Registration for the 70th Annual Conference & Marketplace will open in late spring / early summer 2024. View a full schedule of rates and deadlines. Prices and dates are subject to change.

By registering you are agreeing to IDA’s Event Agreement and Code of Conduct and IDA Attendee Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release Form.

We would like to make the registration process for the 70th Annual Conference & Marketplace go as smoothly as possible. In order to register for the conference, you need to either have an account in IDA’s database or you must create one. If you previously registered for an event, you should have an account in the database. For instructions on logging in to your IDA account, please visit the downtown.org Guide.

The full registration fee includes General Sessions with Master Talks, Breakout Sessions, admission to Marketplace, receptions (2), refreshment breaks (4) and lunches (2). Pre-conference workshops and tours are available for an additional fee (see program for fees). Advance registration is not required for General or Breakout Sessions, Service Advisories or Lunch & Learns.

*The one-day registration fee is available for one single day only. The fee includes access to one day of Plenary Sessions with Master Talks, Breakout Sessions scheduled for the day of your attendance, admission to the Marketplace, refreshment breaks (2), lunch and/or reception scheduled for the day of your attendance. Tours on the day of your attendance are available for an additional fee (see program for fees). Single day registrants are not eligible to attend activities outside their selected day. Should you choose to attend more than one day, you must purchase a full registration. Advance registration is not required for General or Breakout Sessions, Service Advisories or Lunch & Learns. Currently, single day rates are not available in the online registration system. If you are interested in registering for one-day only (Wednesday, Thursday or Friday), please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.

**The guest fee of $250USD includes receptions (2) and lunches (2). Attendees may purchase a ticket for a guest for a single reception only (opening or closing) and/or both receptions (opening and closing). The fee is $50USD per guest reception ticket. Tours are also available for an additional fee for registered guests (see program for fees). The guest fee does not include session or workshop attendance. Currently, guest rates are not available in the online registration system. If you are interested in registering a guest, please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.

Payment Methods: For your convenience, payments may be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Should you need to pay by check or ACH, you will not be able to complete registration online. Please email registration@downtown.org for assistance.

Cancellation Policy: Written notice of cancellation is required. Cancellations received via email by Wednesday, August 21, 2024 will receive a refund less a $100 processing fee. Refunds will be processed approximately 30 days after the event. Cancellations received after August 21, 2024 will not be refunded. Please email the cancellation notification to the International Downtown Association by emailing at registration@downtown.org.

Substitutions: Substitutions of complete registrations (including tours and workshops) are gladly accepted prior to the event start date. Please submit a written request to registration@downtown.org before September 10, 2024, at 3 pm ET to complete your substitution. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant and must be transferred to an individual in your organization. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations (any balance due) associated with that substitution.

Outstanding Balance: Please note, if you have an outstanding balance for this event and/or tour(s), you will not receive your badge on-site or be allowed to attend tours until payment is received. Please contact registration@downtown.org prior to your arrival on-site to pay your outstanding balance.

Adding a Pre-Conference Tour, Pre-conference Workshop or Mobile Tour: Please note, the pre-conference tours, pre-conference workshops and mobile tours sellout quickly and are booked on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, it is advisable to add these items at the time of your conference registration. If you are registering for someone else or a group, please find out their selection prior to registering them. Although each person within the group can purchase a tour or workshop after they have been registered, they run the risk of the tour or workshop no longer being available.

If you have already registered for the conference and would like to add a workshop or tour, you can add it directly from your individual profile. Please note, authorized users cannot log back in to add a tour to someone else’s event registration. You must be logged in as the individual wishing to purchase the tour. After logging in, click on the “Purchases” tab. On the left-hand side will be an option for “Events.” From there, you should have listed the Annual Conference & Marketplace; click on the “Details” button next to that listing. Once you are on your registration profile, there is an “Add Session” button on the right-hand side. This will allow you to add other options to your cart and check out the same way you registered.

Pre-Conference Tour, Pre-conference Workshop or Mobile Tour Cancellation Policy: Tours may be canceled without penalty prior to Wednesday, August 21, 2024. After August 21, 2024, no refunds will be given on pre-conference tours, pre-conference workshops or mobile tours.  If you are planning to cancel your tour or workshop, please email registration@downtown.org.

Not already a member of IDA? Register at the member rate by joining today! Contact Customer Service to complete enrollment.

Group Pricing: Groups of four or more individuals from the same organization receive an additional 10% off their group registration. Each person being registered within a group must be from the same organization or company to qualify for the group pricing. The registration system will automatically apply the savings during the group registration process. NOTE: A minimum of four individuals must be registered at the same time. If less than four register, you CANNOT register the fourth person at a later date to receive the group pricing. This group pricing only applies to full conference registrants and does not include tour or mobile tours.

The official conference accommodations will be at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, located at 808 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101, U.S., Currently, rooms are available under the rate of $269 USD per night, plus tax, for a standard room for IDA attendees. Please book your room by Monday, August 12, 2024, online. Self-parking is available for $43.00/night at the hotel.

About the Hyatt Regency Seattle

Located in the heart of the Emerald City, Hyatt Regency Seattle is the city’s first and only LEED Gold-Certified hotel. The hotel is close to Lake Union and Elliott Bay and near Lumen Field, Pacific Place, Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. The Link Light Rail is only two blocks away. Airy rooms feature contemporary decor and city views, plus sitting areas, flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers. Amenities include restaurants, piano bar, lobby bar, cafe and fitness center.

Don’t be Scammed by Third Party Housing Companies

The official hotel is listed above. Please beware of other companies soliciting hotel room “deals” over the dates of the Annual Conference & Marketplace. Third party housing companies typically offer a higher rate than the official block rate. These companies’ cancellation policies are often harsh and unforgiving. IDA is not working with any third parties to offer attendees accommodation. If you receive a solicitation and are unsure whether or not it is legitimate, please contact Lul Teklit at Lul@downtown.org.

Take advantage of Alaska Airlines’ special offer! Visit AlaskaAir.com and input the Discount Code* when searching for flights into Seattle, Washington (SEA). Our official airline partner, Alaska Airlines, has extended this offer for travel between September 5 – September 17, 2024.

Eligible Tickets: A 10% savings will be applied to Alaska Airlines’ published fares (except companion and other promotional fares). Any change or cancellation after ticketing is subject to a service charge. All fare rules and additional blackout dates of the fare apply. The discount and the fare are subject to all applicable taxes and surcharges. A ticket is eligible for the discount provided it has been purchased on AlaskaAir.com and provided the discount code has been applied at the time of purchase. Any ticket not purchased on AlaskaAir.com for the purpose of traveling to the conference will not qualify for any discount. Only bookings made to the designated conference city (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)) are eligible for the discount. Bookings originating in the conference city are not eligible.

*Please contact registration@downtown.org to receive the IDA Discount Code prior to purchasing your ticket on AlaskaAir.com.

IDA is committed to making our educational sessions accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, and to reasonably accommodating the assistive needs of our members, attendees and partners. We are actively working to increase the accessibility of our offerings. In so doing, we strive to comply with the available standards and guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws to the greatest extent possible. If you are having trouble accessing an IDA offering, or have a question regarding session accessibility features, please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.

Who attends the IDA conference? IDA conferences are designed to meet the needs of professional place managers from downtown organizations, city agencies, municipalities and private-sector companies. Content is designed for every level of the profession, from executives to associates.

Where is the conference located? The Hyatt Regency Seattle, located at 808 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101, U.S., and at various other locations throughout downtown Seattle. Select preconference and mobile tours will be held off-site; those location details will be noted in the program.

Are meals included? For each full day of the conference (Thursday and Friday), a morning continental breakfast and lunch will be included. Dinners are not included, but IDA and Chicago Loop Alliance will provide a locally curated list of dinner options.

Is there a dress code? While there is not a specific dress code for the conference, most attendees choose to dress between business and business casual. Individual events (tours, receptions, etc.) throughout the conference may specify and require a certain dress code. Those events will be noted.

Is there parking? The Hyatt Regency Seattle has self-parking. The cost for self-parking is $43 USD/night.

Will there be wi-fi at the conference? There will be wi-fi available for IDA attendees at the Hyatt Regency Seattle.

How do I get to the hotel from the airport? If travelling by taxi/Uber/Lyft, a ride downtown takes 20 minutes, depending upon the time of day. The average fare from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle is $40-70 USD.

The Annual Conference & Marketplace of the International Downtown Association is the signature gathering of inspired leaders who are shaping cities around the globe. This is the premier event for urban place management professionals to discuss industry trends, share best practices and learn the latest tips of the trade.

What we heard:

• “The IDA Annual Conference is one of the best learning experiences of the year. The content is excellent, the lessons learned are applicable in other city contexts and the Master Talks are inspirational and help reinvigorate us for the work that we do.”
• “The IDA conference is an outstanding opportunity to gain expert knowledge and learn from other communities. It is a ‘must-attend’ event for all urban management professionals interested in how to ensure a bright future for our ever-growing cities.” 
• “This was my first IDA conference and a great experience. As someone who has much to learn, this provided a great opportunity to do so.”
• “I left the conference feeling energized about the work we do. We’re able to gauge our general place management performance within the context of other cities, while gleaning new ideas. I’ve collected ideas from other cities that we can adapt and employ back home.”
• “This conference was educating, refreshing and inspiring to see the work that’s being done in cities around the world. I encourage staff at varying levels to attend and share what you learned with your colleagues and create a plan of action to produce measurable change in your community.”
• “Once again, IDA has brought together the innovators that breathe life and excitement into our downtowns.”
• “If your organization is dealing with an issue, IDA conferences are the way to meet directly with a person who has successfully dealt with that issue.”

Past Resources:

IDA members can watch videos now from previous Master Talks or download past session presentations by visiting the Knowledge Center.

Members of the media interested in attending the IDA Annual Conference & Marketplace are welcome during the event’s Master Talks, breakout sessions and select mobile tours. RSVPs for credentialed media are required for programs and tours. To obtain credentials, please contact Allison Shashok, Vice President of Membership, Marketing & Operations, at allison@downtown.org. Please identify your outlet and contact information.

Media are responsible for arranging their own transportation and lodging during the conference.

Get social! What questions will you come ready to ask? Share them on X, Facebook or LinkedIn using #IDASEA24. Members can log in to IDEA Connection, IDA’s online virtual community to connect with peers, share best practices, and exchange ideas before meeting up in Vancouver. Learn more and log in here.

By attending the 2024 Annual Conference & Marketplace, certified Leaders in Place Management will earn 12 credit hours toward the renewal of their LPM certification. Additional certification maintenance credits can be earned by attending qualifying pre-conference workshops during the conference. When credits are available for workshops, they are noted in the program. Please visit downtown.org/certification to learn more about becoming certified or recording continuing education units.

IDA is an AICP credit provider. AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for the Annual Conference sessions and workshops. When CM credits are available, they are noted in the program. IDA’s 2024 sessions provide an easy way for AICP certified planners to earn their CM credits. Learn more and submit credits on your own at planning.org/cm.

For decades, urban place management professionals have acted as leaders of their communities by undertaking the strategic and visionary work of city building. IDA has developed seven official knowledge domains, recognizing the distinct areas of professional practice used to shape vibrant urban districts which anchor the well-being of towns, cities, and regions around the world. Content for IDA’s Annual Conference is organized around this framework. For more information about each domain, visit the Career Center.

To see an example of a past Annual Conference & Marketplace program, click here.