1. #ECALAD breaks registration record! 🎉

It's official! With more than 120 industry leaders and advocates already registered, ECA Legislative Action Day 2024 will be the largest gathering of the business events industry on Capitol Hill ever!

What to expect: On May 30, industry leaders and advocates will meet with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for 2 key industry priorities:

Eliminating visa backlogs and modernizing the visa processing system. 🌎
Helping attract and retain the industry's next generation workforce. 👷

There is still time to register: Click here to sign up for one of the few remaining spots to join your colleagues in Washington, DC next month.

What comes next: In the coming days, ECA will begin rolling out a month of information, virtual programming, and prep sessions in advance of #ECALAD.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, without whom ECA Legislative Action Day would not be possible!

2. State tax issues take center stage

Digital advertising taxes were front page news in recent days in 2 key states.

In Nebraska, the legislature adjourned without voting on Gov. Jim Pillen's controversial tax package, which included a 7.5% digital advertising tax. While this is good news for the industry, Gov. Pillen is likely to call for a special legislative session this summer where tax issues will be back on the agenda.
In California, the state Assembly's Privacy Committee held a hearing Tuesday on a stand-alone digital advertising tax bill. ECA and its coalition partners provided a statement to Chair Rebecca Bauer-Kahan restating our opposition to this ill-advised and likely unconstitutional proposal.

Looking ahead: As state budgets continue to tighten, ECA anticipates more of these digital advertising tax proposals going forward until federal courts definitively rule on their constitutionality.

In Washington, DC, federal tax issues will be a top priority next year as key provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire at the end of 2025. Beltway insiders are already referring to this as "Taxmageddon."

3. International advocacy updates

Earlier this month, 2 wonderful advocacy events took place across the globe that positioned the business events industry front and center with policymakers:

In Brussels, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted "EU Dialogue: Driving Positive Change in the Meetings Industry," which was delivered in collaboration with several industry organizations. This day-long session featured industry professionals and European policymakers highlighting the industry’s broad impact and potential for further development.
In Ottawa, Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) was front and center during National Tourism Week and Business Events Day. Did you know that business events account for 40% of all tourism spending in Canada? Here is MMBC Chair Minto Schneider and MMBC Immediate Past Chair Laura Pallotta with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

Why it matters: Around the world, important advocacy efforts are underway to ensure that elected and appointed officials understand the economic and social impact of the business events sector in their communities.

4. ECA at IMEX Frankfurt next month

Advocacy will be on the agenda at IMEX Frankfurt, which will take place May 13-16, 2024 at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.

IAEE and ECA will host an international advocacy update on Wednesday, May 15 that will also feature Barbara Weizsäcker from the European Exhibition Industry Alliance and other leaders from around the world.

In addition, ECA will be part of 2 exciting policy and advocacy events that week:

On Monday, May 13, ECA will join ICCA for its Global Advocacy Alliance session, along with the Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe and IMEX.
On Monday, May 14, ECA will take part in the annual IMEX Policy Forum.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement from ECA at IMEX! 😀

5. In case you missed it...

The Association & Advocacy Focus podcast, from the EXHIBITOR Group, includes the latest policy and Legislative Action Day news. Thanks, as always, to Mike Morrison for highlighting the work of ECA!
Trade Show Executive recapped the SISO CEO Summit, which took place earlier this month, including the policy and advocacy update featuring Nancy Walsh, Yancy Weinrich, and Walter Charnizon.
PCMA Convene answered the question "Do International Attendees Seeking Visas Need Letters of Invitation?" with guidance from Vinnie Polito.
Nancy Walsh, President, North America for Informa Markets and ECA board member, received the 2024 Robert L. Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence from SISO, the association's highest honor. Congratulations from ECA, Nan!

Thomas F. (Tommy) Goodwin

Vice President

tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org