WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s one thing to talk amongst ourselves about the importance of recovery for the in-person business events industry. But if you want to see some action, particularly when it comes to the passage of the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act (S.477/H.R. 1346), take your message to the legislators who can make it happen, Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Government Affairs
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), which is spearheading this year’s event, said.
Related. ECA Legislative Action Day to Focus on Passage of the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act
Take the Trade Show Recovery Message to Legislators
Trade show executives have the opportunity to tell their stories and advocate directly to policymakers in Washington, D.C., by signing up for this year’s Legislative Action Day, which takes place June 2 and is focused on advocating for the passage of S. 477/H.R. 1346. Formerly known as Exhibitions Day under the Exhibitions Mean Business (EMB) umbrella, Legislative Action Day (which coincides annually with Global Exhibitions Day) will provide attendees with the tools they need to be effective advocates and connect them to their elected officials.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to the business events industry,” said Goodwin. “We need support from Congress to help bring back jobs and jumpstart our industry’s recovery.
“Section 2 of the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act will encourage exhibitors and attendees to return to in-person events by creating a three-year convention and trade show restart tax credit equal to 50% of qualified participation costs paid or incurred by taxpayers including registration fees, lodging and costs associated with trade show exhibitions. It also would cover 100% of qualified restart costs paid or incurred by eligible providers, including any renovation, remediation, personal protective equipment, cleaning, testing or labor needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Related. Tommy Goodwin, ECA’s VP of Government Affairs, Advocates for the Industry
“Taken together, these incentives will accelerate the return of exhibitions and conferences, and help our industry get back to business safely and get Americans back to work.”
How to Participate
Those interested can sign up on the ECA website. The deadline to register is Friday, May 21. Once registered, ECA’s team will schedule virtual meetings with elected officials from the registrant’s home state on June 2.
“Nicole Bowman, Executive Director of Exhibitions Mean Business, and her team do an incredible job of making everything as seamless as possible. We encourage folks to register as soon as possible,” Goodwin said.
There also will be an online program, free to all, at 1-2 p.m. ET on June 1 to give would-be industry advocates tools on how to advocate effectively on the industry’s behalf.
“Thus far, the legislation has already garnered significant bipartisan support, which is great news,” said Goodwin. “In the coming weeks and months, Congress will begin crafting its next economic stimulus package to help those impacted by the pandemic.
“In advance of that, we are trying to secure as many co-sponsors for the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act as possible, with the hope of getting it added to the larger package when it comes together.”
The effort won’t end after the June 2 event. “We encourage participants to build and maintain relationships with their elected officials so that they understand the important role our industry has on the economy and job creation,” Goodwin said.
Reach Tommy Goodwin at (703) 672-0780 or tommy.goodwin@ecalliance.net
Want to get involved? Sign up to be part of the 2021 Legislative Action Day by going to https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/legislative-fly-in-2021/.
