Lobby Effort Draws Criticism

<B> Lobby Effort Draws Criticism</B>

By Lauren Bielski

While some insiders are nonplused by criticism from a key association in the eleventh hour, Meeting Industry's Legislation Action Day will barely skip a beat as it takes to the Hill for its annual lobbying effort next week.

The Professional Convention Management Association has decided not to promote the March 5 event to its members. Chaired by Kay Heder, vice president of national corporate meetings sales for ITT Sheraton's North America division, MILAD will be backed by 11 hospitality industry groups, including the American Hotel & Motel Association, the Convention Liaison Council and the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, as well as founding organization Meeting Professionals International.

PCMA's president Roy Evans publically criticized MILAD late in January, citing "underwhelming issues" and a questionable lobbying format as reasons for its decision to hold back on greater involvement, although the organization did not take back any registration fees already committed. Although it was earlier reported in at least one trade publication that PCMA was withdrawing from MILAD, Evans said his comments had been misconstrued.

Although the PCMA's criticism is a symbolic blow to fragile unity, its impact will not be practically felt as PCMA only generated five participants last year, according to Heder. "We would have loved PCMA to be more active in MILAD. Still, we stand by our agenda and enjoy the support and stepped up involvement of the other MILAD members."

She noted that it will be business as usual for industry participants during their day on Capitol Hill as they lobby for the MILAD legislative agenda that includes a plea for federal funding for the United States National Tourism Organization, a reinstatement of deductibility on business meal tax from 50 to 80 percent and passage of the Fairness in Music Licensing Act of 1997, which would amend copyright laws.

In its fifth year and with more than 400 pre-registered attendees, Legislative Action Day is designed to give more clout to a previously under-recognized industry nationally and has sparked state level legislative activity too.

Roger Rickard, president of America's Destination in Phoenix and chair of the Government Affairs Committee, said that MILAD chapters in Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington all lobbied their state legislators in 1997, typically joining events sponsored by other state hospitality organizations. Members from each of those states will be active again this year, Rickard said.

Meanwhile, chapter members in Pennsylvania for the first time will visit their legislators as part of a more comprehensive campaign to gain a foothold in government.

On the first day, Legislative Action Day will include an optional instructional session on protocol and helpful tips, including a computerized simulation of the legislative process for up to 160 pre-registered participants. During the second day, geographically affiliated groups will lobby individual members of the House and Senate after an orientation breakfast and registration at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

Evans, however, criticized certain aspects of the event. He questioned the logic of supporting the United States National Tourism Organization, which he maintained had shut out the convention and meetings industry when it failed to place either PCMA or MPI members on its 48-member board. Likewise, he said that by challenging the 50 percent business meal deduction, the lobbying effort may cause Congress to reduce it even further.

Evans also questioned the value of supporting the Fairness in Music Licensing Act of 1997, the efficacy of a single day of lobbying and the lack of context. He suggested that MILAD dollars might be better spent in a public relations campaign, although he said PCMA wasn't counting itself out of participation in future Legislative Action Days.

Terry Epton, executive vice president of destination management firm USA Hosts, and executive committee member of SITE, agreed with Evans that the issues brought to Capitol Hill annually might not be changed by a one-time visit to Congress, but nonetheless stated that SITE saw real value in group lobbying. "Whatever approach we take, we need to remind lawmakers about our scope and contribution as an employer and to commerce," he said.

Bill Fisher, CEO and president of the AH&MA, said that lobbying was a sound model of government relations, a process that is critical and should be viewed as entirely separate from any media campaign that might be launched.

"I think it's important to show up year after year--continuity helps show our dedication to relationship building and lets legislators know that we're not going to show up just when we need something in the face of hot issues," Fisher said.

MPI's executive vice president and CEO Ed Griffin was brisk and unapologetic about MILAD's approach. He said the industry lobbying initiative was designed to address federal issues and pull together a fragmented tourism, travel and meetings industry, and in the continual struggle to accomplish those goals, retained its purpose.

"We chose issues that already have a profile and impact our industry on a national level. All of the partici- pating organizations voted on, and had input in, this agenda," he said.