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Nov. 3 is just around the corner, and there are a number of races around the United States whose outcomes could affect the meetings industry. The Exhibitions Conferences Alliance has published a voting resource to help event professionals understand what's at stake in the upcoming election.
"The industry employs 2.6 million people nationwide," says Tommy Goodwin, president and CEO of the ECA and one of Northstar's Influential #Eventprofs for 2026, "which means that the industry employs 2.6 million voters nationwide."
Some of the far-reaching issues, which will be affected by votes for Senate and House of Representatives candidates, include tariff policies that are impacting the cost of exhibiting; travel policies that impact whether international participants can travel to the United States for events; and workforce-development policies that impact whether the industry will have enough skilled workers to deliver events in the future.
"With one or both houses of Congress potentially under new management next year, political gridlock is likely, which could lead to more executive orders and sweeping regulations that could impact the industry," notes Goodwin.
Guidance for industry voters
The ECA Votes page offers a voter registration link and the option to check the status of voter registration, as well as suggestions on how people can get involved.
Paramount, however is the downloadable voter guide, which outlines seven public-policy issues currently at the forefront for meetings:
- Safeguarding events: Solving problems without creating unnecessary barriers to bringing people together
Trade and tariffs: Keeping events affordable and reducing uncertainty for those that make them possible
International travel: Keeping the United States open and competitive for global business
Taxes: Supporting the organizations and businesses that power the U.S. events economy
Workforce development: Building the next generation of the business and professional events workforce
Operating environment: Giving the industry the certainty and protections it needs to bring people together
Sustainability: Working toward one goal: a shared path to net-zero events
Each heading has a section on why the issue matters, the ECA's take on it and questions for candidates.
"The election guide is where we distill ECA’s policy priorities and ongoing advocacy work," says Goodwin, who notes that the ECA is not endorsing any candidates or encouraging people to vote a certain way.