Welcoming international conference
delegates back to the USA and tackling climate change will be top of the agenda
for the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) this year.
Specifically, the organisation,
which was established in 2021 during the pandemic, wants to restore visas to pre-pandemic
levels and ‘encourage smart decarbonisation’.
The Washington, DC-based trade
body has this week published its 2023 public policy priorities, which also include
lobbying government to develop the industry’s workforce and ‘ensuring a favourable
operating environment’.
Hervé Sedky, Emerald
Holding Inc. president, CEO, and chair of the ECA board of directors, said: “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.”
The ECA board of directors
further identified five top issues for the coming year.
• Prevent anti-growth state-level taxation of the industry
• Bring back communicable disease coverage to event
cancellation insurance
• Restore visa operations to pre-pandemic levels while making
visa processing more modern and efficient
• Encourage smart decarbonisation efforts by governments
while ensuring the right balance between environmental aims and industry
feasibility
• Support government policy and programmes to attract, train,
and retain the industry’s next-generation workforce
“ECA will be actively
engaged on the issues that matter to the industry in 2023,” said Vinnie Polito,
Society of Independent Show Organisers CEO and ECA co-president.
“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 centre to champion our interests.”
Since its establishment in
2021, ECA supported the post-pandemic recovery and advancement of the
face-to-face business events industry in Washington and across the USA.
In 2023, ECA will look to
build upon its advocacy successes over the last two years including:
• 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 travellers to the U.S
• Supporting federal relief programs – which delivered $800
million to industry small businesses and other stakeholders
• Securing the introduction of legislation that would provide
relief for small businesses, help restore communicable disease coverage and
event cancellation insurance
• Launching ECA Legislative Action Day and ECA Small Business
Advocacy Week
David DuBois,
International Association of Exhibitions and Events president and CEO, and ECA
co-president, added: “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, which will return to Washington, DC in person on
June 1, 2023.”
ECA’s 2023 public policy
priorities can be viewed here.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
