New Partnership Brings Critical Capitol Hill Updates and Digital Content to Industry Professionals
by Exhibit City News Staff
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and Exhibit City News (ECN) have announced a new content partnership aimed at strengthening advocacy efforts for the business events industry. The collaboration will focus on delivering regular updates on public policy and legislative developments through a mix of magazine columns, online articles, and short-form videos.
The ECA, formed in 2021, represents a coalition of industry and labor organizations advocating on behalf of the exhibitions, conferences, and trade show sectors. In 2022, these events generated $138 billion in direct sales and supported 2.2 million jobs across the United States. This partnership with ECN, which is marking its 30th year in 2024, aims to further amplify the industry’s voice in Washington, D.C., and beyond.
Focus on Advocacy
Tommy Goodwin, Vice President of the ECA, emphasized that the partnership comes at a crucial time for the industry.
“The pandemic taught us that advocacy must be woven into the fabric of our industry,” Goodwin said. “What happens on Capitol Hill directly affects what happens on the show floor. Through ECN, we can reach the industry leaders who are instrumental in shaping these outcomes.”
Goodwin pointed to critical issues such as workforce development and tax policies that can have a direct impact on the growth of the industry. The partnership will provide a platform for ongoing discussions on these topics.
Expanding Reach Through Content
As part of the agreement, ECN will feature ECA’s advocacy efforts through quarterly columns, online updates, and videos. This approach is designed to keep industry professionals informed on the latest developments affecting the business events sector.
Chris Kappes, Strategic Advisor at ECN, highlighted the alignment between the two organizations.
“The ECN-ECA partnership brings together two key voices in the industry,” Kappes said. “By combining our platforms, we can build greater awareness and foster understanding of the issues impacting the industry.”
Kappes noted that cross-platform promotion, audience engagement, and integrated content strategies will be key to ensuring the partnership’s visibility and success.
As part of the partnership’s content strategy, readers can also check out ECA’s first online article, featuring CNTV-produced videos of four industry leaders—Chris Griffin, Megan Martin, Rich Stone, and Mac Campbell—explaining their participation in ECA Legislative Action Day earlier this year.
Digital Presence and Engagement
For ECN, the partnership is also an opportunity to enhance its digital presence. Marlena Sullivan, Managing Editor of ECN, sees the addition of short-form videos as an important step toward reaching a broader audience.
“Through this partnership, we aim to keep industry professionals informed about the legislation and policies that affect their work,” Sullivan said. “The inclusion of videos will add a dynamic element to our content, allowing us to reach more people online.”
Long-Term Vision
Donald Svehla, Publisher of ECN, said the partnership aligns with ECN’s mission of keeping the industry informed as it moves into its 30th year.
“This collaboration helps ensure that the voices of those working in the business events industry are heard,” Svehla said. “As we continue to cover the key issues affecting this sector, partnerships like this will allow us to provide a comprehensive view of what’s happening.”
The ECA-ECN partnership will begin publishing content later this year, with a focus on delivering timely updates from Capitol Hill and insights on key issues affecting the industry. Both organizations see the collaboration as a way to ensure the business events industry stays connected to the legislative and advocacy efforts shaping its future.
