Support the Business Events Industry by Joining the 2022 Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s Legislative Action Week!

May 10, 2022

As the trade show and meetings industry continues its emergence from the pandemic, this year’s Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) signature ECA Legislative Action Week couldn’t be a more important and urgent one for event professionals to consider attending.  

Set for June 6-10, the week-long virtual event will converge face-to-face business events industry advocates to meet with their members of Congress about the vital role that exhibitions and conferences play in helping communities across the U.S. recover from the devastating economic and employment impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to ECA officials.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, advocacy has to be part of the DNA of the industry going forward,” asserted David Audrain, CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers and co-president of the ECA, a coalition of nine professional, industry and labor organizations dedicated to the recovery and advancement of the face-to-face business events industry. 

He continued, “ECA Legislative Action Week is an important opportunity for all of us across the industry to come together to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill.” 

According to ECA officials, prior to the pandemic, face-to-face business events supported 6.6 million jobs nationwide and contributed $396 billion annually to U.S. gross domestic product. However, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) found that total B2B event activity in 2021 was still 57.5% below pre-pandemic levels, an ongoing decline that has been particularly hard on small businesses, which are the driving force behind conventions and trade shows across the U.S. Ninety-nine percent of all business events companies and 80% of all exhibitors are small businesses, they added. 

“Exhibitions and conferences make a tremendous impact on our communities and the U.S. economy more broadly,” said David DuBois, president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and co-president of the ECA. “What elected officials in Washington, D.C., do in the weeks and months ahead will directly impact the industry and our recovery, which, in turn, impacts the communities in which we work and live.”

This year’s ECA Legislative Action Week will focus on the vital steps that Congress can take to help get the exhibitions and conferences industry back to business, including providing financial relief to small businesses, restoring communicable disease coverage to event cancellation insurance and supporting the full restoration of visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.  

On June 6, the ECA will host a preview session featuring a policy issues overview and interviews with key policy-makers and industry leaders, while virtual congressional meetings will take place June 7-10. Those interested in participating will be asked to indicate which days they are available for meetings during the registration process.

“As we continue along the road to recovery, advocacy has never been more important or urgent for all of us involved with face-to-face business events,” said Tommy Goodwin, vice president of government relations for the ECA. “That’s why we are inviting everyone across the industry to join us for ECA Legislative Action Week and tell the story of the impact their work has on economic recovery, jobs and supporting small businesses nationwide.” 

Join your fellow event industry professionals in advocating for the business events industry by registering for the 2022 ECA Legislative Action Week here!


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HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.