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
ECA Advocacy Update
By Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance
Dec 20, 2024
Smart Brevity® count: 2.5 mins ... 629 words
👋 Welcome to the final ECA Advocacy Update newsletter for 2024.
From securing $50 million for visa backlogs to the new FTC rule targeting industry scammers, it was an impactful year for ECA.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the business and professional events industry’s advocacy work in Washington, DC and beyond!
ECA is getting ready for a busy 2025 on Capitol Hill, and we need your help.
Why it matters: With tax reform, future workforce, and more on the agenda, lawmakers need to hear from our industry leaders and advocates.
Get involved: The ECA Advocacy Network is the online home to ECA’s signature advocacy programs.
ECA Action Center, which allows anyone in the industry to contact their members of Congress about ECA’s public policy priorities directly from the ECA website with just a few clicks.
Social Influencer Program, which encourages people to engage on social media to educate their network, the public, and policymakers on ECA’s top issues and important advocacy opportunities.
Show Floor Program, which brings policymakers to trade shows and conferences across the United States to show them first-hand how our industry operates and the impact we have in their backyards.
What they’re saying: “These programs and tools will allow people throughout the industry who want to take action to make their voices heard on key issues across the country when it truly matters most,” said Austin O’Boyle, Vice President of Advocacy for Aristotle International, who led the development of the ECA Advocacy Network.
Despite some recent progress, first time visitor visa interview wait times continue to hurt the U.S. business and professional events industry.
By the numbers: Average visa wait times in India have risen to 449 days.
U.S. embassies is Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are introducing new initiatives to help bring wait times down.
Wait times are also high in other countries including Columbia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Yes, but: Since ECA helped secure $50 million for visa backlogs earlier this year, average wait times in Mexico are down more than 70%, dropping from 768 days to 224 days!
In addition, wait times remain low in China, Brazil, and other key inbound markets.
In 2025, ECA will remain focused on ensuring that all international exhibitors and attendees can take part in U.S. events.
This week, ECA was in Hollywood (well, Los Angeles) for IAEE Expo! Expo!
The big picture: ECA joined fellow Exhibitions Industry Collective leaders for a panel discussion, moderated by ECA board chair Hervé Sedky, about the group’s 2025 plans across three key issue areas:
Workforce development 👩💼
Sustainability 🪴
Health and safety 🦺
In addition, ECA met with the ESCA and IAEE boards of directors to discuss the post-election political environment and ECA’s plans for 2025.
If your organization is interested in a 2025 preview briefing from ECA, please reach out to Tommy Goodwin for more information.
ECA’s Tommy Goodwin was named to The Hill’s 2024 Top Lobbyists list. So, too, were 2 friends and partners of ECA: Aristotle International’s Austin O’Boyle and ASAE’s Mary Kate Cunningham.
Edlen Electrical’s Julie Pazina received IAEE’s 2024 Humanitarian Award. She also serves as the Nevada state senator for district 12, which covers part of Clark County.
The MIC Coalition, which includes ECA, IAVM, IAEE, and SISO among other members, published a new blog post on “Why Congress it Right to Be Concerned About the Proliferation of PROs.”
ECA wishes all the industry leaders and advocates a very Happy Holidays!
What's next: The ECA Advocacy Update will return on Friday, January 3, 2025 with news about ECA’s 2025 public policy agenda.