ECEF
The future is now: how ECEF 2025 charted the next chapter for American exhibitions
Record attendance and a powerful call to action defined this year’ s Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum( ECEF) in Washington, DC
n the gleaming halls of the
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Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 270 of the exhibition industry ' s most influential leaders gathered recently, for what would prove to be a defining moment for American exhibitions. The Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum( ECEF), masterminded by industry veteran Sam Lippman and his team at Lippman Connects, delivered its signature blend of analysis, strategic insights, and the kind of frank peer-to-peer exchanges that have made this single-day event popular for two and a half decades.
This wasn ' t just another industry gathering, it was a clarion call for transformation in a sector experiencing unprecedented change. With record attendance reflecting the urgency of the moment, ECEF 2025 tackled headon the challenges and opportunities reshaping exhibitions across America.
Mandate for change The tone was set from the opening moments by Sam Lippman ' s characteristically high-energy welcome, but it was Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro who delivered the day’ s most provocative message. His keynote, titled‘ Pivot or die’, challenged the room of CEOs, presidents, and executive directors to embrace their role as
vocal advocates for the millions they represent.
“ It’ s less risky to speak out than to be silent,” Shapiro declared, drawing from his three decades of leadership at CTA and his experience building CES into such an influential technology event. His message resonated deeply: in an era of volatility, exhibition leaders must show courage in public policy engagement and industry selfadvocacy. The timing couldn’ t have been more relevant, coinciding with the launch of his latest book, Pivot or Die: How Leaders Thrive When Everything Changes, which outlines practical frameworks for navigating disruption- lessons drawn from industry giants like Amazon, Panasonic, and Samsung.
Confronting industry headwinds The forum’ s agenda didn’ t shy away from the uncomfortable realities facing organisers. Rising exhibitor costs dominated much of the discussion, with industry executives dissecting the perfect storm of inflation, labour shortages, travel expenses, and mounting sustainability demands. The challenge isn’ t just financial, it’ s existential. How do you keep participation accessible and profitable while delivering the value that exhibitors and attendees demand?
Hervé Sedky of Emerald moderated a particularly frank panel on economic uncertainty, exploring everything from supply chain disruption to evolving attendee behaviours. The discussion revealed an industry grappling with fundamental questions about its future operating model. Yet rather than dwelling on problems, the panel focused on creative solutions for market resilience – a theme that ran throughout the day.
Innovation as survival strategy The most compelling moments came when theory met practice. Leaders from SEMA( Specialty Equipment Market Association) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers provided concrete examples of how investments in digital transformation and hybrid experiences are delivering measurable returns. These aren’ t just nice-tohave additions, they’ re essential tools for keeping shows relevant and competitive in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
48 Issue 4 2025 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk