EACA News
2026 Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic Schedule. There are a number of “The Randy” events coming up to help support our industry colleagues and friends in need. Registration is currently available for all events. To register just click on the appropriate link below.
Chicago Randy July 27 Itasca Country Club, Itasca, IL
Get Out of the Gutter Aug. 20 Bowlero Chamblee, Atlanta, GA
The Randy Sept. 28 Chateau Elan, Braselton, GA
Time to Vote for the People’s Choice Award at the ExSys Awards. <Exhibit City News> Judged by The Experiential Design Authority (TEDA), the ExSys Awards recognize excellence in system-based exhibits, showcasing projects that exemplify creativity, innovation, and superior design. These awards celebrate the ingenuity and creativity of designers and marketers who push the boundaries of modular and system-based solutions. While the judges’ scores will determine the winners for the other awards, the People’s Choice Award is selected by popular vote.
Exhibitor Advocate Publishes 2025 Survey of Exhibition Rates The 2025 Annual Survey of Exhibition Rates is now available! Now in its fourth year, this independently audited report benchmarks material handling, labor, electrical, internet, and exhibition costs across 23 major U.S. cities.
For exhibitors, organizers, and suppliers alike, this report has become an essential budgeting, benchmarking, and negotiation tool.
A few findings from this year’s report:
- Electrical outlet rates up 18.4%
- Material handling costs continued climbing to an average of $2.28/lb.
- Booth flooring costs accelerated sharply
EACA App Coming Soon Development of the new App for EACA is on the way and we expect to launch soon. The EACA App will include these features:
- Directory of Individuals in the EAC community
- Directory of Service organizations in the EAC community
- Local community networking – stay up-to-date on show needs and issues, reach out to the community to get informed, solve challenges or provide support to your industry colleagues
- EAC Forum – share ideas, provide alerts offer suggestions, discuss upcoming event challenges
- Industry Knowledge Base – includes Best Practices, guidance from industry experts
- Media Center – EACA courses, Panel discussions
EAC Registration Schedule EACA is supporting the following events with our EAC registration services:
NBAA Oct. 20-22 Las Vegas
RSNA Nov. 30- Dec. 4 Chicago
EACA Member News
Willwork Supports FIFA World Cub with Activations. <Exhibit City News> Willwork is doing “giant work” in every U.S. city hosting the World Cup, chief executive officer Bill Nixon says. One day he’s dodging a tornado in Kansas City, the next day he’s drenched by a hurricane in New Jersey. He’s got major presentations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas.
“Different exhibit houses give us different projects,” Nixon notes during an interview at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where he was drumming up business at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention. “We’re really doing a lot of outdoor space and activations. Outdoors is way different than convention centers. There are no loading docks, you don’t know where you are, you don’t know what the weather’s going to be like.”
Nth Degree Announces Fern Leadership Appointments <Exhibit City News>. Nth Degree named Shana Carr president of Fern Expo. Carr brings 30 years of tradeshow industry experience to the role. She will focus on client experience, operations, and national growth. In addition, Fern Expo promoted Robin Mullins to senior vice president, client experience. Mullins has more than 20 years of industry experience, including 13 years at Fern Expo. In his new role, he will focus on account management and show-site teams. Fern Expo also named Julie Gustafson vice president, depot services. Gustafson brings 29 years of industry experience and will lead quality control and service improvements across Fern Expo’s event portfolio. Meanwhile, Cara Roach has joined Fern Expo as vice president, process and integration. Roach has 11 years of experience in the general services industry. She will oversee operational scalability, process improvement, and onboarding.
State Minimum Wage Increases <Employco USA> Employco has recently published a special HR update highlighting the state and local minimum wage increases that take effect July 1. Click here to view the complete minimum wage update, including the full summary of new rates and effective dates. FULL ARTICLE INCLUDES: Updated minimum wage rates for Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Washington, D.C., including applicable local and municipal minimum wage increases and their effective dates.
New CBA in Las Vegas. The Collective Bargaining Agreement for Local 631 in Las Vegas was ratified recently by the members – almost 90% voting to approve.
Las Vegas Parking for July. The LVCC has shared its Parking Lot Activity for July. Please share with your work crews.
Industry News
Bruce Deckel Passes Away Bruce Deckel, 86, of Louisville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 7th, 2026. In 1964, he co-founded Deckel and Moneypenny, which became one of the region’s largest full-service trade show marketing agencies. Throughout his career, Bruce’s found joy in working with his clients and he earned the respect of many in the industry who admired his talent, leadership, and work ethic. He was passionate about his work, took pride in each and every project, and received numerous industry awards. Bruce also served as a director and president of the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association.
Encore Files for IPS Encore just filed to go public and it quietly admitted the thing we’ve been told was impossible. Buried in the risk factors is a line that may change how every event organizer negotiates AV. You aren’t as locked in as you think. Encore runs AV at ~2,200 venues. It serves 95% of the Fortune 500. It’s the largest B2B live-events company on earth.
Here’s what the filing says, in plain English:
→ The exclusivity binds the venue. Not you. Encore is the only in-house provider. But the contract does not stop you from bringing in an outside team for your event. Planners keep that option.
→ They capture about 80% of business in their own venues. Roughly a fifth of events go another way. The “preferred provider” desk is not the only door.
→ The venue is paid to steer you. Encore hands venues big upfront checks to sign, plus commissions on what you’re charged. The markup you pay helps fund the nudge toward the in-house desk.
→ Prices have climbed ~88% per event since 2019. They also admit they sometimes cut prices to win or keep business.
ECA Sounds Alarm on OMB Proposal Targeting Events <TSNN> The Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) has formally opposed a Trump Administration proposal to revise federal grant rules that would limit recipients’ ability to participate in events and add new conditions to event services, according to an ECA letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and comments to TSNN.
ECA President and CEO Tommy Goodwin said the regulations would “kneecap the federal government’s ROI for its $1 trillion annual spending on grants.” He added that the proposal would undermine a central element of how the federal government serves Americans: convening meetings, conventions, plenaries and other events to discuss opportunities and address current challenges. ECA’s letter noted that restricting attendance would have immediate economic effects on meetings and conferences. According to ECA, the events industry employs 2.6 million Americans and will drive more than $400 billion in domestic spending this year.