Record Number of Industry Leaders Attend ECA Legislative Action Day 2026
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) achieved a major milestone during its annual Legislative Action Day as a record-breaking group of 226 business and professional events industry leaders gathered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on 28 May 2026.
Representing organizations from across the United States and international markets, participants met directly with members of Congress to discuss key public policy issues impacting the future of trade shows, conferences, conventions, exhibitions, meetings, and business events. The advocacy initiative highlighted the vital role that the events industry plays in supporting economic growth, job creation, entrepreneurship, and local communities throughout the country.
The record turnout underscored the industry’s growing commitment to ensuring that policymakers understand both the economic value of business events and the policy decisions needed to sustain future growth.
Business Events Industry Emphasizes Its Economic Impact
Throughout the day, industry representatives delivered a unified message to lawmakers: business and professional events are a proven engine of economic resilience, innovation, and growth, and they require a supportive policy environment to continue delivering benefits to businesses and communities nationwide.
Trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, and conventions generate billions of dollars in economic activity each year while supporting thousands of businesses across sectors such as hospitality, transportation, technology, manufacturing, retail, and professional services.
Industry leaders emphasized that events create opportunities for networking, business development, education, product launches, workforce development, and investment attraction. They also serve as critical platforms for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking access to new customers and markets.
As economic uncertainty continues to affect businesses globally, event industry advocates stressed the importance of policies that encourage growth, affordability, and competitiveness.
Industry Leaders Unite to Advocate for the Future of Events
The strong participation at Legislative Action Day demonstrated the industry’s ability to come together around shared priorities and communicate a collective vision for the future.
Attendees included executives from trade associations, event organizers, convention operators, suppliers, exhibitors, service providers, and other stakeholders involved in the business and professional events ecosystem.
By meeting directly with elected officials and their staff, participants were able to explain the challenges facing the industry while highlighting opportunities for policy support that can strengthen the sector’s long-term outlook.
The advocacy effort also reinforced the importance of maintaining open communication between policymakers and industry leaders as new legislation and economic policies continue to shape the business environment.
Fernando Fischer Highlights Industry’s Positive Contribution
Fernando Fischer, President, Americas for RX and Chair of the ECA Board of Directors, emphasized the broader societal and economic benefits delivered by business and professional events.
According to Fischer, events play a unique role in bringing people together, supporting local businesses, creating employment opportunities, and helping communities prosper. He noted that the record participation on Capitol Hill ensured policymakers received a clear message about the importance of the industry and the need for supportive public policies.
Industry leaders believe that events not only facilitate commercial activity but also contribute to innovation, collaboration, education, and economic development across multiple sectors.
The industry’s advocacy efforts are aimed at ensuring that future legislation recognizes these contributions and promotes an environment where events can continue to thrive.
Key Policy Priorities Discussed During Legislative Action Day
A central focus of Legislative Action Day 2026 was advancing ECA’s public policy agenda, which addresses several critical issues affecting the future of the business events industry.
Participants concentrated on three major policy priorities that directly influence the industry’s ability to support economic growth and job creation: trade and tariffs, workforce development, and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
These issues are considered essential to maintaining the competitiveness and resilience of trade shows, conferences, conventions, and exhibitions throughout the United States.
By engaging lawmakers on these topics, industry representatives sought to ensure that future policy decisions take into account the unique needs of the events sector.
Trade and Tariff Policies Remain a Major Concern
One of the most important issues discussed during meetings with Congress involved international trade and tariff policies.
The business events industry relies heavily on global participation, including exhibitors, attendees, suppliers, manufacturers, and investors from around the world. Changes in trade regulations and tariffs can significantly affect participation levels, operating costs, and business opportunities associated with international events.
Industry leaders explained that supportive trade policies help facilitate cross-border business engagement, encourage investment, and strengthen the competitiveness of American exhibitions and conferences.
Maintaining strong international participation remains essential for the continued success of many large-scale business events hosted across the United States.
Workforce Development Critical to Industry Growth
Workforce development was another key topic highlighted during Legislative Action Day.
Like many industries, the events sector faces ongoing challenges related to talent recruitment, workforce training, and skills development. Event organizers, venue operators, suppliers, and service providers depend on a skilled workforce capable of delivering increasingly sophisticated and technology-driven experiences.
Industry advocates urged policymakers to support educational initiatives, workforce training programs, and career development opportunities that can help address labor shortages and prepare future generations for careers within the events industry.
A strong workforce pipeline is considered essential for ensuring that the industry can continue meeting growing demand while maintaining high standards of service and innovation.
Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Remains Essential for Large Events
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) also emerged as a significant policy issue during discussions with lawmakers.
Large-scale events often require substantial financial investments and long-term planning. Access to affordable insurance coverage plays a critical role in managing risk and ensuring the viability of major conferences, conventions, and exhibitions.
Industry leaders emphasized that maintaining a stable terrorism risk insurance framework is vital for event organizers, venues, exhibitors, and other stakeholders involved in hosting large gatherings.
Without adequate insurance protections, many events could face increased financial uncertainty, potentially impacting business investment and economic activity generated by the sector.
Industry Leaders Send a Unified Message to Policymakers
Mark Bogdansky, Vice President of Trade Shows and Community Engagement for the Auto Care Association and Vice Chair of the ECA Board of Directors, highlighted the growing significance of Legislative Action Day as a key advocacy platform for the industry.
He noted that the event brought together a “who’s who” of industry leaders, creating a powerful opportunity to communicate directly with lawmakers about the industry’s priorities and contributions.
According to industry participants, the strong representation demonstrated that the business events sector is organized, engaged, and committed to working collaboratively with policymakers to promote economic growth, innovation, and American competitiveness.
The unified message delivered during the event reflected a shared commitment to strengthening the industry’s future through constructive public policy engagement.
Advocacy Efforts Continue Beyond Capitol Hill
While Legislative Action Day serves as a flagship advocacy event, ECA’s efforts to support the industry continue throughout the year.
The organization encourages ongoing engagement through the ECA Advocacy Network, which serves as a central platform for industry professionals to stay informed about policy developments and communicate with elected officials.
The network provides tools and resources that make it easier for individuals and organizations to participate in advocacy efforts regardless of their location.
By fostering year-round engagement, ECA aims to build a stronger collective voice for the business and professional events industry.
Industry Encouraged to Remain Active in Policy Discussions
Chris Griffin, President and CEO of Crew XP and Treasurer of the ECA Board of Directors, emphasized that every member of the industry can play a meaningful role in shaping policy outcomes.
Whether through meetings with lawmakers, communications with congressional offices, participation in advocacy campaigns, or hosting elected officials at events, industry professionals have multiple opportunities to contribute to the conversation.
Griffin stressed that broader participation leads to stronger advocacy efforts and greater influence on policies affecting the future of business events.
As the industry continues to evolve, active engagement will remain critical to ensuring that policymakers understand the sector’s economic importance and strategic value.
ECA Continues to Champion the Business Events Industry
As the unified public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance continues to play a vital role in representing the interests of trade shows, conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and meetings.
The record-breaking participation in Legislative Action Day 2026 reflects the industry’s growing recognition that advocacy is essential to future success. By engaging directly with lawmakers on issues such as trade, workforce development, and insurance protection, industry leaders are helping create a policy environment that supports innovation, economic growth, and job creation.
With continued collaboration between policymakers and industry stakeholders, the business events sector remains well-positioned to contribute to economic prosperity and strengthen communities across the United States for years to come.
