The EDPA is committed to sustained advocacy on behalf of the exhibitions and events industry. As part of this work, we proudly partner with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and the Exhibitor Advocate
The Exhibitor Advocate amplifies the voice of exhibitors to ensure the enduring success of exhibitions and events by collaborating with all stakeholders to promote and cultivate open communication, consistent standards, and industry best practices.
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows delivered by ECA's alliance partners and their members attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from around the world to conduct business in the United States. This dynamic industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually.
Legislative Action Day
2026 Public Policy Agenda
Business and professional events drive economic growth, empower U.S. small businesses, and support job creation. Every day, exhibitions, conferences, trade shows, and meetings attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from across the country and around the world to share knowledge and conduct business in local communities nationwide.
In 2025, our industry employed more than 2.6 million Americans, generated more than $400 billion in direct spending, and drove additional demand for restaurants, hotels, travel services, and Main Street commerce across all 50 states.
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance is a coalition of leading industry associations that supports public policies that move our industry forward, help us create new jobs, reduce economic uncertainty, safeguard affordability for our small businesses and those we serve, and increase the competitiveness of the U.S. as the premier global destination for business and professional events.
These policies will ensure that our industry continues to serve as a growth engine for U.S. small businesses, entrepreneurs, mission-driven organizations, and communities alike.
Trade and Tariffs
ECA supports trade policies that increase affordability for the industry and our customers, reduce uncertainty, and help ensure strong supply chains. These include free trade agreements and eliminating tariffs, subsidies, and non-tariff barriers with U.S. trading partners.
International Travel
ECA supports international travel policies that lower barriers to attracting international exhibitors, attendees, and buyers to events taking place in the U.S., including:
Reducing visitor visa interview wait times at all U.S. posts worldwide while modernizing visa processing
Eliminating unnecessary fees that prevent international stakeholders from visiting the U.S. for events
Enhancing U.S. national security while avoiding overly restrictive policies that reduce international travel and impact U.S. destination competitiveness
Tax Policy
ECA supports U.S. federal, state, and local tax policies that strengthen the competitiveness of our industry and safeguard its many stakeholders, including tax-exempt organizations. ECA opposes all state and local efforts to enact taxes that unfairly harm the industry and our small business stakeholders.
Workforce Development
Building on the expansion of the Pell Grant program and Section 529 career savings plans, ECA supports policies that strengthen our industry’s ongoing efforts to attract, train, and retain its next generation of workers, with emphasis on skilled workforce training.
Sustainability
ECA supports smart decarbonization policies that help ensure the industry maintains control of its collective path to Net Zero, including:
Encouraging U.S. state and local government efforts that balance sustainability goals and industry feasibility
Supporting industry efforts to align sustainability standards, guidelines, and best practices for maximum impact
