After the Trump administration introduced $2.5 trillion in tariffs on imports of things used at conferences similar to aluminum, paper and copper, occasions trade organizations issued statements pleading for aid primarily based on the significance of conferences and occasions.
The message coincided with World Conferences Business Day on March 3 and the construct as much as U.S. Journey Affiliation’s Vacation spot Capitol Hill annual advocacy push for modernization to unlock a brand new Golden Age of Journey prematurely of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer time Olympics.
Concern About Rising Occasion Prices
Tommy Goodwin, govt vp with Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), launched an announcement saying the govt order introducing new reciprocal tariffs on U.S. buying and selling companions has led to “vital concern” inside the U.S. enterprise {and professional} occasions trade.
“These tariffs will improve prices for enterprise {and professional} occasion organizers, exhibitors and attendees alike. In addition they ship a sign to worldwide exhibitors and attendees that the U.S. is closed for enterprise.”
Learn Extra: A Q&A with Fred Dixon on the Enduring Significance of Hospitality
He identified that tariffs will significantly hurt small companies, which account for 99% of trade firms and 80% of all exhibitors. Then he shared the financial influence of the occasions trade—2.63 million American jobs and $426.1 billion in spending estimated for 2025 in america. “That’s why the ECA opposes these new tariffs, which can negatively influence our collective skill to drive financial progress, assist job creation, empower small companies and assist to unravel our most pressing societal challenges,” he mentioned.
Learn Extra: Important! Assist the $1 Trillion Conferences Business, Restart America
A Plea to Contemplate Massive Image Impacts
The Dwell Occasions Coalition (LEC) that got here to life through the pandemic to advocate for the wellbeing of all elements of the trade, together with company occasions, sporting occasions, gala’s and festivals and performances, has been reanimated to deal with latest threats to all the above.
Reached the day after GMID, LEC President Nancy Shaffer burdened the significance of working collectively to assist the message LEC VIC Chair and Authorities Affairs Wendy Porter is doing together with Advertising and marketing and Communications Director Al Mercuro, Authorities Affairs Chair Dwayne Thomas and Treasurer Russ Callahan.
LEC launched an announcement placing a face to the 12 million folks working to maintain 1.2 million small companies alive. “These aren’t faceless numbers—they’re the planners, producers, AV techs, stagehands, riggers, exhibit homes, lighting designers, scenic builders, present callers, rental firms, decorators, caterers, transportation groups, translators, musicians, photographers, florists and hundreds of freelancers who carry occasions to life each single day,” the assertion learn.
It referred to as the newly introduced tariffs “one more blow to the dwell occasions ecosystem”—an trade already grappling with a 38% improve in prices since 2019.
It identified that tariffs on imported items drive up the price of all the things from staging and signage to meals, leisure know-how tools and journey. “When these prices rise, we see a domino impact: company journey freezes, advertising budgets tighten, sponsorships shrink and inside and exterior occasions are the primary to go.”
The assertion burdened that these enterprise losses don’t simply damage the conferences trade. It hurts each trade that depends on occasions to drive model visibility, thought management, lead technology, worker engagement and income. “The downstream influence is actual. Occasions aren’t a line merchandise to slash—they’re a important lever for progress,” in line with Shaffer.
“We urge policymakers to grasp the total attain of this choice. Undermining the dwell occasions trade doesn’t simply threaten jobs—it threatens the very platforms that assist American companies develop, join, and thrive,” the assertion concluded.
What Particular person Planners Can Do
Goodwin vowed to work with member associations, coalition companions and different stakeholders in Washington, D.C., to advocate for commerce insurance policies that can strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. enterprise {and professional} occasions trade going ahead and permit us to proceed to function a progress engine for the U.S. financial system.
He instructed aligning with ECA Advocacy Community’s e mail motion heart and following the ECA Tariff Useful resource Heart on the ECA web site with the newest information impacting the trade.
The U.S. Journey Insights Dashboard is a real-time supply for journey developments and intelligence about the place the financial system is heading.
