supporting industry efforts to address sustainability and climate change; and promoting government involvement in developing the industry’s future workforce

“As the unified advocacy voice of the face-to-face business events industry, ECA’s 2023 public policy priorities serve as our industry’s North Star as we continue to engage with policymakers to help drive economic growth, support job creation and empower small businesses from coast to coast,” said Hervé Sedky, president and CEO of Emerald and chair of the ECA board of directors.

As part of the organization’s public policy priorities for the coming year, the ECA board of directors further identified five top issues for 2023, as follows: 

  • Prevent anti-growth state-level taxation of the industry;
  • Bring back communicable disease coverage to event cancelation insurance;
  • Restore visa operations to pre-pandemic levels while making visa processing more modern and efficient;
  • Encourage smart decarbonization efforts by governments while ensuring the right balance between environmental aims and industry feasibility;
  • Support government policy and programs to attract, train and retain the industry’s next-generation workforce.

According to Vinnie Polito, CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and co-president of ECA, the organization will be actively engaged on the issues that matter to the events industry in 2023. 

“From working on the restoration of visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to fighting back against efforts to introduce growth-stifling taxes on our industry, ECA will be front and center to champion our interests with elected and appointed officials in Washington, DC and beyond,” Polito said.

This year, ECA will also focus on building upon its advocacy successes over the last two years, with efforts to include: 

  • Leading campaigns in 2021 to reopen states and cities for large-scale face-to-face events;
  • Working to eliminate country-and-region-specific travel bans and lift pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated inbound international travelers to the U.S.;
  • Supporting federal relief programs that delivered more than $800 million to industry small business and other stakeholders;
  • Securing the introduction of legislation that would provide relief for our industry’s small businesses and help restore communicable disease coverage to event cancellation insurance;
  • Launching ECA Legislative Action Day and ECA Small Business Advocacy Week.

 To learn more about ECA’s 2023 public policy priorities, go here.

Legislative Action Day Returns to In-Person

According to Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government affairs for ECA, event professionals interested in taking a more active role in advocating for the meetings and exhibitions industry can join ECA’s annual Legislative Action Day, set to take place in person on June 1 in Washington, DC.  

The 2023 event will bring advocates and leaders from across the face-to-face business events industry to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress about the ECA’s federal policy priorities and the vital role that the industry plays in helping to spur economic growth, support job creation and empower small businesses across the U.S., he said.

“Advocacy is central to the growth and advancement of the face-to-face business events industry going forward,” Goodwin explained. “That’s why it’s so important for everyone across our industry to get involved. From inviting policymakers to visit your shows to coming to Washington, DC to taking part in Legislative Action Day, together we can be the voice of our industry on Capitol Hill and in states and cities nationwide.” 

Additionally, the 2023 ECA Legislative Action Day will be held in conjunction with the Lippman Connects Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF), a one-day information-sharing and networking event for leaders at associations and independent organizers taking place May 31 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. In recognition of this partnership, ECA announced Lippman Connects as one of its 2023 Legislative Action Day platinum sponsors.  

“It is imperative for our industry to be heard on Capitol Hill, and ECEF pledges to do all it can to support ECA in this all-important initiative,” said Sam Lippman, Lippman Connects president and producer of ECEF. 

Additional 2023 Legislative Action Day details and logistical information will be forthcoming, according to ECA officials. In the meantime, ECA encourages all industry leaders and advocates to make plans to be in Washington, DC on June 1 as the industry comes together to make its collective voice heard on Capitol Hill. 

“Since its founding, ECA has worked tirelessly to support the industry on its road to recovery,” said David DuBois, president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and ECA co-president. “In 2023, we look forward to amplifying the voice of our industry’s many passionate advocates in the policymaking process, including at ECA Legislative Action Day.” 

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.