The Events Industry Alliance (EIA) has appointed a public
affairs adviser to aid its engagement with Parliament and help strengthen the
event’s sector’s profile within government.
Strategic consultancy Henham Strategy will work with the
alliance, which is comprised of the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Association of Event
Venues (AEV) and the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), to help
their members and the wider sector gain recognition within policy discussions
around growth, trade and investment.
This move will be a welcomed one for a sector that has
struggled to achieve effective advocacy in recent years.
As Associations Meetings International editor James Lancaster
says in this
episode of The Meeting Room, the formation of multiple international
associations and organisations has ‘muddied the water’ and arguably weakened
the sector’s position with governments around the world.
Speaking with one ‘loud voice’ as opposed to a many smaller, weaker ones, is a step in the right direction and would help during times of crisis,
agrees Anna Abdelnoor, CEO and founder of isla.
In this opinion
piece for AMI she criticises the industry’s lack of advocacy, urging
it to pull together and speak out in the face of the current crisis in the
Middle East.
“If we were behaving like a mature industry, this current
conflict would trigger coordinated action from industry leaders,” she
writes.
“A mature industry with real leadership would present a
consolidated, unified, calm, grown-up position.”
Rachel Parker, EIA director and CEO of AEV, said appointing a
public affairs adviser marked an ‘important new chapter’ for the EIA and the wider sector.
“As international competition intensifies and other
countries sharpen their focus on business events, it is essential that the UK
matches that ambition."
Henham Strategy managing director Nick King, said: “Both
inside and outside of government, I’ve seen first-hand the economic impact
business events deliver, both nationally and across the regions.
“We are delighted to be working with the EIA to ensure
policymakers fully recognise the sector’s central role in the UK’s growth
story.”
