EDPA February Newsletter
EDPA continues to fight on our members' behalf to bring awareness to our industry's plight. We are working to encourage elected officials to provide government assistance for our industry, which was one of the earliest impacted and will be one of the last to open back up. Our advocacy initiatives have never been more critical than now.
Advocacy Mission: Create an ongoing advocacy culture within the EDPA community, members, and affiliates supporting the experiential, exhibit, and event industry. We will do this by delivering consistent and compelling messages about our industry's positive impact on the U.S. and global economies.
We seek to engage our stakeholders and ensure they understand:
Involvement makes a difference
Together we can make a change and improve the future of our industry
There is a need to speak with one consistent voice (one voice, one message)
Advocacy must be an ongoing effort for our total message is to be heard
Waiting to speak about an issue until we need something is too late
We must share knowledge and embark on continuous educations
Relationships driving advocacy must be consistent and ongoing
Both local and national advocacy is necessary
2021 Advocacy Initiatives
In 2021, EDPA Advocacy will focus on four key areas:
I. Industry Government Affairs
II. Association Alignment & Relations
III. Workforce Development
IV. Exhibitor Advocacy
I. Industry Government Affairs
EDPA and EDPA Foundation are doubling their financial commitment to government affairs efforts in 2021.
We will create a formal and practical structure for the events industry to conduct sustained advocacy for ongoing assistance to the small business segment
We advocate transitioning from temporary, stop-gap federal programs to help the industry create a more permanent infrastructure with a reliable funding source
We will assess the legislative proposals of the new administration and House and Senate majorities
We will identify legislative or administrative measures that will provide ongoing assistance to the events industry and fit the new administration and Congress's agenda
We will guide members in advocating directly for continued assistance for the events industry
We will regularly assess the impact of our efforts and make tactical revisions as necessary
We will share intelligence and updates with EPDA members as we push forward
EDPA is working with two government affiliations teams and participating on executive committees for both.
Cassidy & Associates - Small Business Segment Focus
Objective: To identify and advocate for a legislative or regulatory proposal that will help small businesses in the trade show/industry-conference sector bridge the gap between the end of the Paycheck Protection Program's second-draw loans and the easing of government restrictions that will allow industry events to resume.
At this early point in the Biden Administration and the new Congress, legislative initiatives to address the COVID crisis are still in the formulation stage. Possible avenues include:
Small business programs identified in the Biden-Harris $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan
Congressional proposals drafted in response to the Biden-Harris plan
An expansion of the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant Program (Save our Stages)
An updated version of the Restart Act
A longer-term "Recovery Sector Business" loan program, as outlined in the 2020 Rubio-Collins bill
Administrative actions through the Agriculture Department, the Treasury Department, or another Federal agency
Action Plan:
Gathering intelligence on potential federal initiatives and focusing on key opportunities
Organizing EDPA membership to educate Congress
Advocating for our preferred solution
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)
The Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) will represent the U.S. exhibitions and conferences industry's common interests to legislators. It will promote the sector's impact, drive general industry awareness, monitor legislative issues, advocate for the industry's common interests, and work with partners globally as needed to maintain a favorable operating environment within the U.S.
Through lessons learned with Go LIVE Together, Exhibitions Mean Business, and other advocacy efforts, we now have a proper roadmap on how effective policymaking works. It's a slow process and cannot be easily activated only when there is a need/crisis. Our past activities haven't been the most effective. Now, we know what to do and have a plan to ensure our voices are heard cost-effectively:
We will hire a full-time government affairs director to represent the industry
We will remain laser-focused on advocating for exhibitions and conferences (accretive to, not in place of, existing industry associations—pooling valuable limited resources to greater effect)
We will leverage experts as needed to get us further faster (lobbyists, public affairs, marketing communications)
II. Association Alignment & Relations
EDPA will continue initiatives to align and work with other industry associations to ensure continuity and alignment for our advocacy work:
Direct alignment with IAEE, EACA, ESCA, IAVM, IFES, UFI, FAMAB
Indirect alignment: U.S. Travel, gaming, hospitality & tourism
Promotion and participation in Exhibitions Day 2021
III. Workforce Development
The industry is losing key talent as events and exhibitions remain idle. When we begin recovering, the challenge will be to fill critical roles (design, sales, account management, etc.) within the industry. EDPA has formed a Member Recovery Committee to help address these challenges and support potential solutions.
The COVID-driven exodus of industry talent has created new fears and uneasiness
The current impact of individuals shifting to careers and positions outside the industry creates a new struggle
Our industry is an employment engine for the U.S. economy
Every trade show and convention is its own "small business incubator"
The aging of our show floor workforce remains a concern
IV. Exhibitor Advocacy
Exhibitor advocacy remains critical to our industry's success. Our efforts to support the exhibitor are needed because:
Exhibitors are EDPA members' customers
They are the end-users of all EDPA members’ products and services
Exhibitors concerns that are unique to that segment of the industry and need the support of EDPA
Exhibitors' voices need to be heard
Exhibitors need to form alliances with other live event industry segments
Exhibitors face many challenges to the ultimate success of their programs, whether live, virtual, or hybrid. Here are some of the exhibitor concerns to be addressed:
Pricing transparency
Budgeting
Measurement
Interactions with show organizers and associations
Health and safety
The development of hybrid shows
EDPA is working closely with the Exhibitor Advocacy Group to develop a resource library and to give further insight and offerings for these issues.
EDPA Member Blog - Stay the Course with EDPA
Matthew Little
General Manager, Nuvista
President EDPA Texas Chapter
2021 is here, and we’re all hoping for a much better year for our industry. We look forward to reopening and the sense of health and safety that vaccines and GBAC regulations will provide.
Recently you received an invoice for your annual EDPA dues. Many of our members are struggling, even as we see the light at the end of the tunnel. And many of you may be tempted to skip paying dues as you examine expenses.
But if your dues were ever necessary, it is this year! And here’s why:
We often describe our industry—laughingly-- as “the largest industry no one has ever heard of.” That sentiment is no longer a laughing matter. We have been remiss in promoting our industry where it can do the most good, and the inability of governments to distinguish trade shows from mass gatherings impedes our efforts to move forward. To address this lack of information about business events, EDPA is further enhancing our advocacy program in 2021 and putting our industry out in front of lawmakers.
Additionally, the engagement made possible through experiential marketing is significant. Businesses have missed the visibility and market reach that face-to-face provides. That level of engagement is not possible in a virtual format, although we have made great strides since last year. Businesses now understand to an unprecedented degree how powerful experiential marketing is and how it contributes significantly to revenue. EDPA is here to help you tell that story to your clients.
As we begin to recover, EDPA is providing the forum for our members to share best practices so that we can get back to work. What the pandemic has taught us is that although we might compete on individual projects, when it comes to righting the course of our industry, we are stronger together.
In 2021 EDPA vows that our educational offerings will be topical, relevant, and focused, covering data, safety, experiential marketing on all platforms, and other top-of-mind topics during this time of recovery.
Your membership is important. Now is the time to double down on the advances EDPA has made in the past year. We need your support and your belief in recovery. EDPA has made arrangements to lessen the impact of paying your dues, so please stay the course with us!
Time is running out – don’t miss your chance to experience ACCESS 2020 content for yourself.
Register for ACCESS 2020 On-Demand now!
Did you miss ACCESS 2020? It's not too late to experience ACCESS 2020 on your desktop. Register for ACCESS 2020 On-Demand today to access on-demand videos and presentations from this year's sessions. Register now for as little as $100!
EDPA Adds Two New Board Members
EDPA welcomes BJ Enright, President and CEO of Tradeshow Logic, and Paco Collazo, Owner and CEO of Happy Projects LLC, to its board of directors.
BJ Enright has had a long and varied career in the exhibition industry, she is best known for her exhibitor advocacy work. Most recently that has included the implementation of NAB Show Cares, a new program offering significant cost-savings for exhibitors.
Paco Collazo first connected with EDPA in 2013 to gain insights into the booming exhibition industry in the US. He believes EDPA can grow its international influence and hopes to develop initiatives that support those activities, leading to an enhanced global outlook and business opportunities worldwide.
New Resources on EDPA.com
Watch Randy Acker's presentation from ACCESS 2020 -
Our Tomorrow: A Look to the Future of Trade shows & Events”
Midwest
Event Title: McCormick Place Update
Event Date: February 11, 2021
Event Location: Zoom Meeting
Time: 4:00 CST - 5:30PM CST
Event Description: Join us and special guest David Causton, General Manager at McCormick Place, for and update on McCormick Place and how we can plan to move forward.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/j/91530058905pwd=d1FQRU0rYzBHbmtsNFlYTm41Sm4zUT09
Meeting ID: 915 3005 8905 Passcode: midwest
Midwest
Event Title: Design Challenge
Event Date: March 17, 2021
Event Location: Zoom link to come closer to event
Time: 1:00 pm CST
Event Description: The EDPA has partnered with The University of Illinois to to build awareness for our industry. Join us as we watch the student's final presentations via Zoom.
Southern California
Event Title: EDPA California February Digital Event - Next Level Virtual Engagement Events with former Blue Man Don Colliver
Event Date: Thu, February 18, 2021
Event Location: Zoom
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PST
Event Description: Join former Blue Man (and trade show consultant) Don Colliver as he leads fun and effective digital event activities designed to get virtual participants engaged and participating. You will take away concrete best practices to increase engagement and dialogue in your own and your clients' digital events. Your host will facilitate an inclusive, low-pressure environment to help participants get to know each other while building interpersonal trust and sharing plenty of laughter.
Registration link : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/edpa-california-next-level-virtual-engagement-events-with-don-colliver-tickets-139567248397
Texas
Event Title: Weekly Happy Hour
Event Date: Every Wednesday (Wellness Check)
Event Location: Virtual via Zoom
Time: 5:00 – 6:00PM CST
Event Description: Casual Conversations about life, the industry, with adult beverages for those who wish to partake.
Registration link: By Invitation – if interested in joining contact Texas Chapter President, Matthew Little @ mlittle@nuvistaonline.com
Women in Exhibitions
Event Title: Bi-weekly Zoom Share
Event Date: Starting January 20, 2021, and continuing bi-weekly on Wednesday throughout the year.
Event Location: Zoom
Time: 1:00 – 2:00PM PDT
Event Description: If you are a woman in the exhibitions industry please join us for our bi-weekly Zoom calls. Topics are timely to our current events and are always highly informative and insightful. Registration and details can be found on the Women in Exhibitions LinkedIn Group. Please request to join for access to the Zoom registration link.
Registration link: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1512357/
