FAQs about ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference & Expo
General
Will the conference proceed in 2020?
Unfortunately, no. As you are aware, it was no longer viable to move forward with ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference & Expo as originally scheduled. Although our hope was to find a path to a safe and successful event in this year, after evaluating availability, we were unable to find a viable 2020 date.
We sincerely appreciate your continued support and patience. Looking at the positive, we’re confident this difficult decision will better allow us to turn our focus to delivering a stellar lineup of educational programming in the fall and to making the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo the one best yet.
What are the dates and location for ALA’s 2021 Annual Conference & Expo?
Next year’s Annual Conference & Expo will take place from Sunday, April 25 to Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. We are looking forward to celebrating ALA’s 50th Anniversary with all of you and will have event updates for you in the coming months. Please watch for a message in your inbox and on the conference website, www.ALAannualconf.org.
Will the PI Project Planning Workshop still take place? If not, how will those registrations be handled?
No, the PI Project Planning Workshop will no longer be held on May 7-8 in Salt Lake City. We are already working to place this workshop alongside a future conference and will share updates at www.alanet.org/events/2020-events/project-planning-workshop/ when available. Existing registrations for this workshop will be cancelled and fully refunded. If you have any questions about your workshop registration, please contact [email protected]
What happens to my conference registration?
We have worked with our Annual Conference planning partners to outline options for our registered attendees. We feel they provide a course of action that can best meet your needs today or help you plan ahead for 2021.
Option 1: All existing conference registrations will be automatically transferred to the 2021 conference dates. These registrations will also receive free access to an online educational experience highlighting numerous AC20 speakers and sessions. This virtual experience is expected to be scheduled this summer, and other details will be shared with you as soon as they are available.
Option 2: You may transfer your (now 2021) Annual Conference registration to a colleague within your organization or chapter (see substitution details* below).
Option 3: Submit a cancellation request for a full refund in writing to [email protected]. If you have already requested a cancellation of your conference registration, any cancellation fees charged will be refunded.
We will be working diligently to respond to all inquiries, but anticipate a high volume of calls and emails from our attendees, and we appreciate your patience.
*A substitute from the registrant's organization or chapter can be arranged for the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo. We are waiving the substitution fee for all registrations received prior to March 18, 2020. However, the substitute's registration fee will be adjusted if a nonmember replaces an ALA member. Written substitution requests should be sent to [email protected] for more information and processing.
What about flight and travel arrangements?
All attendees need to contact their own airlines/travel insurance companies to understand their policies and whether flights can be transferred and what penalty fees may apply.
What about my hotel booking?
Reservations made directly into the “ALA block” via OnPeak at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown or the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake will automatically be canceled and fully refunded. Reservations made outside of the block with the hotel or through a third party, like Expedia or Travelocity, are the responsibility of the registrant to cancel. If in doubt, please call OnPeak to confirm your cancelation at 800-219-8921.
When can I book my hotel reservations for the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo?
We ask for your patience to allow OnPeak and our preferred hotel partners the time to properly set up the room block and reservation portal. We will be in touch soon with an update.
I have already cancelled my registration and want to register for the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo. Will I get a refund for a cancellation fee I was already charged?
Any registrants who had previously cancelled their conference registration who would like to rebook for the new conference dates will be credited any cancellation fees already paid, upon request.
How will I be able to earn enough in-person/live CLM credits to recertify or apply for the CLM this year?
CLM certification requirements for in-person/live CLM credits will be waived in 2020. All CLM credits can be obtained via technology-based coursework including self-study and passive learning experiences. This waiver applies to both recertification and application credits. Please check the CLM program webpage for additional details. https://www.alanet.org/education/certification
Speakers
I was scheduled to speak in May, what happens now?
Thank you for your continued support. We will be in touch with all 2020 Annual Conference speakers via email in the coming weeks. Please contact Kristy Perkins at [email protected] for more information.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Will sponsors/exhibitors be transferred to the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo?
A member of our sponsorship team will be in touch to recontract all exhibits and sponsorships for the 2021 Annual Conference & Expo. The options available will be to transfer your spend to the 2021 conference or receive a full refund. If you have questions or want to discuss further, please contact [email protected].
What about services and products ordered for our sponsorship/booth?
Any services ordered through GES i.e. furniture, carpet, electrical, labor, etc. will get 100% refund. If anything was ordered through the convention center i.e. catering or internet, those will get a 100% refund as well.
What about freight that is already in transit or received?
If the venue or GES has received your freight, we ask that you make arrangements for a return shipment at your earliest convenience. You will be responsible for carrier/transportation/courier and material handling fees. If your shipment is in transit, it will be refused upon arrival and be returned by your shipper. Please contact the GES team (800) 475-2098 or use the chat feature on their website: https://ordering.ges.com/016600375/ContactUs#.