The EDPA is committed to driving sustained advocacy efforts to support the exhibitions and events industry.  As part of these efforts, we proudly partner with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and the Exhibitor Advocate

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows delivered by ECA's alliance partners and their members attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from around the world to conduct business in the United States. This dynamic industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually.
Click here to learn more about the ECA

The Exhibitor Advocate amplifies the voice of exhibitors to ensure the enduring success of exhibitions and events by collaborating with all stakeholders to promote and cultivate open communication, consistent standards, and industry best practices.

Legislative Action Day

1. Visa wait times update 🌍

Around the world, event organizers are still working trying to bring back all of their international exhibitors and attendees.

In their words: "Nearly three years after the Covid pandemic, events are still low on international exhibitors, attendees, and buyers. Visa delays are blamed for much of this shortfall," wrote Andrea Doyle for Skift Meetings.

By the numbers: As of June 21, here are the average visitor visa interview wait times in key inbound business travel markets:

  • Brazil: 45 days

  • China: 64 days

  • India: 281 days

  • Mexico: 517 days

In recent weeks, average interview wait times in Mexico have gone down 200+ days. While this is good news, wait times still remain astronomically high.

ECA continues to advocate for further reducing visa wait times and supports three important bills on Capitol Hill to increase State Department flexibility, transparency, and accountability:

2. Future workforce outreach at SkillsUSA 

Later this month, ECA's Exhibitions Industry Collective partners will be at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA to talk to attendees about career opportunities in the business events industry.

Why it matters: With 15,000 college, high school, and middle school students enrolled in technical and trade training programs attending, this 4-day event is the largest annual gathering of America's future skilled workforce!

Kudos to ECA's Collective partners who are driving this important visibility:

Go deeper: Exhibitions Industry Collective Hosts Future Workforce Booth at SkillsUSA (press release)

Thank you to EXHIBITOR and Exhibit City News for their press coverage.

3. State advocacy and policy news

This summer, ECA will be actively engaged on two state policy issues with the potential to negatively impact the industry. 

  • In California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on its proposed zero-emission forklift rule on June 27. ECA continues to be engaged with CARB staff on key aspects of the rule where the environmental goals and industry feasibility can be better aligned.     

  • In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen will call a special legislative session from July 26 to August 15 for the legislature to consider his plan to cut property taxes by $1 billion. As part of this, ECA expects the legislature to reconsider the previously-rejected 7.5% digital advertising tax proposal, which ECA opposes.

4. In case you missed it...

  • ECA Legislative Action Day was recapped by USAE News, EXHIBITOR, and Travel and Tour World.

  • Exhibition World highlighted the expanded reach of Global Exhibitions Day.

  • ESCA's Summer Educational Conference, which take place next week, will include two sessions featuring ECA, including a panel with all 6 Exhibitions Industry Collective association leaders.