ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, announced at IMEX Frankfurt their new partnership with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry.
The alliance provides ICCA with an opportunity to advocate for its members in North America, and to join a group of like-minded organisations working toward the advancement of the industry’s collective business and sustainability objectives.
ICCA will be represented on the ECA board of directors by Senthil Gopinath, ICCA’s chief executive officer.
“ICCA is thrilled to partner with the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance and move forward together toward the shared objectives of advocating for our industry in North America,” said Gopinath. “This partnership promises to provide mutual support and resources to advance the goals of serving our respective members, promoting sustainability, and building a legacy that reflects our mission, vision, and values.”
ICCA will use this unique opportunity to build connections and learn best practices around how to most effectively advocate for the meetings and events industry with policymakers and politicians, and to champion the needs and causes of the community with stakeholders across the North American region.
The ICCA-ECA alliance provides ICCA with beneficial access to an expanded network of connections and resources, allowing the organisation to identify and act on commercial, opportunities, advocacy, and growth opportunities.
“Whether its supporting smart decarbonization and sustainability measures or advancing policies that help advance seamless international travel and commerce, our advocacy efforts are stronger when industry leaders from around the world speak to policymakers with one voice,” said Hervé Sedky, Emerald Holding Inc. president and chief executive officer and chair of the ECA board of directors.
“That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome ICCA and its global community of international association meetings leaders to ECA, which will strengthen ECA’s ability to tell the story of how our industry drives economic growth and societal change to the policymakers that matter.”
Since 1963, ICCA has been an advocate for the global meetings and events industry, providing pathways for connection and networking that allow members across five sectors — destination marketing, meetings management, meetings support, venues, and transport — to form connections with associations seeking support and services for their conferences and conventions. ICCA provides skills training and education for professionals in the meetings and events space, and hosts an annual congress for members during which attendees can participate in a variety of events to grow their networks and their skillsets.
Established in 2021, the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance works to ensure that policymakers in Washington, D.C. and beyond understand and support the important impact that the business events industry has on driving economic growth, supporting job creation, empowering small businesses, and helping to address societal challenges.
ICCA joins ECA’s coalition of alliance partners who represent the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, event and meeting organizers, suppliers, venues, and members of the U.S. and global business events landscape.
- Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA)
- Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
- International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
- International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
- International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
- Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
- Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO)
- Trade Show Labor Alliance
- UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
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