WASHINGTON, D.C. — MAD Event Management, LLC, (MAD), the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the launch of Global Policy Forum, a think-tank style program for events industry leaders, senior government officials, embassy representatives, trade advocates and Department of Commerce personnel.
Its inaugural edition will take place May 29, 2026, at the Army & Navy Club, after Lippman Connects’ Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum (May 27) and ECA’s Legislative Action Day (May 28).
Global Policy Forum will be a full-day dialogue, addressing vital issues shaping the future of the international events industry. Leveraging UFI’s global reach, ECA’s extensive policy networks and MAD’s strategic industry connections, its goal is to bolster collaboration between policymakers and industry stakeholders and examine strategies to drive growth, innovation and sustainability.
“This timing and location create a unique opportunity for international and U.S. stakeholders to engage in a shared dialogue — bridging global perspectives with U.S. advocacy priorities in a way that’s both timely and impactful,” Martha Donato, MAD’s Founder and President and Regional Director North America at UFI, said. “As the debut edition of the Global Policy Forum, this event marks an important milestone in the evolution of industry advocacy. It’s the first time that a global dialogue of this nature is being held in direct coordination with ECA’s U.S. policy initiatives and we’re proud to help facilitate that connection.”
Related. Take a Deep Dive into How Event Transportation Systems is Leveraging Technology
Chris Skeith, OBE, UFI’s CEO and Managing Director, added that the forum represents a vital opportunity to bring the global advocacy narrative to life in the U.S. events industry.
“By sharing global themes, successes and challenges, we can complement and enhance the exceptional work already being led by ECA and extend the conversations happening during Legislative Action Day,” Skeith said. “The discussions will help expand ECA’s conversations to include a broader international perspective — fostering greater understanding, collaboration and actionable steps to reduce barriers and increase engagement from international visitors, exhibitors, businesses, government agencies and trade organizations in the U.S. market. Ultimately, this forum aims to strengthen the global connectivity of the events ecosystem, ensuring the U.S. remains a leading and accessible destination for the world’s event community.”
A Powerful Collaboration
“This initiative is truly about connection — between regions, associations and policymakers,” Donato said. “The exhibitions and business events industry is inherently global and our policies and advocacy efforts need to reflect that reality. I’m proud to partner with UFI and ECA to bring this forum to life and to help ensure that our industry’s story is being told in a unified, forward-looking way. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the future of our industry and its role in driving global commerce and community.”
“The collaboration between MAD, ECA and UFI builds on our existing close engagement across various committees and industry events,” Skeith explained. “This initiative provides an opportunity to unite our collective strengths around a focused message to Capitol Hill as a dedicated advocacy effort … Together, we aim to deliver a coordinated and powerful narrative that highlights the value of the business events sector and drives meaningful action to support its continued growth and success in the U.S. and beyond.”
To get more events industry news, subscribe to TSE’s free e-newsletter on LinkedIn or through your email.
