DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Exhibitions Mean Business campaign will host its second annual Exhibitions Day on Capitol Hill June 8-9 to continue dialogue around key issues that threaten the industry’s $71.3 billion contribution to the U.S. GDP.
Exhibitions Day 2015 was established to serve as a platform to engage in uninterrupted, one-on-one dialogue with members of Congress. With nearly 69 million attendees and two million exhibiting organizations participating in face-to-face events last year alone, the economic power of exhibitions and events has a considerable role in communities and markets across the country.
Exhibitions Day attendees will meet with U.S. representatives to raise awareness about the exhibitions and events industry among government and other influential audiences; educate our nation’s leaders about the value and impact of exhibitions and events on cities and communities; and help government officials to be more cognizant of the industry and its relation to their work.
“We had a very successful inaugural event in 2014 and we want to continue to foster relationships and build awareness among federal legislators and other government officials to ensure that the issues that impact us, and as a result, impact the economic revenue generated in markets across the country, are addressed,” said David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
Key issues to be discussed this year include:
- Garnering support for the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act, a bipartisan effort to take specific steps, such as reforming the nation’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP), to increase international travel to the United States. Changes enacted through the JOLT Act are projected to help bring nearly 100 million visitors to the United States, create one million jobs and generate as much as $859 billion in revenue by 2020.
- Addressing efforts by American, Delta and United airlines to nullify Open Skies agreements and freeze new routes for three international carriers. The legacy U.S. carriers allege that Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have violated Open Skies agreements by accepting subsidies from their governments. The truth is virtually all global carriers, including those in the U.S., have accepted financial or regulatory subsidies from their governments. Open Skies agreements have positively impacted international aviation and travel, increased international air service, reduced air fare and encouraged millions of people to travel both nationally and internationally for leisure and business. Any action taken against the spirit of this policy would be detrimental to multiple facets of the U.S. economy, including the exhibitions and events industry.
- Garnering support to re-establish the Travel Promotion Authority (TPA) to help ensure a rules-based system for two-way trade and that American workers and businesses—including America’s travel businesses—get the best deal out of new trade agreements. Expanded trade increases travel’s contribution to the economy by increasing travel to the United States, directly supporting American jobs, reducing the trade deficit and greatly contributing to U.S. exports, and ultimately benefiting the exhibitions and events industry.
- Raising awareness about the importance of government employee participation at events, which is undeniably valuable to both attendees and exhibitors. Attendance at exhibitions and other face-to-face events is what fosters the development of effective regulation, contributes to innovation that drives economic growth, and provides unique learning and training opportunities for government employees. Additionally, exhibitions are the exact place where government agencies find the qualified contractors needed to help take on the numerous projects they need completed.
“As a member of the exhibitions and events industry, we strongly support Exhibitions Day and the topics being addressed on Capitol Hill,” said Megan Tanel, Vice President of Exhibitions & Events for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and 2015 IAEE Chairperson of the Board. “It is vital that matters pertaining to international and government travel are addressed, and that we continue to have an avenue to discuss issues with our lawmakers that can help foster growth within our industry while also supporting local and national economies with the large impact that exhibitions and events provide.”
For more information about Exhibitions Day or information related to the exhibitions and events industry, please visit www.exhibitionsmeanbusiness.com. Follow us on Twitter @ExhibitsMeanBiz for commentary and news surrounding Exhibitions Day.
About Exhibitions Mean Business
Established in 2011, Exhibitions Mean Business (EMB) was created to unify and give a collective voice to the exhibitions and events industry and better advocate the benefits of face-to-face meetings to business growth and economic development. Driven by members of the industry, including professional associations, venue and convention center operators, exhibitions-focused service providers, convention and visitors bureaus and other travel and tourism organizations, EMB promotes the values of the industry through strategic advocacy campaigns, media relations efforts and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
