ECEF 2026 Program

Tuesday, May 26

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03:30 PM
  1. 90 mins

    This 90-minute pre-ECEF session is a high-level executive roundtable for event professionals to engage in candid, peer-to-peer dialogue about the external forces reshaping U.S.-based events.

    Global economic shifts, evolving trade dynamics and changing business conditions are influencing travel patterns, exhibitor investment, international participation and our industry as a collective. For many organizers, the variables that once felt occasional now show up in every planning conversation – impacting budgets, sales cycles and growth assumptions. These pressures are simply part of the environment we’re operating in.

    Moderated by industry peers, the discussion will center on how these conditions should inform event strategy, attendee marketing, exhibitor and sponsor sales, international visitor acquisition and financial planning. There will be no lectures or PowerPoints — just focused executive dialogue. Participants will hear how fellow organizers are adapting, compare approaches and leave with practical insight to guide decisions in the months ahead.

    RSVP: https://www.mdg.agency/news/leading-era-permanent-disruption/

    Note: Does not include ECEF registration.

07:30 PM
  1. Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington DC
    90 mins

    Relax, meet new faces, and reconnect with valued colleagues.

     

Wednesday, May 27

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08:00 AM
  1. Start the day in the company of friends and colleagues.

09:00 AM
  1. ECEF convenes.
09:05 AM
09:10 AM
09:40 AM
  1. Whom do you want to meet? Who has an opportunity for you? Every leader in the room stands up and introduces themselves to their peers.

10:50 AM
11:15 AM
  1. Too few opportunities for independent organizers and associations to partner come to fruition because of an implied culture clash. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this candid and insightful session, Questex and AHLA pull back the curtain on their four-year partnership behind The Hospitality Show. 

    The ECEF audience will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how two distinct organizations aligned their visions, navigated challenges, and built a scalable, evolving event platform that continues to grow in impact and relevance. 

    Through real-world examples, this session will explore the critical role of strategic alignment, transparent communication, and shared accountability in making partnership models succeed. Speakers will discuss both the opportunities and the inevitable friction points that arise — and how to proactively manage them to stay on track. 

    Whether you're considering a similar collaboration or looking to strengthen an existing partnership, this session will provide practical frameworks and honest reflections to help you succeed.

    Key Takeaways
    1. Understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of partnerships between independent organizers and trade associations. 
    2. Learn how to define, measure, and evaluate success — and what to do when expectations aren’t met. 
    3. Gain strategies for managing team collaboration, roles, and responsibilities across organizations. 
    4. Discover how strong communication and alignment drive long-term growth and scalability.

11:50 AM
  1. What happens on Capitol Hill and in the White House has never had a bigger impact on what happens on the show floor. That’s why the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is the public policy voice of exhibition and conference executives in Washington, D.C. and state capitals nationwide. Join ECA board chair Fernando Fischer, President, Americas for RX, as he talks about ECA 2.0: a new initiative that will expand ECA’s advocacy impact, expand engagement across the industry, and build a more sustainable platform for long-term value creation. He will also talk about how ECEF attendees can get involved and preview ECA Legislative Action Day, where 200+ leaders like you will be going to Capitol Hill on behalf of our industry.

01:20 PM
01:35 PM
  1. Last month, an AI agent managed promotional pricing across 12 markets. It analyzed competitors, adjusted margins, coordinated with partners, and executed changes—without asking anyone. The marketing directors found out when they saw the results.
    Welcome to the agentic era.

    In this high-impact session, Shelly Palmer cuts through the hype to deliver what leaders actually need: a new vocabulary for AI (Model, Harness, System, Agent), a proven framework for deployment (Context & Evals), and the five shifts that will define winners in 2026—from "Share of Prompt" to why your organization must "Default to Distrust."

    The technology is ready. Are you?

02:05 PM
  1. Hosting, sponsoring, attending. We've done it all. And every time, we're watching people ask the same quiet question: is it worth coming back?

    This session is a candid debrief on what's changing - why attendees are trading swag for subject matter experts, why the window to create value doesn't start at registration or end at teardown, and why the three days on the floor are more underutilized than anyone wants to admit.

03:00 PM
04:00 PM

Thursday, May 28

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28 May 2026
  1. The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) 2026 Legislative Action Day will take place in person in Washington, DC on Thursday, May 28, 2026.