DALLAS, 6 January 2025 – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced its support for the public policy agenda recently released by the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA).
ECA’s alliance partners and board of directors have identified five key areas of focus for 2025 that will drive the future competitiveness of the U.S. business and professional events industry:
- Enhance competitiveness through growth-focused tax policies
- Create new workforce pathways to ensure industry competitiveness
- Grow international travel to increase U.S. global competitiveness
- Leverage smart decarbonization for long-term competitive advantage
- Support future growth through a competitive operating environment
“In 2025, ECA will be committed to ensuring that the U.S. business and professional events industry remains competitive for the future,” said Hervé Sedky, Emerald Holding Inc. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the ECA board of directors. “ECA looks forward to working with policymakers in Washington, DC, and nationwide to advance our 2025 public policy priorities.
These efforts will strengthen our industry’s competitiveness, continue driving economic growth, support job creation, and empower small businesses nationwide for years to come.”
As part of ECA’s 2025 public policy agenda, five issues will be the top priorities for ECA in the year ahead:
- Enact pro-growth, pro-investment, pro-impact, and pro-workforce development federal tax reform
- Prevent harmful state and local tax policies that would unfairly target the industry
- Support government policies to help attract and train the industry’s future workforce
- Continue reducing visa wait times while modernizing the visa processing system
- Oppose adoption of any U.S. inbound international travel restrictions
“From supporting tax laws that incentivize the growth of our small businesses to policies that help the U.S. attract more international exhibitors, attendees, and events, 2025 will be a critical year for the industry on Capitol Hill and beyond,” said Vinnie Polito, Society of Independent Show Organizers Chief Executive Officer and ECA Co-President. “As the unified advocacy voice of the industry, ECA will lead the charge to ensure that our elected officials understand how they can best support the industry going forward.”
Throughout 2025, ECA will be calling on industry leaders and advocates to get engaged in supporting these critical issues. Through the recently launched ECA Advocacy Network, anyone can email their elected officials, engage with them on social media, and even host them at business and professional events in their local communities.
“Advocacy is critical to ensuring that our policymakers support the industry on the issues that matter,” said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, IAEE President and CEO, and ECA Co-President. “With so much at stake in 2025, we need everyone across the industry to get involved and make their voices heard. Together, we can make an impact!”
ECA’s 2025 public policy agenda can be viewed here.
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE has provided quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education, and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association in the exhibitions and events industry in the world, and it has a membership of show organizers, exhibitors, and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events worldwide are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely, and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, Grit Productions and Expositions, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Risk Strategies Company | Buttine Insurance and Snöball. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
About ECA
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional and industry associations comprising the unified advocacy voice of the business and professional events industry. Click here to learn more about ECA and its work to advance the industry’s interests.
