The sweeping legislation signed last week has lots of benefits for the meetings and travel industries, say ECA and U.S. Travel.
“On the Fourth of July, the U.S. business and professional events industry scored win upon win as the 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘤𝘵 was signed into law,” enthused Tommy Goodwin, Executive Vice President of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) in a LinkedIn post.
Calling the legislation’s passage “a defining moment for the industry,” Hervé Sedky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emerald and Chair of the ECA Board of Directors added in an official statement, “It protects vital tax policies and invests in our future workforce by expanding Pell Grants and modernizing 529 savings plans. This bill reflects ECA’s mission to advance our industry through advocacy and smart policy.” ECA has been advocating on these issues as part of its public policy agenda to support the meetings and events industry and its ability to in turn support the entrepreneurs, small businesses and communities it serves.
Specifically, ECA points to the legislation’s tax policies that make permanent the competitive business tax rate and small-business and entrepreneur deductions that had been slated to expire, as well as preserving the tax-exempt status of nonprofits and associations — and their events. ASAE and its Community Impact Coalition also applauded the preservation of the current tax treatment of nonprofit organizations, especially the removal of two taxes during the legislation process: One that would have taxed nonprofits’ expenses on parking and transportation fringe benefits, and another that would have taxed royalties generated from a nonprofit’s name and logo.
The bill’s retention of tax policies regarding private capital investments also is a plus for the industry, said ECA, as it will “ensure an important source of investment in our industry’s small businesses and future growth.”
The bill also allows students to use Pell Grants for job training programs and expands 529 plan eligibility to now include licenses and professional certifications. “Our industry’s collective future depends on having a highly skilled workforce to deliver the world-class business and professional events that our customers expect,” said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) President and Chief Executive Officer and ECA Co-President. “The workforce policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help equip our future workforce with the necessary training and credentials they need to have great careers in our industry.”
While their priorities are not the same as the ECA’s, U.S. Travel Association also found much to like in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on Friday. “This legislation is a giant step in the right direction when it comes to improving America’s travel infrastructure and security,” said President and CEO Geoff Freeman. Key wins for the travel industry, according to USTA, include $12.5 billion to modernize the National Airspace System; $4.1 billion to hire and train new U.S. Customs and Border Control officers; $673 million to expand the biometric entry-exit systems at ports of entry; and significant budgets for security, planning and operations related to upcoming world events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympic and Paralympic Games.
However, USTA was not as pleased to see that, despite these gains, the bill does not include restoring funding for Brand USA, the nation’s official destination marketing organization whose federal match was reduced from $100 million to $20 million during an earlier round of federal funding cuts. “Failing to fully fund Brand USA is a missed opportunity — especially as the administration seeks to maximize a historic slate of global events on American soil,” said Freeman.
USTA also is not on board with the bill’s steep increases to non-immigrant visa fees, which include a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for visitor visas and raises the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee for Visa Waiver Program travelers from $21 to $40.
“Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation’s largest exports: international travel spending,” said Freeman. “These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travelers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.”
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