ECA Legislative Action Day 2023 to Focus on Key Issues Affecting the Business Events Industry
May 19, 2023
As the events industry continues its robust recovery following the pandemic, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) Legislative Action Day will return to Washington, D.C., on June 1, bringing industry advocates and leaders to meet with members of Congress about important federal policy priorities.
“It will be great to have this event back in person after four long years,” said Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government affairs for ECA, adding that the last in-person International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Exhibitions Day was in 2019, with the 2020 event held virtually and the ECA Legislative Action Day in 2021 and 2022 also staged virtually.
The one-day program this year will feature a breakfast and policy briefing, plenty of opportunities throughout the day for peer-to-peer networking and a post-event reception.
According to Goodwin, this year’s ECA Legislative Action Day will concentrate on three important issues to further advance the industry’s recovery: visa delays, which are preventing many international visitors from attending events in the U.S.; impersonation fraud, which includes attendee list scams and hotel reservation scams; and the industry’s future workforce.
Goodwin said ECA has already had a productive 2023, with accomplishments such as helping repeal the tax on exhibitors and sponsors in Kentucky and advocating for a two-year delay of a phase in California’s forthcoming zero-carbon forklift rule, which helps better align the environmental aims of the California rule with industry feasibility. In addition, ECA testified in Connecticut against a digital advertising tax that would be passed down to industry stakeholders and testified in Washington, D.C. at a U.S. Federal Trade Commission hearing on its proposed rule prohibiting business impersonation. Additionally, ECA has been working to continue to elevate the visa delay issue through increased Congressional oversight.
“We are heartened to see the positive response to the industry’s message and look forward to increased oversight and new legislation in the days and weeks ahead,” Goodwin said.
Additionally, this year’s 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, D.C. In recognition of this partnership, ECA announced Lippman Connects as one of its 2023 Legislative Action Day platinum sponsors.
Registration for ECA Legislative Action Day is open through May 25.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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