DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Exhibitions Mean Business campaign will host its third annual Exhibitions Day on Capitol Hill June 7-8 to continue dialogue around key issues and legislation that impact the exhibitions industry.
Established as a platform to engage in uninterrupted, one-on-one dialogue with members of Congress, Exhibitions Day allows proud members of the industry to educate the nation’s leaders about the true value and impact exhibitions and events have on communities around the United States.
“Exhibitions Day gives a voice to the millions of Americans who rely on exhibitions and events to conduct business,” said David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). “Our industry represents one of the oldest and most proven forms of commerce in the world and it’s vital that we continue advocating for policy that benefits businesses and their employees.”
Last year alone, 81 million people attended over 11,000 exhibitions and events in the U.S., contributing more than $77 billion to the U.S. GDP through a wide range of markets. Exhibitions Day 2016 attendees will address issues that directly impact these markets, as well as the local businesses who call them home.
Key issues impacting the exhibitions and events industry that will be discussed include:
1. The Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2016, H.R. 4526
An increasing number of consumers are being misled into making hotel reservations through fraudulent websites and call centers. These scams result in upwards of 15 million fraudulent bookings and more than $1.3 billion in lost money from consumers and lost revenue for local hotels.
Exhibitions Day attendees will ask House members to co-sponsor H.R. 4526, which prohibits websites from pretending to be hotels and allows state attorneys general to pursue restitution and refunds on behalf of the victims.
2. Protecting Workplace Advancement & Opportunity Act (Overtime Legislation), S.2707 & H.R. 4773
Currently proposed changes would increase the minimum salary level to qualify as exempt from overtime pay requirements. Because of the industry’s reliance on a wide range of businesses and employees to create successful events, Exhibitions Day attendees will discuss concerns over the impact of this new regulation.
Two pieces of proposed legislation, S.2707 and H.R. 4773, would block proposed changes and require the Department of Labor to first perform a deeper analysis of the impact overtime regulation would have on small businesses, nonprofits, local economies and governments, and other institutions.
3. Promoting commerce within U.S. borders
Given its importance to the U.S. economy, the industry will also use its time on the Hill to shift focus back to growing trade activities within U.S. borders through exhibitions and events.
As of March 2016, the U.S. was importing $217.1 billion in goods and services, while only exporting $176.6 billion. Placing attention back on bringing commerce into the U.S., such as through trade shows, would create more opportunities for both foreign and domestic parties to conduct business and keep the U.S. competitive in the import/export market.
“It is vital that matters pertaining to local business and commerce are addressed, and that we continue to have an avenue to discuss these issues with our lawmakers,” said Vincent Polito, Principal for mdg (Marketing Design Group). “Our industry helps foster economic growth across the country, so we consider it our charge to bring to light the matters that impact community members, business owners, venue managers and every other citizen who benefits when an exhibition or event is held in their town.”
Building on Exhibitions Day’s positive inspiration, 2016 will also feature an inaugural Global Exhibitions Day movement. Exhibitions and events professionals worldwide will share their support for the industry through various activities in conjunctions with Exhibitions Day efforts on Capitol Hill.
For more information about Exhibitions Day or information related to the exhibitions and events industry, please visit www.exhibitionsmeanbusiness.org. 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.
