Events
The International Downtown Association and co-hosts, the Downtown Toronto BIA Alliance (DTBIAA) and the City of Toronto, will present the 72nd Annual Conference & Marketplace in Toronto, ON, on 1-3 September 2026. Over 1,300 inspired leaders shaping cities from around the globe will convene and discuss emerging trends in place management and walk away with solutions to apply in their respective cities.
The 2026 conference, themed Intersections: Where Districts, Disciplines & Ideas Converge, will explore how downtowns and city centres are shaped at the intersection of people, ideas and progress. Intersections will celebrate the dynamic convergence of diverse disciplines, lived experiences, cultural identities and place-based expertise that define our districts. Place managers, placemakers and place leaders of urban place management organizations constantly operate at crossroads — balancing local identity with global change, built form with community needs and tradition with innovation. Whether navigating the emergence of AI, shifting political landscapes or reimagining inclusive public spaces, Intersections will explore how working at these crossroads leads to more resilient, vibrant and equitable urban futures.
Please note that our conference’s traditional schedule has been adjusted for 2026. This year, the conference will run from Tuesday, 1 September 2026, to Thursday, 3 September 2026. Please book travel and accommodation accordingly. Preview the schedule below for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Toronto!
Master Talks
Ilana Altman
CEO, The BentwayIlana Altman leads The Bentway as CEO, advancing inclusive city-building through creative placemaking, civic partnerships and cultural programming. She has contributed to projects with globally recognized firms including Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Studio Daniel Libeskind and KPMB Architects, while also curating exhibitions for major institutions such as San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Founder of Toronto’s Artful City collective, Ilana champions the role of culture, public space and urban creativity in shaping vibrant, accessible cities.
Davon Barbour
President & CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance
Davon Barbour serves as President & CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance. His areas of expertise include public-private partnerships, business attraction, retail revitalization and community development. He has worked for private sector, public sector and nonprofit organizations revitalizing urban communities across the nation. His work includes cities such as Baltimore, Miami, Orlando and Los Angeles. Prior to Austin, he led the Downtown Development District in New Orleans, the nation’s first property-based assessment district. He has been recognized as one of 26 Austinites to Watch in 2026 and one of Texas 100 Annual List of Impactful Texans.
Maggie Campbell
Fractional President & CEO, Downtown ArlingtonMaggie Campbell is an entrepreneurial leader with 35+ years of experience leading downtown organizations. She currently serves as the fractional President and CEO for the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation in Arlington, TX, as part of a succession plan following 12 years of leadership. Previously, Ms. Campbell worked as a project manager for MIG, a national planning, design and communications firm.
Ms. Campbell led the award-winning Old Pasadena Management District as founding President, establishing and renewing its BID, and has led multiple BIDs nationwide, including as President and CEO of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership. This work provided a strong foundation for working in downtown revitalization as Maggie’s lifelong career and passion. Her work earned IDA’s Pinnacle Award in 2012 for the T-REX innovation center. She is now the Founder and Principal of Main & Catalyst, a Texas-based consulting firm.
Suresh Doss
Toronto-Based Food Writer | Broadcaster | WriterSuresh Doss is a Toronto-based food writer and broadcaster with 23 years of experience documenting global and Canadian food cultures. His features and essays have appeared in Toronto Life, The New York Times, Eater, Zagat, CBC and more, including having been named twice among Toronto Life’s most influential Torontonians. His new CBC GEM series, Locals Welcome, represents the culmination of his career. Doss is the creator, host and Executive Producer of Locals Welcome, where he worked with members of Anthony Bourdain’s former team. The show extends his long mission of highlighting the people behind Canada’s most compelling food stories — moving beyond big cities to the heart of local, community-anchored restaurants and markets across the country. Journalists have described the series as a journey into lesser-known food landscapes that foreground culture, history, and personal narratives as much as recipes and menus.
Richard Florida
Founder, Creative Class GroupRichard Florida is one of the world’s leading urbanists. He is a writer and journalist, having penned several bestsellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class and The New Urban Crisis. He co-founded CityLab, the world’s leading publication for cities and urbanism. He is a researcher and professor, currently Visiting Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University as well as University Professor at the University of Toronto, and Kresge Foundation Visiting Senior Fellow. He previously taught at Carnegie Mellon University and has been a visiting professor at Harvard and MIT. He is an entrepreneur – founder of the Creative Class Group which provides strategic advice to companies, foundations and governments worldwide and serves on boards of several real estate development firms, venture capital firms and investment funds.
PHOTO BY JAMIE HOGGE
Captain Mike Foreman
Retired NASA AstronautWhat does it take to lead in the most extreme environments imaginable? Former NASA astronaut Captain Mike Foreman knows firsthand. Mike is a retired U.S. Naval Aviator originally from Wadsworth, Ohio. Over a remarkable career, Mike has over 7,500 hours of flight time in more than 50 different types of aircraft, spent more than 637 hours in space, completed five spacewalks and played a direct role in building the International Space Station. From the cockpit of more than 50 aircraft to the challenges of space exploration, Mike now shares powerful insights on innovation, leadership and navigating complexity under pressure. After 17 years as an astronaut, Mike left NASA in 2015 to join Venturi Outcomes, LLC, a Houston-based construction project management firm owned by his wife, Lorrie Foreman. Now retired, Mike is currently a motivational speaker and the Mayor of Friendswood, Texas.
Paul Johnson
City Manager, City of TorontoPaul Johnson is the City Manager for the City of Toronto. As the fourth largest city in North America, Paul oversees delivery of programs and services to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine. A proud public servant, Paul is committed to making community connections and enhancing the quality of life for all Toronto residents. Away from work Paul is a basketball official who has "blown the whistle" at thousands of games at the local, provincial and national levels.
Monique Simard
Chair of the Boards of Directors, Quartier des Spectacles Partnership & Quartier des Spectacles InternationalMonique Simard is a producer and cultural leader with a distinguished track record in cultural industries, particularly in the audiovisual sector. Since 2019, she has served as Chair of the Boards of Directors of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership – North America’s largest cultural district and the cultural heart of Montreal – and of Quartier des Spectacles International, which produces and distributes participatory installations for public spaces in collaboration with creative partners, co-producers and exhibitors around the world. The Quartier des Spectacles brings together nearly 80 venues and creative spaces and hosts more than 50 festivals annually, positioning Montreal as a leading international destination for culture, tourism and urban animation. She has received many distinctions, including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Republic (2017), the Ordre de Montréal (2023) and the Ordre national du Québec (2025).
Saad Usmani
Senior Director of Economic Research and Workforce Development, Toronto Region Board of TradeSaad Usmani is the Senior Director of Economic Research and Workforce Development at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Saad's work supports the Board's efforts to improve business competitiveness and encourage broader economic growth in the region. This includes using data and research to better understand underlying business and economic conditions, advocating for policies and implementing initiatives that address our workforce needs and developing approaches to best position key sectors and economic zones in the region for growth.
Mark Williams
Deputy Chief Executive, Heart of London Business AllianceFrom nightlife to global city strategy, Mark Williams’ work sits at the intersection of culture, experience and economic growth in one of the world’s most dynamic urban districts. Mark is Deputy Chief Executive at the Heart of London Business Alliance, where he helps shape the future of London’s West End – a district that generates billions in economic output from hundreds of millions of visitors each year. With a foundation in nightlife promotion, Mark brings a distinct, experience-led perspective to placemaking. He leads efforts that connect culture, the night-time economy and place management, aligning policy, investment and operations to support complex, mixed-use environments.
Leslie Woo
Principal & Founder, shebuildscities.orgWith more than 30 years of experience shaping sustainable communities across Canada, Leslie is a rare tri-sector athlete, with experience spanning the public, private, academic and nonprofit sectors as a planner, architect, corporate executive, author, educator and community activator. She is also Co-Editor of Messy Cities, Why We Can’t Plan Everything, a collection of global essays exploring how spontaneity, creativity and grassroots initiatives thrive in unplanned urban spaces. As former CEO of CivicAction, she led collaborative civic engagement efforts to address complex urban challenges, including housing affordability and inclusive growth. Prior to that, she spent more than 12 years at Metrolinx as Chief Planning and Development Officer, directing over $60 billion in transformative transit expansion. She is currently Planner in Residence at the University of Waterloo and Founder of shebuildscities.org, where she continues to champion equitable, resilient and future-ready cities.
George Zegarac
President & CEO, Waterfront TorontoLeading one of North America’s most ambitious waterfront revitalization efforts, George Zegarac serves as President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. With more than three decades in public service, he played a key role in securing the tri-government agreement behind Toronto’s transformative Port Lands Flood Protection Project while serving as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. George also led the province’s 10-year infrastructure plan and managed one of Canada’s largest real estate portfolios. His experience spans infrastructure, environment, health and education, with a strong focus on building resilient communities and advancing large-scale urban transformation through public-private collaboration.
Conference Details
The 2026 Annual Conference & Marketplace will be held at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON, M5J 1A6 and at various other locations throughout downtown Toronto, ON.
As the birthplace of the Business Improvement Area model, Toronto offers an unforgettable backdrop for the 2026 conference, having influenced downtowns and city centres across the globe. Today, more than 80 BIAs contribute to the city’s distinct street life and strong sense of place. As North America’s fourth largest city and Canada’s largest and most diverse, Toronto offers a dynamic mix of global cuisine, acclaimed arts and culture, premier shopping, world-class talent and a waterfront known for its parks and public spaces. Its iconic skyline, vibrant neighbourhoods and rich multicultural heritage create a dynamic urban environment that feels both welcoming and endlessly engaging.
Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the character of many of these urban centres, each with its own identity and rhythm, and gain insight into the people and ideas shaping one of North America’s most compelling urban destinations. Get ready to experience a global city that continues to grow, evolve and inspire. Find things to do here.
The 2026 Annual Conference & Marketplace acknowledges the land on which we (will) gather and learn. The conference takes place on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Get social! Excited to attend? Have questions? Share your thoughts on X, Facebook or LinkedIn using #IDATO26. 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 Toronto. Learn more and login here.
Are you coming to Toronto with IDA? Show off your attendance and let your colleagues know by sharing the “I’m Attending” social media badge (download the image).
Online registration for the 72nd Annual Conference & Marketplace is now closed. To register for the conference or to add tours and workshops to your registration, please visit IDA on-site at the Registration desk (Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor) at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON, M5J 1A6, during the following times (below listed times are Eastern Time):
- Monday, 31 August 2026 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
- Tuesday, 1 September 2026 | 7:30am – 5:30pm
- Wednesday, 2 September 2026 | 7:30am – 5:30pm
- Thursday, 3 September 2026 | 7:30am – 5:00pm
Current registration prices are:
IDA Member Price: $1,020 (U.S) | $880 (Canada) | $765 (International)
Nonmember Price: $1,430 (U.S) | $1,150 (Canada) | $1,030 (International)
*One-Day Only Price (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday): $525
**Guest Price: $270 (a la carte prices available below)
By registering you are agreeing to IDA’s Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Complaint Policy, Event Agreement and Code of Conduct and IDA Attendee Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release Form.
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.
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. 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 workshops or tours.
*The one-day registration fee is available for one single day only. 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 (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday), please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.
- Tuesday includes admission to the Marketplace, refreshment break (1), Plenary Session with Master Talks (1) and Reception (1).
- Wednesday includes Plenary Session with Master Talks (1), Breakout Sessions, admission to the Marketplace and Cocktail Hour, refreshment breaks (2), and lunch.
- Thursday includes Plenary Session with Master Talks (1), Breakout Sessions, admission to the Marketplace, refreshment breaks (2), lunch and Reception (1).
**The guest fee of $270USD 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 $55 USD 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.
***The retiree rate of $275 USD is available to individuals who are no longer earning income as a UPMO professional (including teaching and/or consulting) or are employed less than 25 percent of the time, and who have 15 or more years of active IDA membership or Honorary Life IDA Membership. Currently, retiree rates are not available in the online registration system. If you are interested in registering as a retiree, please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.
Exhibitor Staff Booth Badge: Additional exhibitor booth badges, granting access to the Marketplace, and Tuesday and Thursday receptions only, are available for purchase at $600 per person, based on the company’s sponsorship level. Badges must be purchased and paid for by 8 May 2026. Please email 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, 12 August 2026 will receive a refund less a $100 processing fee. Refunds will be processed approximately 30 days after the event. Cancellations received after 12 August 2026 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 31 August 2026, 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. Outstanding payments are due Friday, 14 August 2026. Please contact registration@downtown.org to pay your outstanding balance.
Adding a Day Trip, Tour or Workshop: Please note, the day trips, tours and workshops sell out 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.
Day Trips, Pre-Conference Tours, Workshop and/or Mobile Tour Cancellation Policy: If you have already registered for the conference and would like to add a day trip, tour or workshop, 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. Tours may be canceled without penalty prior to Wednesday, 12 August 2026. After 12 August 2026, no refunds will be given on pre-conference day trips, pre-conference tours, workshops and/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.
To register for the Annual Conference & Marketplace, you need to either have an account in IDA’s database or you must create one. If you have 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 official conference accommodation is at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, located at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 1A6. The overflow hotel is at the Delta Hotels Toronto, located at 75 Lower Simcoe St, Toronto, ON M5J 3A6, Canada, which is approximately a 10-minute (800 metres/ 0.5 mile) walk from the host hotel.
The room block has been completed at both hotels. Please call the hotels listed above to confirm if a room is available under the IDA room block as there could be cancellations.
Below are suggested hotels in the area:
- Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown
- Le Germain Hotel Toronto Maple Leaf Square
- Fairmont Royal York
- Omni King Edward
- InterContinental Toronto Centre
About The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
The Westin Harbour Castle hotel, located in the heart of the revitalized waterfront district, offers direct access to many of Toronto’s most noteworthy sites and attractions, including Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, CN Tower and Exhibition Place.
About the Delta Hotels Toronto
Get caught up in the excitement, as the Delta Hotels Toronto is just steps away from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena.
The official conference accommodation is at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, located at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 1A6. The overflow hotel is at the Delta Hotels Toronto, located at 75 Lower Simcoe St, Toronto, ON M5J 3A6, Canada, which is approximately a 10-minute (800 metres/ 0.5 mile) walk from the host hotel.
The room block has been completed at both hotels. Please call the hotels listed above to confirm if a room is available under the IDA room block as there could be cancellations.
Below are suggested hotels in the area:
- Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown – Use IDA Code “BTGZUN” for 10% off the prevailing hotel rate by August 13, 2026. Note that reservations under this code are prepaid and nonrefundable.
- Fairmont Royal York
- Omni King Edward
- InterContinental Toronto Centre
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 Air Canada’s special offer! Visit aircanada.com and input the Promotion Code CYMC7H91 when searching for flights into Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Our official airline partner, Air Canada, has extended this offer for travel between 24 August – 10 September 2026.
Eligible Tickets: To be eligible for the discount, tickets must be purchased at aircanada.com with the promotion code applied at the time of purchase. Any ticket not purchased on aircanada.com for conference travel will not qualify for benefits. Tickets purchased on aircanada.com without a code, or with an incorrectly entered code, are ineligible for the discount. For North American travel, a 5% discount applies to Standard fares and 10% to Flex fares and higher. For International travel, a 10% discount applies to Standard fares and higher. A 12% discount applies to Business Class fares, with the exception of the lowest Business Class fare, which qualifies for a 5% discount. Bookings originating in the conference city are not eligible. Should you have any questions or issues about your flight, please contact the airline directly at 1-888-247-2262 or click here.
Passport & Visa Requirements
The 2026 Annual Conference & Marketplace takes place in Canada. Depending on your citizenship, you may need travel authorization:
- For Canada: Click here to check travel authorization such as a via or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada
- Click here for a Visa and eTA guide video
- Ensure you begin your Visa application process at least 3-6 months prior to travel date of conference
- Should you need a Letter of Invitation or Event Code, please reach out to registration@downtown.org
Note: Please ensure you have the correct documentation before you travel. This information may be requested from hotels as well.
Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the character of many of these urban centres, each with its own identity and rhythm, and gain insight into the people and ideas shaping one of North America’s most compelling urban destinations. Get ready to experience a global city that continues to grow, evolve and inspire. Find things to do here.
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’s conference is 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 Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto located at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON, M5J 1A6, and at various other locations throughout downtown Toronto. 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 (Wednesday and Thursday, a morning continental breakfast and lunch will be included.
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 Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto has valet parking. The cost for self-parking and/or on-site daily parking is $60 CAD ($45 USD)/night.
Will there be wi-fi at the conference? There will be wi-fi available for IDA attendees at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto. Network: IDA | Password: conference26
How do I get to the hotel from the airport?
From Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), follow signs for the Union Pearson (UP) Express, Pearson Station, located in Terminal 1, directly to the adjacent to the Terminal Link Train service connecting Terminals 1 and 3. Purchase your train fare by tapping on and off with your contactless debit or credit card, buying a ticket online in advance or from a ticket vending machine at the station. The cost for the ride to Union Station in downtown Toronto, from Pearson Station, is $12.35 CAD ($9 USD) one way. Once at Union Station, exit and head towards Bay Street, make a right on Bay Street and turn left onto Queens Quay West. Union Station is approximately a 15-minute walk (940 m/0.6 miles) to the host hotel.
More information for the UP Express is listed here.
From Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), follow signs to the Pedestrian tunnel at the airport to the mainland. From the mainland terminal, walk along Eireann Quay to Bathurst Street to the Bathurst & Queens Quay West stop. Purchase a PRESTO ticket, approximately $3.35 CAD/$2.42 USD, one-way. Take the 509 Harbourfront streetcar east to Queens Quay/Ferry Docks Station. Head towards Queens Quay West and host hotel will be on the right.
For more information, click here.
From YYZ to the host hotel, it takes an average of 40-50 minutes (26.6 kilometres/16.5 miles) by taxi/Lyft/Uber (approximately $40-80 CAD/$30-60 USD). From YTZ to the host hotel, it takes an average of 10 minutes (2 kilometres/1.3 miles) by taxi/Lyft/Uber (approximately $19-25 CAD/ $14-$19 USD).
How do I maximize my #IDATO26 experience? Watch IDA’s 10 September 2025 recorded webinar to hear from seasoned professionals as they share how they approach the conference to maximize learning, build meaningful connections and return home with actionable takeaways to apply in their respective communities. Learn about the conference marketplace, mobile app and learning opportunities available to you. This webinar was recorded for the 71st Annual Conference & Marketplace. Click here to view.
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:
- “IDA’s Annual Conference is an excellent opportunity to connect with other place management organizations and gain valuable insights into how to better serve our downtowns. I always leave feeling inspired and full of ideas! It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the importance of this work, and this conference is a refreshing opportunity to connect with peers, learn about innovative projects and re-energize.”
- “Being new to place management I didn’t know what to expect at my first IDA conference. I have a notebook full of ideas, many new connections, and most importantly, I am inspired.
- “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.”
- “This event is an invaluable opportunity for place management professionals and municipal government employees to learn about best practices and new ideas.”
- “Connecting with my colleagues at the IDA Annual Conference is my favorite thing about my job. People are always incredibly generous with one another and create a sense of community for those of us in jobs that can otherwise feel quite lonely.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
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.
By attending the 2026 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 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.
Preview the agenda below. All times listed are Eastern Time and all prices are in USD. Please note that our conference’s traditional schedule has been adjusted for 2026. This year, the conference will run from Tuesday, 1 September 2026 to Thursday, 3 September 2026. Please book travel and accommodation accordingly.
To see the full description, click on the down arrow next to the title. You can filter the program by domain or session type to start curating your personalized experience. Pre-registration is required for tours, day trips and workshops. Advance registration is not required for General or Breakout Sessions, Service Advisories or Lunch & Learns. Note, this program is subject to change.
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.
Conference Program
- Monday 31 Aug 2026
- Tuesday 01 Sep 2026
- Wednesday 02 Sep 2026
- Thursday 03 Sep 2026
Monday 31 Aug 2026
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Tuesday 01 Sep 2026
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Leadership Development
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- We live in a dopamine‑driven world, constantly chasing quick hits of validation that often leave us more anxious, distracted and disconnected. This is not a personal failing, but a biological response. This energizing workshop explores how urban place management professionals can retrain their brains for sustained calm, sharper focus and stronger relationships while navigating the constant intensity of downtown environments shaped by public safety concerns, political polarization, staffing shortages and event pressures. Grounded in applied neuroscience, the workshop examines how professionals can remain calm, clear and effective under pressure, not by eliminating stress, but by learning real‑time regulation skills. Participants will explore how chronic high‑alert states affect judgment, empathy and long‑term planning, and why these matters in public‑facing work. Attendees will gain practical tools for managing physiological responses to conflict and crisis, supporting safer public spaces, more inclusive decision‑making and stronger trust with diverse stakeholders. Participants will leave with a new perspective and repeatable habits that strengthen performance, build team resilience and support a shift from reactive responses to intentional leadership.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Analyze the physiological impact of stress and dopamine on leadership decision-making and cognitive bias in urban environments
- Apply specific, real-time neuroscience regulation techniques to maintain composure and clarity during high-stakes public interactions
- Construct a repeatable, low-cost "Personal Calm Protocol" to improve communication, foster equitable engagement and enhance team resilience
- Suzy Godefroy, Director, DOWNTOWNS TODAY, Oakville (ON)
- Shelley McQuade, Founder & CEO, Cypress Strategies, Dundas (ON)
- Brian Dean, Executive Director, Burlington Downtown Business Association (ON)
- Rehana Khan, Property Manager, Downtown Brampton Food District (ON)
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- Place branding, placemaking and place marketing are often treated as separate disciplines – managed by different teams, funded through different budgets and activated at different moments. For place management professionals, this fragmentation can dilute impact, create misalignment and weaken public trust. This interactive workshop focuses on mapping the path from place branding to placemaking to place marketing, reframing these disciplines as an interconnected system that works best when developed together. Participants will explore how branding establishes shared meaning and direction, how placemaking delivers proof through physical space and lived experience and how marketing reinforces belief by connecting people to place over time. Through guided exercises, real-world examples and facilitated discussion, attendees will assess how these three disciplines currently interact within their own districts. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a clear framework for aligning identity, experience and communication – along with concrete next steps they can apply immediately to strengthen decision-making, improve coordination and enhance the credibility and visibility of their place-based work.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Differentiate the distinct roles of place branding, placemaking and place marketing and explain how they function as a connected system
- Map how brand, physical place and marketing currently interact within their own district and identify areas of misalignment or opportunity
- Apply a practical framework to better align branding, placemaking and marketing decisions within real-world budget and capacity constraints
- Jennie Kovalcik, Director of Operations, Public Sphere Projects (Mexico City, MX)
- Luis Mendoza, Managing Director, DNCO (New York City, NY)
- Melissa Buckminster, Director of Marketing & Communications, Downtown SF Partnership (CA)
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- CM | 3
- Urban data storytelling is the practice of using data to craft compelling narratives about cities that communicate key insights, inform policymaking, build public will and advocate for change. It combines data analysis, data visualization and narrative techniques to make complex urban trends understandable and engaging for specific audiences, including policymakers, funders and community members.
- This workshop provides training in data literacy, ethics and storytelling for urban professionals seeking to build consensus or spur change in their districts. Participants will learn how to identify target audiences, uncover key elements of a story, adopt an asset-based framing approach and apply effective data visualization principles. The curriculum draws on examples from the Downtown Recovery Project at the School of Cities, University of Toronto, which analyzes and visualizes post-pandemic recovery trends for downtowns across the U.S. and Canada.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Define and practice urban data storytelling
- Learn how to talk about the assets of commercial districts
- Understand the different types of data visualization used for effective stories about commercial districts
- Karen Chapple, MCP, PHD, Professor of Geography & Planning, Director of the School of Cities, University of Toronto (ON)
- Jeff Allen, PHD, Lead, Data Visualization, School of Cities, University of Toronto (ON)
- Michelle Zhang, MSCPl, Program Lead, School of Cities, University of Toronto (ON)
Price:
- $110
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Take a walk down iconic Yonge Street to uncover its expansion, development and evolution through Midtown. This immersive, full-day tour travels down the corridor, guided collaboratively by four Business Improvement Areas, each representing a distinct stage of urban form. Participants move through locally supported main streets in Davisville, areas experiencing active intensification in Yonge + St. Clair, heritage-protected environments in Rosedale and a fine-grain village fabric layered within a vertical district in Yorkville. Curated stops include a light cultural bite at Padaria, lunch at a well-known Canadian establishment and a tasting tour at the local heritage retail building, North Toronto Railway Station. The tour concludes with guided visits to cultural institutions including the Reference Library and The Concert Hall. This experience is comparative and experiential, supporting discussion on how strategies shift across urban conditions along a single historic street. P.S. – Wear comfortable tennis shoes as there may be time for some pickleball fun!
- *This tour includes lunch, transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $110
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Explore two of Toronto’s most dynamic streets on this guided, mostly walking tour of Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue. Trace Queen West’s evolution from the iconic MuchMusic era to today’s live music scene and future focused transit projects, including a ride on Toronto’s legendary streetcar. Learn how neighboring BIAs shape the character and management of this ever changing corridor. Continue west to Ossington Avenue — just 800 metres long, yet globally recognized. Once overlooked, this vibrant strip is now known for Michelin recognized restaurants, bold street art and standout local retail. Go behind the scenes of street stewardship, exploring how place managers balance growth, public space and daily operations with limited resources. Meet the people, stories and strategies behind these iconic streets. Come for the stories. Leave inspired.
- *This tour includes lunch, transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Economic Development
- This River I Step In explores how art, design and cultural programming have shaped the local economy of Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood over time. Anchored by the Don River and its surrounding landscapes, this walking tour examines how creative interventions in public and private spaces contribute to placemaking, community identity and sustained main street vitality. Participants will experience a range of artistic expressions, from permanent public art and murals to temporary installations, performance spaces and storefront activations.
- The tour highlights how BIAs, artists, property owners and the city work together to embed creativity into infrastructure, parks and commercial spaces. Designed for place management professionals, this tour offers practical insight into leveraging arts-based strategies to support local businesses, animate public space, attract visitors and build long-term economic resilience. It demonstrates how culture can be a consistent and evolving driver of downtown success.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Join us for a walking tour exploring the redesign of Yonge Street, from College Street to Queen Street, and discover how upcoming improvements will transform how people move, shop, study, gather and experience Toronto’s main street. Yonge Street plays a central role in the city’s cultural and economic identity, yet rapid growth is reshaping the character of its pedestrian spaces and placing increased demands on aging infrastructure.
- This transformation presents an opportunity to reimagine how Yonge Street can respond to a diverse and evolving city while enhancing both its physical form and user experience. Widened sidewalks, enhanced landscaping and reduced vehicular lanes will create an environment that supports walkability, accessibility and social interaction while celebrating the street’s vibrant identity and cultural history. The tour also highlights the impact of this redesign on the campus of Toronto Metropolitan University, with a focus on how the university and surrounding neighbourhood will benefit from this once-in-a-generation reimagining.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Experience first-hand how Bloor-Yorkville, one of Toronto’s most iconic neighbourhoods, blends world-class fashion, food, culture, wellness and public realm excellence into a vibrant destination. This guided walking tour offers place management professionals a deep dive into the strategies, design, operations and placemaking that make Bloor-Yorkville distinct, from luxury retail streetscapes to historic cultural landmarks and award-winning public spaces. Delegates will walk along the renowned Bloor Street and Yorkville Avenue corridors, explore entrepreneurial success stories, learn about public realm planning and maintenance and finish at a major cultural anchor, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), allowing participants to experience how retail, culture, public space, operations and community identity come together in a thriving downtown setting.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Economic Development
- The Entertainment District Pedal Pub Tour offers an interactive and lively way to experience one of Toronto’s most vibrant downtown districts, with a focus on food, drink and major entertainment venues. Traveling by Pedal Pub, participants will pedal through the Entertainment District while learning about the dense mix of bars, restaurants and venues that give the area its reputation as a premier destination. The tour highlights prominent cultural and entertainment sites, including TIFF Lightbox, theatres and performing arts centres and explores how these venues contribute to the district’s character and activity. Participants will see how dining and nightlife work alongside film, theatre and live performance to keep the district active from day into evening. The Pedal Pub experience is a relaxed, social atmosphere that encourages conversation, shared observation and engagement with the surrounding streets and destinations that drive downtown activity.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Step into the birthplace of a global main street movement. This guided tour explores Bloor West Village, home of Toronto’s first, and the world’s original, Business Improvement Area, launched in 1970 when local merchants united to strengthen their neighbourhood. Stroll along Bloor Street West and see how early efforts – improved lighting, streetscape beautification and coordinated promotions – set the stage for the BIA concept, proving collaboration can transform a main street. The tour highlights visionary figures like Bill Whiteacre, Cecil Ward and Alex Ling, who championed the BIA and shaped today’s thriving community. Explore economic development through pedestrian-focused design, small business support, data-driven planning and year-round events. Visit key landmarks, meet legacy businesses and hear firsthand stories of leadership that turned a bold idea into a lasting model. More than a history lesson, this walk shows how strategic investment and collective action create vibrant, resilient main streets – proving even small streets can make a big impact.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Get ready to dive into the soul of Toronto's most electrifying neighbourhood – Church Wellesley Village! This isn't just a "tour", it will be a true experience along with a celebration of love, diversity, unapologetic pride and surprizes along the way! We will stroll down the vibrant street where rainbow flags fly high, bustling businesses thrive and legendary clubs pulse with life. As the official street of Canada's biggest celebration, Pride Toronto, this iconic street transforms in to a kaleidoscope of color every June drawing 3 million people worldwide, earning it's spot as the second largest Pride party on the planet. Whether you are here for the history, the heart or the high energy festivities, this tour will leave you inspired, energized and entertained with a new appreciation for Toronto's most colorful corner! Let's celebrate, explore and embrace the spirit of Pride together!
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Economic Development; Marketing, Communications and Events
- Join Toronto’s Visitor Economy Office for an inside look at the city’s vibrant nightlife and music ecosystem – past, present and future. This guided, mostly walking tour explores how Toronto emerged as a major North American centre for underground music and club culture, tracing its roots from the late 1980s rave scene through the rise and decline of the Entertainment District and into today’s renewed, citywide approach to the night. Learn how shifting municipal policies, real estate pressures and advocacy have shaped Toronto’s night economy, and how artists, collectives, venue operators and unexpected allies are helping reimagine nightlife as a critical social, cultural and economic asset. Along the way, visit influential music venues and institutions across Queen West and Chinatown – neighbourhoods that continue to anchor the city’s live music scene and creative energy. This tour offers both a cultural journey and a policy-focused perspective on how cities can support nightlife, creativity and after dark vitality. Discover the legacy, meet the changemakers and experience Toronto after dark.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Join waterfront organizations for a tour of Toronto’s Eastern Waterfront and Port Lands. The area is one of North America’s largest downtown brownfield revitalization areas, soon to be home to more than 100,000 new residents and extensive new blue-green parkland. This tour explores a fast-changing waterfront district where major city building is unfolding in real time, with new residential communities alongside active industrial uses, a landmark mass timber college campus and an emerging network of waterfront parks and public spaces. Along the route, you will visit a temporary “meanwhile” park and the landmark Sugar Beach. The tour also includes stops at the new Ookwemin Minising and Biidaasige Park, a new island created to provide flood protection at the mouth of the Don River. This former industrial area is now beginning to see significant residential development through a tri-level government investment partnership.
- *This tour includes outdoor biking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development; Placemaking
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- CM | 3
- Arts and Culture as a Catalyst for Community-Centered Placemaking is a hands-on, interactive workshop exploring how creative strategies can be leveraged to build stronger, more inclusive places rooted in local identity and shared ownership. Over the course of this three-hour session, participants will examine how arts and culture can move communities beyond traditional engagement models and into more meaningful, relationship-driven approaches to placemaking and economic development. Through real-world case studies, guided activities and collaborative discussion, attendees will learn how tools such as public art, storytelling, artist residencies, cultural programming and creative partnerships can lower barriers to participation, center lived experience and foster trust, while simultaneously supporting local economies.
- Designed for place management and economic development professionals, civic leaders, planners, educators, event producers and community partners, this workshop equips participants with practical frameworks and adaptable strategies they can apply immediately in their own communities. The session emphasizes co-creation, equity and sustainability, offering actionable insights on how to engage local creatives as partners, not just participants, in shaping vibrant, authentic places.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Understand and articulate how arts and culture driven placemaking can strengthen community engagement and support local economic development by activating public spaces, supporting creative entrepreneurs and attracting sustained investment
- Apply arts-based engagement strategies, including storytelling, public art, artist residencies and cultural programming, to design inclusive placemaking initiatives that build trust, elevate local identity and create economic opportunities for artists, small businesses and residents
- Develop a practical, place-based engagement framework for a real or hypothetical site that integrates stakeholder mapping, equity considerations and arts-led economic strategies, ensuring community voices directly inform both social and economic outcomes
- Sheffia Randall-Nickerson, Chief Engagement & Collaboration Officer, University Circle Inc. (Cleveland, OH)
- Careyann Weinberg, Director of Economic Vitality, Downtown Norfolk Council (VA)
- Erica Waltemade, Deputy Director, Asheville Downtown Improvement District (NC)
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- CM | 3
- Post-COVID, many downtowns are experiencing persistent ground-floor vacancy and a street-level experience that no longer meets community expectations. This interactive workshop provides place management professionals with a practical framework to evaluate street-level performance and understand the conditions that support successful storefront streets. The session introduces applied principles of retail and street-level design and demonstrates how these fundamentals can guide more effective strategies for physical improvements, programming and regulatory change. Participants will learn how to assess whether their downtown has the right ingredients in place for ground-floor activity, using a clear, repeatable diagnostic approach that functions like a walk score for storefront streets.
- Attendees will explore how building frontage, transparency, sidewalk conditions and ground-floor design influence pedestrian experience across a range of uses, as well as how zoning and land-use regulations shape occupancy and long-term viability. The workshop explicitly connects design decisions and policy choices to on-the-ground outcomes.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Explain how ground-floor architecture, building frontage, transparency and sidewalk conditions influence street-level experience and performance across different uses.
- Identify and evaluate zoning, land-use and design regulations that affect ground-floor viability, and apply policy tools that cities are using to introduce flexibility while protecting active street life.
- Develop a focused, realistic action agenda for their own downtowns that prioritizes design, policy and governance interventions aligned with local capacity and market conditions.
- Larisa Ortiz, Managing Director, Streetsense (New York City, NY)
- Conrad Kickert, Associate Professor of Architecture, University at Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning (NY)
Price:
- $125
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Policy and Advocacy
- Intermediate
- LPM | 3
- CM | 3
- Place management organizations increasingly need to engage with elected officials, influence public policy and advocate for their district's and members' needs. This workshop will equip participants with all the essential tools and strategies, from issue identification to coalition building, to forming a winning advocacy strategy for their districts. Through interactive activities and tips from experienced advocacy professionals, leave with a concrete advocacy plan tailored to your needs. With an emphasis on collaboration and communication, participants will be empowered to drive positive change in their communities.
- *Light refreshments will be provided.
- Understand why place management organizations should be engaged in policy and advocacy work.
- Explore actionable methods to implement policy and advocacy through effective tactics and strategies.
- Apply acquired skills to craft personalized advocacy plans
- Andrew Goldberg, IDA U.S. Government Affairs, Principal, Agora Consulting, LLC (Washington, DC)
- Kimberly Bares, LPM, President and CEO, The Magnificent Mile Association (Chicago, IL)
- Sajjid Lakhani, Director, Government Relations and Strategy, Impact Public Affairs (Vancouver, BC)
- Marshun Tolbert, Manager of Government Relations, The Magnificent Mile Association (Chicago, IL)
- Pauline Larsen, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Downtown Yonge BIA, Toronto (ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- Members requested more downtime with exhibiting service providers, and IDA is pleased to offer it! Upon arrival, mingle with companies offering solutions specific to your work and say hello to other attendees as you explore the Marketplace. Be sure to visit the Relaxation Station, courtesy of Downtown Decorations!
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- Stop by to explore IDA’s newest research publications, including a first look at the newly released Top Issues Council reports and findings from The Value of U.S. Downtowns and Center Cities Trends Report. Get a quick walkthrough of key insights, ask questions and hear directly from the IDA Research Team about what stood out and what it means for your work.
- Learn how you can share your expertise and contribute to future research through the Top Issues Councils. This year’s briefs focused on capacity-building for UPMOs, including strategies for events, memberships, partnerships, and adapting to the future of commercial office.
- You can also dive deeper into the latest Value of Downtowns findings. IDA research shows that while return-to-office rates have plateaued post-pandemic, downtown population growth continues to outpace the nation and visitation has nearly returned to 2019 levels. These insights can help you better understand and communicate your district’s impact.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Queens Quay Room, Street Level
- Enjoy a vibrant space designed for connection, creativity and flavor! Meet inspiring small business owners from across five years of IDA Foundation’s Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, hear their stories and explore a slice of Toronto’s local food scene – all in one place. With tastings and interactive moments woven throughout, it’s an easy, engaging way to connect and take a refreshing break.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Regatta Room, Lobby Level
- This welcome gathering, tailored for first-time conference attendees, offers a great way to immerse yourself in the conference experience and network with other attendees. IDA staff and seasoned members will be available to answer any questions about IDA or provide tips about navigating your first Annual Conference & Marketplace. Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks will be available.
- www.ikesmartcity.com
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- Join us for the Opening General Session featuring IDA Master Talks, where the industry's most engaging and innovative speakers will set the stage for an unforgettable conference experience.
- Larry Frost, Knowledge Keeper, Indigenous Community of Toronto (ON)
- Tim Kocur, Executive Director, The Waterfront BIA (Toronto, ON)
- Suresh Doss, Food Writer, Broadcaster & Writer (Toronto, ON)
- Paul Johnson, City Manager, City of Toronto (ON)
- Saad Usmani, Sr. Director, Economic Research, Toronto Region Board of Trade (ON)
- Ilana Altman, CEO, The Bentway Conservancy (Toronto, ON)
- George Zegarac, CEO, Waterfront Toronto (ON)
Location:
- Steam Whistle Brewing, Locomotive Hall, 255 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON M5V 3M9
- Join IDA, DTBIAA and City of Toronto for an evening reception at Steam Whistle Brewing, one of Toronto’s most iconic gathering places. Housed in a historic roundhouse at the base of the CN Tower, Steam Whistle is a cornerstone of Canada’s craft brewing story – founded in 1998 after three friends dreamed up the idea on a canoe trip through Ontario’s heartland. Today, the brewery offers a welcoming setting to connect, unwind and continue conversations over locally brewed beer and light refreshments. Enjoy the character of this landmark venue while networking with colleagues in a relaxed, distinctly Toronto atmosphere. This reception will be held indoors.
- Steam Whistle Brewing is 1 kilometre (0.6 mile walk) from the host hotel. There will be a shuttle transport limited to those that are unable to walk to the venue, beginning at 5:30 pm, looping every 15-20 minutes, departing from The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer. The shuttle will run on a continuous loop until 8:30 pm, dropping off at Steam Whistle Brewing and returning to the hotel.
- Please wear your conference badge at all times and have a government-issued ID available upon request.
- www.uncommonbridges.com
Wednesday 02 Sep 2026
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Locations:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Convention Level, Harbour ABC Foyer, 2nd Floor
- Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Price:
- $40
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- See how private spaces are leveraged and connected to create a network of public space in Canada’s busiest downtown. Participants will learn how dozens of private properties are coordinated to create the PATH system, the world’s largest underground shopping complex and an important transportation network for thousands of people every day. Participants will also see downtown outdoor privately operated public spaces (POPS) and how these are activated and integrated with the surrounding streetscape to create inviting places year-round. Learn how, when considered together, these unique assets are integrated into the fabric of the city, transit and the visiting population to support a thriving downtown.
- *This tour includes indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Join us for a tour that shows how the concerns over constant vandalism of laneway garbage doors in a residential community were transformed into over 35 vibrant artworks along the stretch of Dundas Street in summer of 2025. Once fertile farmland and thriving gardens, Leslieville’s harvests once nourished the city. Artists now honour this legacy through murals celebrating local flora, fauna and Indigenous species whose roots predate colonial settlement. Together, they’ve transformed Dundas St E into an outdoor gallery that celebrates the area’s heritage and envisions a future where community and nature grow in harmony. This tour will highlight both the art and how Toronto's innovative StreetARToronto program and partnership model – which brings together artists, curators, creatives and the local community, based on a mentorship and skills development approach – led to a creative solution in placemaking, safety and community building.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- One of the largest urban revitalization efforts of its kind, this tour explores Regent Park, a five-phase, 69-acre redevelopment transforming the community into a mixed-income, mixed-use neighbourhood. Once complete, the project will include a mix of rent-geared-to-income units, affordable rental housing and market condominiums. Intentionally designed to create a vibrant and livable neighbourhood, these homes are integrated within walking distance of retail and commercial spaces, community facilities, active parks and open spaces. Participants will experience the physical transformation underway, including more than 5,500 homes built to date, while also gaining insight into how the redevelopment is strengthening the community’s economic and social fabric.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- This mobile tour explores Biidaasige Park on the island of Ookwemin Minising, Toronto’s new world-class destination park and a landmark project in downtown revitalization. Located at the mouth of the Don River and encompassing 40 hectares when complete, Biidaasige Park is the result of one of the largest urban river and waterfront restorations in North America, transforming former industrial lands into a resilient, inclusive public landscape. The tour explores why Biidaasige matters: its Indigenous placekeeping framework, climate-adaptive design, integration of art, recreation and ecology, and collaborative governance model spanning multiple public and Indigenous partners. Participants will learn how this park will function as critical downtown infrastructure, supporting reconciliation, economic development, tourism, community life and environmental resilience. Biidaasige means “sunlight shining toward us” and Ookwemin Minising means “the place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.
- *This tour includes transportation and outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design, and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Urban centres outside traditional downtown cores are increasingly business-dense, mixed-use districts that rely on strong local economies while undergoing significant infrastructure investment. While these projects support long-term growth, they often disrupt day-to-day business operations and strain relationships between municipalities, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and local businesses. This session presents an urban centre case study exploring how a municipality and a BIA worked together to support businesses during a prolonged infrastructure construction project, and how this work evolved to the creation of a business-friendly construction policy. Panelists will discuss how policy intent translated into on-the-ground practice, how responsibilities were aligned across teams and how businesses were engaged throughout construction. The discussion examines the tools used to reduce business impacts – including communication strategies, coordinated construction practices, and targeted financial supports – and what businesses actually said was helpful. Rather than promoting a single best practice, speakers will share what was tried, what worked, what did not and where gaps remained. Attendees will gain practical, transferable insights for urban centres, main streets and business-dense neighbourhoods seeking to apply business-friendly construction principles in real-world conditions. The benefit of collaboration and understanding between BIA and municipal representatives will be highlighted throughout.
- Explain how business friendly construction policies can be applied in urban centre and BIA contexts.
- Identify practical tools used to reduce construction impacts on local businesses, including communication strategies and financial supports.
- Apply lessons learned to improve coordination, trust and expectation management during infrastructure projects.
- Graham Gerylo, Manager, Community & Business Relations, City of Calgary, Infrastructure Services Department (AB)
- Dylan Jones, BA, Leader, Community & Business Relations, City of Calgary, Infrastructure Services Department (AB)
- Bob van Wegen, MUP, Executive Director, Marda Loop BIA (Calgary, AB)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 2&3 Room, Convention Level
- Organizational Management
- Intermediate
- Engage with a diverse group of downtown membership professionals as they share proven strategies for elevating membership programs. This session draws directly from the Top Issues Council Membership Brief, which will include best practice case studies from that research. It will also explore examples from the presenters' programs, highlighting techniques for fostering community and driving revenue growth. Attendees will explore how revenue generation, member engagement and cultivating long-term champions function as deliberate strategies to strengthen both membership programs and the overall organizational value proposition. Attendees will learn practical approaches to delivering meaningful member experiences, fostering loyalty and thriving in an evolving urban landscape.
- Explore Cross-Departmental Impact: Understand how membership programs can be taken to the next level when they involve multiple departments. Creating a culture of shared responsibility can strengthen community connections and identify member prospects in forgotten corners.
- Leverage Membership for Engagement: Discover strategies to activate members for volunteerism, advocacy and project support. Members are your champions!
- Enhance Member Value and Revenue: Learn best practices for creating impactful events, improving communications, delivering tangible benefits and driving revenue growth.
- Jeanette Barker, VP, Strategic Development, Nashville Downtown Partnership (TN)
- Shameka Conwell, Member Relations Manager, Tampa Downtown Partnership (FL)
- Gary Johnson, Director, Membership Engagement & Events, Downtown Dallas, Inc. (TX)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Music, street art and other forms of creative expression are powerful yet often intangible indicators of urban vibrancy. Cities with globally recognized music identities, such as Nashville or New York City, did not emerge from carefully engineered policy frameworks. Instead, these scenes developed under conditions of regulatory flexibility, affordable space and networks of small, informal venues. Ironically, once recognized as valuable, many music scenes are regulated, branded and priced out of existence. As downtowns evolve through new development, transportation investments and urban design strategies, cities face a core tension: how to support something inherently spontaneous. Too much regulation can stifle music culture, while too little leaves it vulnerable to displacement. This session explores music urbanism as a planning lens, positioning live music as both a cultural asset and a diagnostic tool for downtown health. Through case studies and practitioner insights, panelists will examine sound policy, music task forces, program development and emerging ways to understand the health of a city’s music ecosystem beyond economic impact alone.
- Understand place-specific regulations and policy tools that can support local music scenes while balancing growth, safety and neighborhood change.
- Learn practical metrics and methods for assessing downtown music health, beyond economic impact alone.
- Gain actionable ideas for music-based programming and guidance on forming a local music task force to coordinate stakeholders and sustain creative ecosystems.
- Abby Jamiel, AICP, Associate Urban Planner, Public Sphere Projects (Philadelphia, PA)
- Katie Hanford, Executive Director, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (Philadelphia, PA)
- Sara Barrera, Economic Development Manager, Downtown Commission Memphis (TN)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Preston Wallace, Director of Marketing, Downtown Fort Wayne (IN)
- Isabel Ullrich, Marketing, Events & Social Media Director, Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 (WI)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Liz Sullivan, Director of Economic Development & External Affairs, Downtown Boston Alliance (MA)
- Cate Irvin, Senior Director of Economic Development, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Shane Zahn, Sr. Director of Community Safety, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (MN)
- Melvin Eledge, LPM, Director of Operations, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc (MI)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Leadership Development
- This interactive session invites aspiring UPMO professionals to hear directly from experienced UPMO leaders about what it takes to lead in an emerging, varied and rapidly evolving field. Seasoned leaders will open the conversation, each offering a brief introduction explaining what drew them to work in urban place management.
- Attendees will have the opportunity to ask candid questions about leadership, career pathways, challenges and opportunities within the UPMO space. The session is designed for individuals considering or actively pursuing a career in urban place management, whether they are entry-level professionals, department or division leaders, or members exploring future leadership roles.
- Identify common leadership pathways into urban place management and the skills, experiences and perspectives that support success in UPMO roles.
- Explore real-world challenges and opportunities faced by UPMO leaders, including how they navigate stakeholder expectations and evolving community needs.
- Reflect on personal career goals and formulate questions or next steps for pursuing leadership opportunities within the urban place management field.
- Gerren Price, President & CEO, DowntownDC BID (Washington, DC)
- Regina Myer, President, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (NY)
- Davon Barbour, President & CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance (TX)
- Carrie Gartner, PhD, LPM, Executive Director, The Loop CID (Columbia, MO)
- Eric Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership/BIZ (Detroit, MI)
- Kate Fenske, LPM, CEO, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ (MB)
- Tom Turner, President and CEO, Nashville Downtown Partnership (TN)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Trash containers are among the most permanent fixtures in any public space. They can blend in – or become powerful canvases for art, branding and placemaking. See how cities nationwide are transforming an overlooked eyesore into a true community asset.
- Service Advisories are private-sector insights specifically tailored to the place management industry. This Service Advisory is presented by Citibin. In addition to the above content, this Service Advisory will include a demo of their product or service.
- Liz Picarazzi, Founder and CEO, Citibin (Brooklyn, NY)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- Learn about private-sector solutions to solve hurdles in your community! Visit with exhibitors to explore solutions.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
- Enter to win daily prizes, including free wraps as the grand prize, simply by snapping a selfie against the backdrop of one of the fabulous street pole wraps that are prevalent in downtown Toronto. Experience them firsthand as they prevent graffiti and beautify pathways. Get inspired to bring this engaging streetscape solution to your own districts and maybe win some!
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- Join us for IDA Master Talks, showcasing some of the industry's most dynamic and influential leaders shaping cities. This General Session will also highlight IDA’s 2026 Downtown Achievement Awards, representing the most innovative and engaging projects from around the globe.
- Richard Florida, Founder, Creative Class Group
- Mark Williams, Deputy Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance (London, UK)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- Connect with industry-specific solutions supporting your district! Enjoy dedicated exhibitor browsing time beginning at 11:30am, followed by continuous lunch service starting at 12:00pm. Review exhibitor details ahead of time and bring any related RFPs. Use this time to take demos and collect information to bring back to your team.
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- Come speak with staff and current Certified Leaders in Place Management to explore IDA's Leadership in Place Management (LPM) certification program. Whether you’re looking to grow your career, formalize your expertise or guide your community forward – LPM certification gives you the credibility to be heard, the clarity to lead and the confidence to shape the future of your place. Ask questions about the application requirements and exam process, and learn more about the value of being an LPM. Your place deserves a certified leader. Why not you?
- Already a Certified Leader in Place Management? Your LPM sets you apart – keep it active to stay recognized as a leader in the profession. Stop by to learn more about certification maintenance and renewal. Also take this opportunity to share your story to inspire the next generation of leaders. Be the reason someone else takes their leadership to the next level!
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- A connected district works as one. At Downtown Dallas, Inc. operates with operations and economic development are connected through District360, the only Salesforce-based platform built for downtown and place management organizations. Clean, safe, well-run streets drive business attraction and property value, while economic development activity guides where operations focus.
- This session will explore how connected teams work from a single source of truth to create trusted reporting, a unified district story and stronger stakeholder engagement. Attendees will learn what it takes to connect teams, align priorities and provide the shared context needed to inform stakeholders, support investment decisions and guide strategy. A connected district is not about adding more technology. It is about operating as one organization with a shared view and shared goals.
- This Lunch & Learn will provide private-sector insights specifically tailored to the place management industry presented by District360. In addition to the above content, this Lunch & Learn may include a demo of their product and/or service. Grab lunch located inside the meeting room to enjoy during this Lunch & Learn session.
- Mike Hunter, Chief of Parks and Public Space, Downtown Dallas, Inc. (TX)
- Kathryn McKissick, Vice President, District360 (Washington, DC)
- Doug Prude, Director, Economic Development & Opportunity, Downtown Dallas, Inc. (TX)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 9 Room, Convention Level
- Policy and Advocacy
- Join the IDA U.S. Advocacy Network Roundtable for an engaging and vital gathering, bringing together current and prospective advocates. Get the latest updates on IDA initiatives, discover concrete ways to become actively involved in shaping policy and making a real difference and learn how you can contribute to our growing advocacy community through networking and shared insights.
- Andrew Goldberg, IDA U.S. Government Affairs, Principal, Agora Consulting, LLC (Washington, DC)
- Jason Ilstrup, Chair, IDA U.S. Advocacy Leadership Group, President, Downtown Madison, Inc. (WI)
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Explore two urban parks in the heart of the city that function as the community’s living room and have faced complex social challenges. This tour highlights how public-private partnerships enabled a pilot approach to community safety, creating the conditions for renewed use, trust and positive activity.
- Hear from partners and stakeholders about College Park, revitalized in 2019 as part of a development project and now supported by year-round programming from surrounding businesses and City of Toronto park staff, as well as Trinity Square, a recently reclaimed park that has experienced prolonged encampment challenges. Learn about an innovative public health-led pilot program, developed in partnership with local law enforcement, that supports vulnerable people with complex needs. This initiative is succeeding through collaboration with the BIA and neighbourhood businesses.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $40
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Toronto’s Central Waterfront is one of the city’s best examples of long-term urban transformation. Over several decades, it has shifted from an industrial edge disconnected from downtown into a people-first waterfront anchored by parks, culture and a busy transportation network. This evolution has been supported by more than 50 years of government investment in arts, culture and recreation. This walking tour explores two connected stories: the waterfront as a cultural and public-realm destination, and Queens Quay as a multimodal corridor where streetcars, bikes, pedestrians, cars, ferries and airport activity all meet in one tight, high-demand space.
- *This tour indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $40
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Once an area of warehouses and empty spaces, Old Town Toronto has blossomed in the last two decades and has been considered one of the ten best neighbourhoods to live in Canada. In recent years the BIA has developed a Master Plan (2015) followed by its Street Transformation Strategy (2024). With a focus on continuity, creating destination areas, “as of right” initiatives and city and developer partnerships, the BIA has worked on creating a placemaking strategy using its assets, streets and public realm to create different opportunities and areas to enjoy, while positively affecting safety and transportation levels through its streets. Follow through the neighbourhood starting at Berczy Park, to the ongoing Colborne precinct project, King Street to St. James Park and finish at Market Street and its ongoing initiatives for pedestrianization and a tour of the historic St. Lawrence Market and the newly opened North Market and precinct.
- *This tour includes indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- A guided tour exploring the evolution of King West Village from an industrial district into one of Toronto’s most dynamic mixed-use neighbourhoods. The tour focuses on how industrial land, historic buildings and warehouse architecture have been thoughtfully reimagined and integrated into contemporary development. It highlights adaptive reuse, urban design and placemaking strategies that have shaped the area’s growth and identity.
- Participants will explore key King West Village destinations, including The Well, a major mixed-use commercial and residential hub; Waterworks, which combines housing with a curated food hall; 401 Richmond, a landmark example of adaptive reuse supporting Toronto’s creative community; and Stackt Market, an award-winning private shipping container market that animates more than 100,000 square feet of public land requiring remediation to be transformed into a public park.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure; Public Space Management and Operations
- Explore one of Canada’s most ambitious urban transformations on this guided walking tour of CityPlace and Fort York. Discover how former industrial rail lands became the country’s largest master planned community and examine the planning vision, public realm and place management strategies guiding its evolution today and into the future. Highlights include the CityPlace Public Art Plan, Canoe Landing Community Recreation Centre and the CityPlace and Fort York BIA Streetscape Master Plan.
- The tour also explores Fort York National Historic Site as a shared urban space, focusing on how daily operations, community programming and heritage stewardship – such as the discovery of a 19th-century schooner at a nearby condominium development in 2015, later preserved and displayed outside the site’s visitor Centre – support inclusive and meaningful public use. Designed for place management and city building professionals, the tour concludes with a networking social on a vibrant outdoor patio.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Place management is shaped by culture, context and local identity, and those dynamics look different from one region to the next. Yet place leaders around the world often face similar questions about how to support small businesses, build trust with communities and respond to change in meaningful ways.
- This session explores how place management functions across global and cultural contexts, with an emphasis on what regions can learn from one another. Global place management organizations will share how they work with partners in different countries and cultural settings, and how those partnerships adapt to local norms, business environments and community priorities. The conversation will include work from IDA Foundation’s Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, which supports independent, small restaurants in 9 countries worldwide.
- Understand how place management operates within different cultural and regional contexts.
- Learn how global partners support local communities and small businesses in ways that respect cultural nuance.
- Identify approaches to place management that can be adapted across regions.
- Cathy Lin, AICP, Director of Research, IDA, Washington, DC
- Liz Joldeski, Executive Officer, Mainstreet Australia (Melbourne)
- Guillermo Bernal, Executive Director, The Place Institute (Mexico City, MX)
- Ojay McDonald, CEO, ATCM (Westerham, UK)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood and downtown core has struggled with high-volume street drug markets, public drug use and related quality-of-life impacts for residents, workers and businesses. In response, the City and County of San Francisco launched the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC). DMACC is a multi-agency task force combining local law enforcement, public health, economic development, emergency management and other partner agencies to strategically disrupt the open-air drug markets and improve street conditions.
- Define the operational framework of a multi-agency coordination center dedicated to specific challenges.
- Reflect on community engagement and public perception when rolling out coordinated safety initiatives.
- Discuss early outcomes and transferable strategies for their own downtown strategies.
- Kate Robinson, MA, CEO, Tenderloin Community Benefit District (San Francisco, CA)
- Chris Corgas, Deputy Director, OEWD, City of San Francisco (CA)
- Fernando Pujals, Executive Director, Mid Market Business Association & Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
- James Aherne, Police Commander, SFPD (San Francisco, CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Organizational Management
- Intermediate
- : When a new CEO joins an existing organization, they go through a process of aligning their thinking with the organization's board and staff to ensure everyone is moving in the same direction. In this session, three relatively new CEOs from different contexts will share what this process was like for them, and what strategic plans have allowed their organizations to achieve, such as establishing a place management district. CEOs will speak about how they have balanced managing the immediate issues in front of them, at the same time setting a vision for the future that everyone can rally around.
- Uncover how organizations use their strategic plans to inform successful district formation and renewal
- Discuss leadership challenges coming into new roles and how to approach taking on both immediate and long-term challenges.
- Explore how an intentional, multi-phase strategic planning process brings value by actively engaging staff, board members, community members and stakeholders.
- Vanessa Olson, Senior Lead, Uncommon Bridges (Seattle, WA)
- Shelonda Stokes, President, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (MD)
- Taylor Schaffer, President/CEO, Downtown Indy Alliance (Indianapolis, IN)
- Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, President & CEO, Tampa Downtown Partnership (FL)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Anojan Sathasivam, Director, Planning & Public Realm, Toronto Downtown West BIA (ON)
- Dana Duncanson, Managing Director, Toronto Downtown West BIA (ON)
- Oliver Hierlihy, LPM, Director of Operations, The Waterfront BIA (Toronto, ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 2&3 Room, Convention Level
- Winning an IDA Pinnacle Award represents the highest achievement in the industry. Join this session to gain invaluable insights and inspiration from the 2026 Pinnacle Award-winning projects in the domains of Policy and Advocacy, Planning, Design and Infrastructure, and Public Space Management and Operations. Discover how Downtown Detroit Partnership helped reshape a major infrastructure project through community-driven engagement, how Downtown Durham, Inc. developed a bold Blueprint for a vibrant and inclusive downtown future and how Downtown Sioux Falls transformed a former industrial site into a year-round civic destination. Learn directly from the leaders behind these exceptional projects and explore the innovative strategies, partnerships and lessons that are creating stronger, more connected and more resilient districts.
- Teneka James-Feaman, M.B.A., LPM, Executive Director, West Palm Beach DDA (FL)
- James Fidler, Urban Evolution Strategist, Downtown Detroit Partnership (MI)
- Brandon Hanson, CEO, Downtown Sioux Falls (SD)
- Nicole Thompson, President & CEO, Downtown Durham, Inc. (NC)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Open forum for all Canadian delegates to discuss priority positions related to Federal government advocacy.
- Paul MacKinnon, LPM, CEO, Downtown Halifax Commission (NS)
- Tasha Morizio, Directrice Générale, La Société de Développement du Boulevard Saint-Laurent Montréal (QC)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Regatta Room, Hotel Main Lobby
- Reconnect with peers, share experiences and unwind in an ELF Alumni dedicated space on Wednesday afternoon. Enjoy refreshments and a chance to mingle with fellow alumni.
- www.blockbyblock.com
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Queens Quay Room, Street Level
- Enjoy a vibrant space designed for connection, creativity and flavor! Meet inspiring small business owners from across five years of IDA Foundation’s Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, hear their stories and explore a slice of Toronto’s local food scene – all in one place. With tastings and interactive moments woven throughout, it’s an easy, engaging way to connect and take a refreshing break.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Introductory
- CM | 1.25
- Data programs manage, interpret and communicate insights that strengthen credibility and support mission-driven work. And yet, the pressure to produce credible data seldom comes with the resources to build effective data programs. This session empowers place management practitioners to transform data into a powerful tool for community-centered decision-making, even with limited staff capacity or budgets. The program is designed for those new to data analysis, seeking a refresher or wanting to better understand how partners are using data in their work. Speakers revisit the fundamentals of identifying and assessing data sources along with statistical analysis and visualization through a place-based lens. Discover practical strategies for building data programs appropriate to your organization's size and scale, including guidance on paid versus unpaid sources, U.S. versus Canadian data collection tools and responsible data storytelling practices. Explore diverse approaches across varied organizational contexts through case studies from a diversity of UPMOs from across the U.S. and Canada and learn how to clearly articulate findings. Attendees will leave confident in next steps to begin building approachable, mission-aligned data programs that center community and support inclusive place management work.
- Learn best practices (and the key pitfalls to avoid) when building or growing your data program
- Build confidence in reading and producing basic data visualizations
- Understand how to identify and evaluate suitable data sources, and clearly articulate findings
- Hannah Kiburz, Economic Development Manager, U District Partnership (Seattle, WA)
- Marion Bonneaux, LPM, Data Manager, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (MI)
- Ingrid Valou, Manager, Economic Development, Downtown Van (BC)
- Annoushqa Bobde, Research & Data Analyst, Downtown SF Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- Every downtown has that challenge where nothing sticks. You've tried security, social workers and committees. The problem persists.
- This session tells the story of how one mid-sized Canadian city stopped cycling through failed approaches and created something that didn't exist: a new service category. When security guards became barriers and social workers couldn't be everywhere, a cross-sector partnership asked different questions and built different answers.
- You'll hear from the operational designers who engineered the systems and the Indigenous-led organization that brought community voice and relationships to the table. A frontline worker will share what it actually looks like on the ground. The model has now delivered 68,000+ connections, 15,000 service referrals and 74% de-escalation success over 3.5 years. In 2025, it transferred to community ownership, proving sustainability without ongoing external dependency. This isn't a polished success story. It's a practical look at what happens when you stop buying band-aids. Learn what didn't work, the resistance encountered and how to know when your challenge needs a different kind of solution. Attendees leave with frameworks for assessing their own stuck challenges and questions to evaluate proposed solutions.
- *This breakout session features a 2026 Pinnacle award-winning project, Zoongizi Ode Inc. & Persons Community Solutions Ltd.
- Assess whether a persistent district challenge is suited for conventional program delivery or requires a different design approach, using a diagnostic framework presented in the session.
- Identify the conditions that enabled success in this case study and evaluate whether similar conditions exist or could be created in their own context.
- Formulate questions to evaluate proposed solutions, distinguishing approaches that engage affected communities from those that treat symptoms without partnership.
- Vidal Chavannes, Ed.D Senior Director - Community Safety, Toronto Community Housing (ON)
- Daniel Waycik, Senior Program Development Specialist, Persons Community Solutions Limited (Winnipeg, MB)
- Mary Burton, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Zoongizi Ode Inc. (Winnipeg, MB)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Organizational Management
- Intermediate
- This session will feature ten smart, experienced and battle-tested downtown CEOs who will share the best lessons they have learned when things go bad. They will share the biggest mistakes they made (so you don't have to) and how they survived them (so you will know what to do when it happens to you).
- Being a CEO can be a lonely position; you can't spill the tea to your Board members and other local organization leaders may not have your best interests at heart. IDA is the safe place to let down your hair, open up the box of woes and get excellent advice from people who have been there. Presenters in this session will be open, frank and give it to you straight. Come and learn from the best, leave comforted that you are not the only one to experience ups and downs, and you too can survive and thrive.
- How to communicate to your staff and Board when things go wrong.
- How to take care of yourself and manage the stress under challenging circumstances.
- How to position your organization to the media, politicians and the community in the face of criticism, failure and misconceptions.
- Kate Joncas, IDA’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Director of Urban Strategy, MIG (Seattle, WA)
- Patricia Barnes, Executive Director of the East Village BIA (Vancouver, BC)
- Kate Borders, LPM, President, University Circle, Inc. (Cleveland, OH)
- Kate Fenske, LPM, CEO, Downtown Winnipeg Biz (MB)
- Erin Goodman, Executive Director, SODO BIA (Seattle, WA)
- Prema Gupta, CEO, Center City District Philadelphia (PA)
- Suzanne Holley, President & CEO, DTLA Alliance (Los Angeles, CA)
- Teneka James-Feaman LPM, MBA, Executive Director, West Palm Beach DDA (FL)
- Paul MacKinnon, LPM, CEO, Downtown Halifax Commission (NS)
- Kathleen Rawson, LPM, CEO, The Hollywood Partnership
- Jon Scholes, CEO, Downtown Seattle Association (WA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- This session will detail how three distinct urban districts – with similar layouts as central business districts, yet varying attractiveness for business investment and industry – have found success in navigating the new landscape of downtown through engaging and supporting arts and culture. The session will analyze how each district utilizes creative and cultural programming, both produced by place management organizations and external programming amplified by UPMOs; strategically assesses the impact of arts and culture on downtown economies; and effectively manages the relationships and interests of cultural organizations and corporate business entities.
- Drawing on expertise in marketing downtowns and cultural programming, as well as curating downtown experiences, the session group aims to provide context on the intersection of event management and marketing communications, along with the nuances of establishing programming objectives; messaging and branding for owned programming; and incorporating the branding and tactics of external programming into UPMO strategies.
- Attendees will learn how to advocate for the support of arts and culture and demonstrate the economic usefulness of both physical investment of arts and culture in urban areas.
- Panelists will explain how attendees can lean into their district's cultural economy to drive success.
- Panelists will outline districts' existing assets, and explain how to supplement external programming with owned programming, creating a holistic approach to the next iteration of innovative urban districts.
- Dr. Suzet McKinney, President & CEO, Chicago Loop Alliance (IL)
- Melissa Buckminster, Director of Marketing & Communications, Downtown SF Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
- Aaron Sukenik, Vice President of District Development, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PA)
- Raasin McIntosh, VP Active Urbanism, Downtown Austin Alliance (TX)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Downtown districts sit at the intersection of community priorities, organizational capacity and a plethora of ideas about the future of place. This session explores how small, medium and large business districts design effective community engagement strategies at these intersections — where vision, resources and decision-making converge. It will bring together practitioners working across different district scales to share how engagement functions as a strategic leadership and trust-building tool, not just a project requirement.
- Panelists will discuss how engagement is a valuable and important process for any district, and how these scalable approaches can be adapted to every budget, regardless of staff capacity, amount of funding resources or complex, high-stakes environments. Through concrete examples, the session will highlight how districts have leveraged relationships, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and intentional process design to ensure community voices meaningfully inform priorities, tradeoffs, and implementation — regardless of budget size. Participants will leave with transferable frameworks for designing engagement that works at the intersection of people, place and leadership — where the most impactful downtown decisions are made.
- Understand the specific internal and external challenges in their district and how that shapes the potential community engagement techniques to be utilized.
- Describe how engagement strategies can be scaled and adapted for small, medium and large districts with varying budgets.
- Apply tactical engagement approaches to their context in order to leverage their work for maximum momentum, leadership and impact.
- Leah Chambers, AICP, Founder + Principal, Outside Voices (Houston, TX)
- Jacque Gonzalez-Garcia, Planning & Design Manager, Downtown Houston+ (TX)
- Jason Ilstrup, President, Downtown Madison, Inc. (WI)
- Kara Norman, AICP, Executive Director, Downtown Frederick Partnership (MD)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- Meet companies that can help you level up! Visit the exhibitor page to learn about industry-specific solutions.
Description:
- Join Jack Burgmaster, Managing Director of Sales & Operations for a hands-on lesson to learn more about the beauty and impact an EarthPlanter creates throughout your community. A demo you won’t want to miss!
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- Future award winners start here! Looking for inspiration or ready to see your own work recognized? Our team will be available to answer your questions and guide you through the submission process for next year's Downtown Achievement Awards. Get ready to shine — we'll help you prepare for your moment in the spotlight!
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Downtowns are rarely one thing. They’re made up of distinct corridors, neighborhoods and character areas, each with its own identity, tenant mix, audience, placemaking challenges and governance entities. When defined, branded, managed and marketed thoughtfully, these sub-districts can do more than stand on their own: they can strengthen and elevate a larger destination brand and visitor experience.
- This session brings together place management leaders from some of the world's leading cultural and entertainment destinations including LA’s Hollywood and London’s West End to share real-world experiences in creating, launching and stewarding sub-districts. Speakers will explore the process and framework for defining sub-districts and their strategic role and impacts, from clarifying identity and attracting public-private investment to improving wayfinding and storytelling for a range of audiences. Panelists will speak candidly about what has worked, what hasn’t, what they wish they had known earlier, who has and hasn’t supported their efforts, and what they intend to do next with their sub-districts.
- Explain how sub-district branding and management strategies can support broader economic development and downtown positioning goals.
- Identify and apply practical approaches for defining, launching and stewarding sub-district identities.
- Assess whether and when sub-district strategies are appropriate for their communities, using lessons learned to evaluate readiness, stakeholder alignment and long-term sustainability.
- Nur Asri, AICP, Principal/CEO, Think Place Agency (Brooklyn, NY)
- Mark Williams, Deputy Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance (UK)
- Mackenzie Carter, LPM, VP Marketing & Communication, The Hollywood Partnership (CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Too often, plans are created only to sit on a shelf and gather dust. Developing a public space or action plan is a major milestone for an urban place management organization – capturing community needs, priorities, and opportunity. Yet in today’s fast-moving and resource-constrained environment, momentum can stall quickly. By the time organizations regain capacity to act, plans may already feel outdated, disconnected or overwhelming. Planning fatigue is real, and it can erode trust, morale and impact. This session focuses on how place management organizations can overcome the post-plan momentum lull and move decisively from vision to delivery. Panelists will share how their organizations proactively avoided stalled plans, prioritized actionable projects and built sustainable implementation strategies. Through three distinct public realm journeys, the session will explore how plans conceived with implementation in mind can better withstand disruption and remain relevant over time. Speakers will discuss challenges such as shifting leadership, funding gaps, scope creep and the practical strategies used to persevere. Panelists represent organizations of varying sizes, budgets, geographies and land-use contexts, offering lessons that are transferable to districts at any stage – whether restarting momentum or designing the next plan to move faster from paper to place.
- Turn Vision Into Action: Attendees will learn strategies to move public space plans from conceptual ideas to completed projects, even in complex urban or industrial contexts.
- Navigate Real-World Implementation: Attendees will gain practical tools for delivering and managing public space initiatives while addressing political, funding and operational uncertainties.
- Sustain Momentum and Impact: Attendees will learn methods to maintain progress, build community support and carry lessons from one project to future initiatives.
- Tyler Blackwell, Strategic Advisor, Transportation Policy & Built Environment, SODO Business Improvement Area (Seattle, WA)
- Jacque Gonzalez-Garcia, Planning & Design Manager, Downtown Houston+ (TX)
- Franco Ferraro, AIA, Placemaking & Urban Design Manager, Downtown SF Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Join us to learn about how big visions and practical strategies have transformed the humble alleyway into a celebrated gem of public realm infrastructure in cities around the world. Alleyways historically serve the operational needs of buildings: loading and unloading, trash removal, and other back-of-house functions. But in many cities, the need for this small but mighty public space might be changing. As the demands on streets increase, alleyways offer a unique space for placemaking, gathering and public life. When done well, active alleyways offer a delightful, human-scale contrast to the central business districts that surround them by creating a built-in sense of discovery, delightful microclimate for lingering and a differentiated flagship ground-floor identity for discerning brands and tenants.
- Learn from global pioneers who have successfully cultivated laneway strategies over decades, and from small and mid-sized communities sharing successes and lessons from their recent initiatives. These leaders have successfully established a big vision and implemented novel policy incentives and design solutions for displaced operations like trash and loading, along with innovations in tenant improvements, access and egress, ground-floor curation, greening, lighting, wayfinding, seating, safety and urban design.
- Apply winning messages and political strategies from successful alleyway retrofits to your context in order to secure funding, sign operational agreements from property owners and attract the public.
- Learn how to implement design and operational strategies for alley retrofits and new-build paseo typologies, from global best practices in lease agreements, ground floor tenanting, trash collection, loading and unloading, lighting, cleaning, greening, marketing, safety and activation.
- Peer Learning: Engage fellow IDA conference participants in meaningful dialogue around key topics, in four opportunities throughout the panel, resulting in career-long relationships made through project-related dialogue.
- Anna Muessig, Partner, Senior Project Director, Public Sector Lead, Gehl (Baltimore, MD)
- Alexandra Hall, Public Art Consultant & Director of Art This Way, Downtown Fort Wayne, A H Public Spaces Consulting, LLC, (IN)
- Andrew Jacobs, Vice President of Planning and Public, Center City District (Philadelphia, PA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- Attendance does not always equal success. This session challenges the assumption that a busy street means an effective event and explores how place managers can use data to determine whether events are truly advancing organizational goals. Speakers will share real-world examples of events that either exceeded expectations or missed their mark, highlighting how audience data, business feedback and performance metrics can reveal what is — and is not — working. Participants will learn how to identify the right data to collect before, during and after an event, and how to evaluate outcomes against original objectives such as economic impact, engagement or brand alignment. The session will also address one of the most difficult aspects of event management: deciding when to let go of an event that appears successful on the surface but fails to deliver meaningful results. Attendees will receive practical worksheets and tools to assess their own events, communicate outcomes to stakeholders and confidently pivot or redesign programming. The focus is on making informed decisions that build trust, maximize limited resources and ensure events are intentional, measurable and mission-driven.
- Measure their events against their organization’s goals.
- Strategize based on the data they collect.
- Justify the revision of their events slate.
- Ebony Walton, LPM, Director of Marketing and Communications, DowntownDC BID (Washington, DC)
- Kristine Kennedy, Executive Director, Camden Special Services District (NJ)
- Kim DeMeritt, Director of Events, Downtown Tempe Authority (AZ)
- Jessika Baker, Community Engagement Director, Downtown Phoenix Inc. (AZ)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- Community engagement is tough on a good day yet incredibly rewarding on the best days. How do you handle the tough personalities, big opinions and impossible expectations, all while driving toward impactful work and powerful projects in your downtown?
- Panelists will share replicable engagement tools and strategies via case studies from their downtowns’ successes and failures (ahem, lessons learned), and open the floor for discussion to vent, relate, and problem-solve together to build more engaged stakeholders across our communities. Panelists will cover public engagement efforts that spurred a BID expansion and made implementation successful; approaches to structuring effective public meetings and feedback channels to collect opinions that shape projects and priorities; and methods for building coalitions and cultivating community champions to strengthen districts. Attendees will learn principles for meaningful community engagement and strategies for building a bigger table to invite more people to participate in shaping their downtowns.
- Attendees will be able to articulate what community or stakeholder engagement means for their role and their organization as a whole.
- Attendees will be able to create (or modify) an engagement strategy that draws meaningful feedback and makes stakeholders feel heard and connected.
- Attendees will be able to apply lessons learned from three distinct cases to their own approach to stakeholder engagement.
- Julie Clark McKinney, MA, APR, VP of People & Places, REV Birmingham (AL)
- Jalitha Jarrett, Director of Uptown, Charlotte Center City Partners (NC)
- Roxanne Earley, Consultant, Earley Strategies (New York Region, NY)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 2&3 Room, Convention Level
- Winning an IDA Pinnacle Award represents the highest achievement in the industry. Join this session to gain invaluable insights and inspiration from the 2026 Pinnacle Award-winning projects in the domains of Economic Development and Marketing, Communications and Events. Discover how River City Company is cultivating the next generation of downtown event leaders through its innovative Emerging Producers program, how the DowntownDC BID transformed an underutilized corridor into a thriving cultural destination with Anthem Row and how National Landing BID turned a parking garage into a nationally recognized placemaking experience through the Garage Racing National Championships. Learn directly from the teams behind these exceptional projects and explore the creative strategies, partnerships and bold activations that are driving economic growth, strengthening community connections and redefining downtown experiences.
- Teneka James-Feaman, M.B.A., LPM, Executive Director, West Palm Beach DDA (FL)
- Lukas Umaña, Sr. Director of Public Space Operations & Activations, DowntownDC BID, (Washington, DC)
- Tess Rollins, Director of Programs & Events, River City Company, (Chattanooga, TN)
- Elissa Staley, Director of Events and Activations, National Landing BID, (Arlington, VA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Organizational Management; Leadership Development
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers. Please note this session is limited to practitioners of place management organizations who hold the position of President, CEO and/or Executive Director.
- Kimberly Bares, LPM, President & CEO, Magnificent Mile Association, Chicago (IL)
- Mary-Claire Burick, LPM, President, Rosslyn BID (Arlington, VA)
- Kris Larson, LPM, AICP, President & CEO, Downtown Houston+ (TX)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 7&8 Room, Convention Level
- How can cities use the changing seasons as a platform for creativity, public life and downtown vitality? This panel explores Montréal’s distinctive approach to placemaking across the year, where culture, design and public space strategies respond to the rhythms of each season. The session will conclude with select companies briefly highlighting their recent work and innovative solutions.
- Jacquelyn West, Senior Advisor/Public Realm & Project Development, QDS Lab (Montréal, QC)
- Tasha Morizio, Director, Société de Développement du Boulevard St-Laurent (Montréal, QC)
- Soukeina El Isbihani, Development & Touring Manager, Quartier des Spectacles International (Montréal, QC)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor Description: Companies offering ways to enhance your district are on-site and ready to share creative solutions to your everyday problems. End the day with a beverage and say hello to a new company!
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- Visit the IDA Marketplace booth to enjoy an inspired cocktail with our membership champions! This is a great way for nonmember attendees or members who want a refresher to learn about IDA’s community while networking in a smaller setting. Discover valuable resources and stay up-to-date on IDA products, programs and services. Seasoned IDA members and staff will be available to answer any questions about membership and benefits.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Travel around Old Town Toronto and hear stories of how we became one of Canada’s largest cities. A number of other points of interest will be discussed, starting with St. Lawrence Market (and a visit to the C’est What kiosk), St. James Cathedral, the Gooderham Flatiron Building and more. Tales of Prohibition and smuggling will also be shared in this special version of the tour. Finish the tour with a whisky tasting at C’est What Restaurant, a staple in Old Town for nearly four decades, featuring a flight of three half shots of Canadian whisky.
- *This tour includes indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Thursday 03 Sep 2026
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Join us for a morning of networking over breakfast! IDA invites our Certified Leaders in Place Management (LPM) to gather and share insights, experiences and a morning beverage.
- Hear about YZD, North America's largest urban redevelopment project, transforming Toronto’s 370-acre former Downsview Airport lands into a vibrant, mixed-use city-within-a-city. But the story isn't just about future buildings. It’s about what happens before they’re built. By bringing YZD to life today through culture, activations and public programming, Northcrest Developments has already welcomed more than one million visitors to a site that will continue to evolve for decades to come. Mitchell Marcus, Vice-President of Place & Destination Development at Northcrest, explores how “meanwhile use” can turn a once closed-off, private airport into a destination, foster trust and belonging with future communities, and create momentum long before the first neighbourhood is complete.
- Please RSVP during registration to save your spot.
- Mitchell Marcus, Vice President, Place & Destination Development, Northcrest Developments (Toronto, ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Locations:
- • The Westin Harbour Castle, Convention Level, Harbour ABC Foyer, 2nd Floor
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- The Bentway is Toronto’s signature “under-highway” public realm project – proof that the city’s most car-dominant leftover spaces can be reimagined as connective, community-first destinations. This tour goes behind the scenes of that transformation, exploring the governance, partnerships and day-to-day operations that make a complex, linear public space feel intentional, welcoming and program ready. Attendees will learn how The Bentway was planned, funded, designed and delivered; what it takes to operate and maintain a high-performance public realm beneath the Gardiner Expressway; and how programming, stewardship and adjacent neighbourhood growth have helped turn infrastructure into a place. The tour will also see Waterfront ReConnect, a partnership with 3 adjacent BIAs to improve underpass conditions between neighbourhoods and how adjacent tower communities have embraced the Bentway’s work.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Economic Development
- One aspect that sets Toronto apart is the BIA Office itself. Many cities do not have the same kind of support structure for BIAs, particularly when it comes to capital projects. The BIA Office provides a range of resources, including dedicated BIA liaisons and Capital and Streetscape Designers, along with a full suite of grant funds that are invested by the City of Toronto and the BIAs into the public realm. This tour showcases the caliber of Capital projects being delivered across Toronto BIAs and highlights how they are funded, managed and implemented through the city’s unique Capital Cost-Share program. Participants will explore several projects currently underway while gaining insight into the partnership model in Toronto that makes this work possible.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Join us for a tour of Toronto’s Port Lands – 325 hectares of unique built heritage, landscape and water features within close proximity to the downtown core. Over the coming decades this area will transform from a predominantly industrial district into a modern and vibrant extension of the urban metropolis. This tour will explore how the Port Lands Planning Framework, a comprehensive 50 plus year vision for the area built on transformational moves while protecting an important employment base, is guiding this transformation and providing clarity on land use expectations. The tour will focus on efforts to guide this transition of brownfield, commercial and industrial properties while mitigating impacts to film production and maritime industries and managing the interface between active industry uses and areas planned to evolve into a more mixed use and neighbourhood-serving character.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Liberty Village is one of Toronto’s signature post-industrial neighbourhoods and continues to undergo transformative urban change. The area supports a diverse mix of uses, including vibrant businesses, employment spaces, mixed-use and residential buildings, as well as parks and surface parking lots. Located near several major venues, including sites that will host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, Liberty Village attracts visitors from across Toronto and beyond. Many choose to explore, shop and dine in the neighbourhood as part of their visit. This tour highlights how Liberty Village serves as a living example of how municipalities can collaboratively address challenges related to mobility, development and placemaking within a downtown neighbourhood. Experience firsthand how Liberty Village continues to evolve.
- *This tour includes transportation and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Many downtowns were built around a single dominant employer, industry or institutional anchor. While this concentration once fueled growth and contributed to identity, it has left districts vulnerable to micro and macro-economic shifts, workforce changes and evolving patterns of downtown use. This session explores how “one-trick pony” downtowns are intentionally transitioning toward more resilient, diversified economies that support a broader mix of jobs, residents and visitors. Through two in-depth case studies and supplemental examples from peer communities, panelists will walk through the strategic steps used to move beyond overreliance on a single anchor. Topics include redefining the downtown value proposition, aligning public and private investment, repositioning real estate and public spaces, sequencing actions to attract new industries and users without displacing existing assets, and identifying strategies to become a more resilient downtown. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how economic strategy, land use, placemaking and governance tools can work together to support diversification. The session emphasizes lessons learned, implementation challenges and measurable outcomes relevant to small- and mid-sized downtowns seeking more robust long-term economic resilience. Case study examples will be presented highlighting diversification efforts in several downtowns across the country.
- Describe the risks associated with single-industry, single-institution or single-employer downtown economies.
- Explain a step-by-step framework for transitioning toward a more diversified downtown economy.
- Apply economic diversification strategies to attendees’ own downtown contexts and resource constraints.
- Jay Renkens, AICP, Principal & Chief Practice Officer, MIG, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
- Ben Margolis, Principal & Director of Economic Development, MIG, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
- Jason Ilstrup, President, Downtown Madison, Inc. (WI)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Oklahoma City recently completed an innovative public-private partnership to transform a derelict fountain and pedestrian plaza into an immersive art and placemaking experience for locals and visitors. This project was spearheaded by Visit Oklahoma City, Inasmuch Foundation and the City of OKC in the Bricktown Entertainment District, which is managed by Downtown OKC Partnership. The art installation, called Cloud Embrace, is bringing renewed energy to lower Bricktown ahead of additional investment in major sports venues, public art and private development all within walking distance of the plaza. The panel will speak to the unique resources (monetary and otherwise) that helped bring Cloud Embrace to life, along with other examples of ways the district has been managed and maintained over the past 30 years. As one of OKC’s first districts, Bricktown began its rebirth back in 1993 through a one-penny sales tax voters approved called MAPS: Metropolitan Area Projects. Three decades later, OKC continues to invest in itself through innovative quality of life projects. Session participants will share lessons learned, pitfalls and practical advice for how to build support, develop necessary partnerships, sustain momentum, adapt to changes and take advantage of opportunities.
- How to assess districts with a renewed perspective and identify the key assets, partnerships and catalysts needed to support long‑term district growth and vibrancy.
- Articulate strategies for balancing short‑term activation needs with long‑range planning to ensure sustainable, adaptable district development.
- Apply approaches for blending local creative talent with national expertise to produce projects that authentically reflect and elevate their community’s identity.
- Anne Hedrick, Program Associate, Inasmuch Foundation (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Lindsay Vidrine, Senior VicOnce President of Destination Marketing, Visit Oklahoma City (OK)
- Jennifer Nakayama, P.E., President & CEO, Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership (OK)
- Joseph O'Connell, President & Artistic Director, Creative Machines Inc. (Tucson, AZ)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Policy and Advocacy
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- This session draws from the 2026 edition of P.U.M.A.’s Global Trends Report to examine the most significant economic, social, technological and cultural forces shaping cities and downtowns today. Rather than reviewing trends in isolation, this session focuses on how multiple forces are converging and creating new pressures and opportunities for place management professionals. These intersections are forcing downtown organizations to rethink long-standing assumptions about what they prioritize, how they allocate resources and what success looks like.
- Panelists will discuss how key 2026 global trends are affecting organizational priorities, service delivery, partnerships, and decision-making, with particular attention to balancing rising expectations with limited resources. Topics explored may include shifting work patterns, changing public space demands, technology adoption, economic uncertainty and evolving community expectations.
- Grounded in real-world practitioner experience, the session highlights how downtown organizations in different contexts are responding to these forces, the tradeoffs they are navigating and the strategies they are using to remain effective and relevant. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how global trends are reshaping downtown management and how to translate broad forces into locally appropriate actions.
- Describe the top ten global trends affecting North American cities and downtowns.
- Explain implications for place management organizations and practitioners.
- Highlight examples of how downtown leaders are responding and adapting to these trends in their own districts.
- Amanda Kannard, LPM, AICP, Vice President & Managing Partner, Progressive Urban Management Associates (P.U.M.A.) (Denver, CO)
- Brian Kurtz, LPM, Chief Executive Officer, San Jose Downtown Association (CA)
- Tim Kocur, Executive Director, The Waterfront BIA (Toronto, ON)
- Heather Wilson, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Downtown Durham Inc. (NC)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- Across North America, downtowns are navigating moments of accelerated change: economic shifts, evolving audiences and renewed questions about identity. In these moments, place branding often becomes the essential tool for perception change in ways that physical revitalization alone cannot. This session examines three recent rebranding efforts in prominent downtowns to explore how strategic branding shifts public perception. Rather than just focusing on process, the discussion looks at why branding became the lever for change, what each place needed to reconcile and how identity systems were shaped by lived experience, ambition, and constraint. Through three contrasting examples (from a legacy downtown, a creative mixed-use neighborhood and a fast-evolving urban district), panelists will share what worked, what they learned and what they would do differently. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of when rebranding is the right move, how to frame it internally and how marketing can act as a strategic tool rather than a cosmetic one. Moderated by a place branding practitioner, the panel brings together senior marketing leaders who led these rebrands. The discussion centers on decision-making: what triggered the need for change, how success was defined internally and how marketing teams navigated complexity across boards, communities and partners.
- Identify when rebranding is an appropriate response to perception challenges in a downtown or district context.
- Compare how marketing leaders can align boards, stakeholders, and communities around a rebrand initiative.
- Apply lessons from recent rebranding efforts to their own district's scale, capacity and governance model.
- Luis Mendoza, Managing Director, DNCO (Brooklyn, NY)
- Britt Diehl, Vice President, External Affairs, Downtown Denver Partnership (CO)
- Clara Inés Schuhmacher, Senior Vice President, Programs, Dumbo Business Improvement District / Team Dumbo (Brooklyn, NY)
- Erica Rivera, Brand Marketing Manager, National Landing BID (Arlington, VA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- This session illustrates how underutilized urban spaces can be transformed into vibrant social places through intentional co-creation, near-term activation and strategic partnerships. Participants will learn how temporary public spaces can serve as real-world laboratories to test ideas, accelerate community benefits and build momentum for future development. The discussion examines two contrasting yet complementary case studies: a newly launched waterfront pop-up designed to prototype long-range planning concepts and a well-established linear activation that has evolved over several years into a community programming hub.
- Key topics include organizational setup, design and construction under tight timelines, partnership building, inclusive programming strategies and operational lessons learned. The session highlights how broad community input, diverse program partners and culturally rooted activities – such as free, accessible recreation – can drive strong public participation and ownership. Attendees will gain practical insights into successes, challenges and replicable strategies for activating underutilized spaces quickly and equitably, while ensuring these spaces remain flexible, welcoming and responsive to community needs.
- Understand how temporary activation can advance long-term public space visions, using near-term projects to test community ideas, build momentum and deliver benefits while permanent infrastructure is being planned or funded.
- Learn operational strategies for building and sustaining temporary public spaces, including organizational groundwork, funding models, programming approaches and partnership structures that maintain community engagement beyond the initial launch.
- Define effective approaches to cross-sector collaboration and community partnerships, leveraging local leaders to create authentic, inclusive and scalable public spaces.
- Tony Garcia, RA, Founding Principal, Street Plans (Miami, FL)
- Andrew Robinson, Executive Director, The East Cut Community Benefit District (San Francisco, CA)
- Scott Skinner, Executive Director, North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (Cleveland, OH)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- Learn about private-sector solutions to solve hurdles in your community! Visit with exhibitors to explore solutions.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- The best urban spaces invite people to pause. You are invited to do the same! Join the Vestre team for fika — the Scandinavian tradition of slowing down, connecting and sharing a moment over coffee and something sweet — and hear how we're designing sustainable street furniture for cities around the world.
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- Do you offer downtown solutions or consultancy? IDA offers a variety of ways for you to get engaged, lend your expertise, market alongside a trusted platform and develop business. Stop by the IDA booth in the Marketplace and share your work with Tracie Clemmer, IDA’s Director of Corporate Relations, or set up an appointment by emailing tracie@downtown.org.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- IDA Master Talks present the industry's most engaging and innovative speakers. This final General Session will feature a ceremony for IDA’s Leadership in Place Management (LPM) certificants.
- Davon Barbour, President & CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance (TX)
- Maggie Campbell, Fractional President & CEO, Downtown Arlington (TX)
- Michael Foreman, Retired NASA Astronaut (Friendswood, TX)
- Monique Simard, Chair of the Boards of Directors, Quartier des Spectacles Partnership & Quartier des Spectacles International (Montreal, QC)
- Leslie Woo, Principal & Founder, shebuildscities.org (Toronto, ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Floor
- LAST CHANCE to meet with the companies investing in your industry! Learn about products and services for your district during dedicated time beginning at 11:30am, followed by continuous lunch service starting at 12:00pm. Empower your decisions by reviewing exhibitor details today. Connect with industry-specific solutions supporting your district!
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Metropolitan Ballroom East, 2nd Floor
- IKE Smart City is the leader in interactive digital kiosks, connecting cities and people.
- Wayfinding to local businesses
- Central transit and trip-planning hub
- Community messaging
- No cost to city partners
- See you at the demo and learn how IKE activates the pedestrian experience!
Location:
- Downtown Houston+ Marketplace Booth #4
- The countdown to IDA’s 73rd Annual Conference & Marketplace in 2027 starts here! Meet IDA staff and 2027 co-host Downtown Houston+ for a preview of the conference and the must-see experiences awaiting you in a city always in motion. You may even meet an astronaut.
Location:
- IDA Marketplace Booth #10
- IDA provides members with opportunities to become more engaged with the profession by serving on committees, task forces and special projects. Find opportunities that fit your interests and expertise, gain leadership experience and further develop the urban place management profession.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Datafy built a sensor that provides minute-by-minute attendance estimates, helping communities understand how many people attend an event, stroll along Main Street, dance at a concert, shop at a farmers market or visit a trailhead. In this session, attendees will see the device firsthand and learn from case studies showing how it is being used in New York City, Santa Monica, Tysons Corners, Tacoma, Golden, Colorado and other communities to answer that pressing question: “How many people are actually here?” Simply place the device on a table or mount one to a pole, turn it on and begin tracking attendance patterns at nearly any location. The devices are about 6” x 4”, work indoors and outdoors, and don't collect personally identifiable information, so privacy remains protected. Its name is Tally™, and it’s transforming how communities measure activity and engagement.
- This Lunch & Learn will provide private-sector insights specifically tailored to the place management industry presented by Datafy. In addition to the above content, this Lunch & Learn may include a demo of their product and/or service. Grab lunch located inside the meeting room to enjoy during this Lunch & Learn session.
- Ian Ross, VP Civic, Datafy (Oakland, CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Leadership Development
- Introductory
- During Thursday lunch, invest in learning about IDA’s Emerging Leader Fellowship program (ELF) and the Leadership in Place Management Certification. Discover how these premier programs can enhance your skills, advance your career and contribute to the success of the place management profession.
- Learn about the application process and eligibility for both programs.
- Gain an understanding of the learning outcomes and required knowledge for both programs.
- Explore LPM certification renewal requirements and how to track continuing education credits.
- Carolyn Dellutri, CAE, CTP, CMSM, Director of Professional Development, IDA (Genoa City, WI)
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Join the Toronto Financial District BIA and Waterfront BIA marketing teams for a collaborative tour exploring how two neighbouring BIAs with distinct audience segments drive destination marketing and area activation across Toronto’s downtown and waterfront. Participants will experience iconic vantage points through a waterfront boat experience, followed by an on-foot exploration through public spaces and landmarks that shape how each district engages workers, residents, and visitors. Along the route, see a standout elevated public realm that bridges major properties, integrates businesses, and offers unique views. Participants will learn how both BIAs use photo walk tours with professional photographers as a marketing tool to visually showcase and increase area exposure. This tour offers practical insights on marketing strategy and engaging creative communities to promote a major financial hub and vibrant waterfront destination.
- *This tour includes a short boat portion and indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $85
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- See Toronto’s Waterfront by boat – this tour will take you along Toronto’s revitalizing waterfront, from the revitalized Western Waterfront, over to the scenic natural environment of the Toronto Islands’ lagoons and over to the rapid development of residential towers and park spaces on Toronto’s eastern waterfront and Toronto’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising and Biidaasige park. Attendees will hear from a panel of speakers providing background on how Toronto’s Waterfront has developed and about the many exciting projects underway, including the rehabilitation of the Canadian Malting Silos near Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the Toronto Island Park Plan and the significant development and park space enabled by flood protection along the eastern waterfront.
- *This tour includes boat transportation and outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Price:
- $40
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer, Street Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- This tour explores Downtown Toronto’s two sports and entertainment venues, Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena, and their role in shaping the city’s Entertainment District. Participants will learn how these venues host global concert tours and major events. The tour includes a guided walk between the two venues, providing a perspective of the surrounding district and its evolution. Along the route, participants will learn about destinations such as the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Roundhouse Park and Steam Whistle Brewing and examine how these attractions contribute to Toronto’s Entertainment District. The tour also highlights the historical role of railways in shaping the area, including proximity to Union Station and considers how transportation, entertainment and tourism assets come together to create a vibrant downtown destination.
- *This tour includes indoor/outdoor walking. Please plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and/or light rain gear.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- During this session, participants will hear from examples around the country on how advancing commercial affordability strategies can help mitigate displacement of small, local businesses in our communities and neighborhood commercial districts. Each panelist will share lessons learned and innovative strategies they are implementing to address this issue and promote economic opportunity for entrepreneurs across the country. Participants will take away best practices and ideas for how they can advance this work in their communities. They will walk away with a better understanding of the challenges that small businesses and retail corridors face when gentrification occurs, compare notes on the different dynamics that cities and neighborhoods are facing with respect to commercial displacement and learn about policy tools and private sector interventions that can help retain small and legacy businesses based on different case studies.
- Understand the challenges that small businesses and retail corridors face when gentrification occurs and how the district can mitigate these challenges.
- Compare notes across the country on the different dynamics that cities and neighborhoods are facing with respect to commercial displacement and how to put strategies in place for anti-displacement of local businesses and culture.
- Learn about policy tools and private sector interventions that can help retain small and legacy businesses based on different case studies from across the country that can be applied in their respective districts.
- Heather Schroeder, Executive Director, Downtown Wichita (KS)
- Laura Linman, MPA, EDFP, Economic Development Project Manager, Commercial District Support, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (GA)
- Heather Wilson, MBA, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Downtown Durham, Inc. (NC)
- Sulin Carling, Principal, Commercial Affordability Practice, HR&A Advisors (New York City, NY)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- The era of “pop-ups” is over. In a volatile economic landscape, leaders must shift from one-off tactical projects toward iterative, high-fidelity prototyping. The 2010s gave us placemaking; the 2020s demand the "Phase 0" proof of concept required to de-risk millions in future capital investment. This session explores how short-term action serves as a sophisticated financial and political tool. Through case studies, from a year-long sprint to revive a NASA-themed park in Houston, to waterfront intersection enhancements in Buffalo and an iterative street plaza in Denver, we demonstrate how to leverage any budget to convert civic skepticism into long-term investment. Attendees will gain specific guidance on aligning Phase 0 interventions with private investment timing, funding sources and long-term operations, ultimately redefining the urban fabric and social contracts through the power of “doing.”
- Understand the various roles that place management organizations must play to catalyze change across varied public-realm typologies in downtown environments.
- Identify potential shortcomings of short-term investments and robust mitigation strategies to ensure long-term viability.
- Apply at least one directly applicable strategies across the 3x3x3 matrix (location/climate, project type, project phase) to attendee’s home city or /organization.
- Mark De La Torre, Director of Denver Operations, Director of Visualization, MIG, Inc. (CO)
- Brandye Merriweather, President, Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (NY)
- Cassie Hoeprich, Vice President, Planning & Economic Development, Downtown Houston + (TX)
- Andrew Iltis, Senior Vice President, Planning & Community Impact, Downtown Denver Partnership (CO)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- This session examines the realities behind placemaking projects by studying the good, the bad and the ugly moments that shape public space delivery. The panel brings together four distinct perspectives: a public space furniture manufacturer, an end user responsible for daily operations and maintenance and two placemaking practitioners who design and implement projects in diverse community contexts.
- Rather than focusing only on finished outcomes, the speakers will highlight common fail points related to materials, installation methods, durability and long-term performance. Through real-world case examples, the panel will share what worked well, what failed in practice and how projects were adapted or corrected over time. Topics will include material selection, mobility versus permanence, coordination with agencies and contractors and operational constraints.
- Participants will be able to identify common placemaking fail points related to material selection, installation practices and operational performance.
- Participants will be able to apply strategies used by manufacturers, practitioners, and end users to test, refine and adapt placemaking interventions.
- Participants will be able to evaluate public space toolkit components based on durability, maintenance needs and real-world usability.
- Daniel Delongchamp, PLA, LEED AP, Business Development Manager and Landscape Architect, Vestre (Arlington, MA)
- Evan Sweet, AICP, Director of Neighborhood Operations & Planning, Meatpacking District (New York City, NY)
- Tony Garcia, RA, Founding Principal, Street Plans (Miami, FL)
- Mike Lydon, Principal, Streetplans (Brooklyn, NY)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Policy and Advocacy
- Advanced
- Attendees will discuss the frequency with which both, man-made and natural disasters are occurring and how downtown management organizations are preparing. In the last few years weather events (flooding, hurricanes, snowstorms) have seemed more extreme and have levied a direct hit on some of our city centers. More recently, the fabrication of unimaginable situations has wreaked a different kind of havoc in cities. This session will explore what this means for downtown management organizations moving forward.
- Describe an unexpected event that occurred downtown and explain how your downtown organization handled it.
- Identify other unanticipated emergencies or events that your downtown should anticipate.
- Discuss the top 3 priorities for effectively managing an emergency.
- Yvette Freeman, Senior Strategist, Progressive Urban Management Associates (Denver, CO)
- Anthony Rodriguez, President & Chief Executive Officer, LA Fashion District BID (Los Angeles, CA)
- Lisa Middag, LPM, Senior Director, Economic Development, Mpls Downtown Council and DID (Minneapolis, MN)
- Brett DeBord, Director of Operations & Capital Projects, Downtown Houston+ (TX)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 2&3 Room, Convention Level
- Leadership Development
- Intermediate
- Leadership transitions are inevitable; successful ones are intentional. Emerging leaders should proactively position themselves for future leadership opportunities, while current executives and board members must think strategically about preserving organizational knowledge and legacy by investing in the next generation of leadership. This session will help both individuals and organizations prepare for a successful leadership transition. Attendees will learn from a panel of organization leaders who have successfully positioned themselves for internal advancement, secured the top job and guided their organizations through effective leadership transitions.
- Understand the key components of an effective succession plan, including leadership development, board engagement and transition timing.
- Apply practical strategies to prepare either themselves or their staff for future leadership roles.
- Explain how intentional succession planning can support organizational stability.
- Rena Masten Leddy, LPM, Vice President, Urban Place Consulting Group, Inc (San Francisco, CA)
- Garret Martin, Vice President, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation (TX)
- Mary-Claire Burick, LPM, President, Rosslyn Business Improvement District (Arlington, VA)
- Matt Dorner, CEO, Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 (WI)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Intermediate
- Place management organizations face a unique communications challenge: engaging diverse stakeholder groups while managing an expansive umbrella of programs, partnerships and initiatives that all demand visibility. Social media is ubiquitous yet resource-intensive, requiring organizations to balance competing priorities, reaching the largest audience (consumers) while demonstrating value to the most critical audiences (ratepayers and businesses). This session explores how to develop social media strategies that serve multiple audiences effectively. We'll share practical frameworks for creating sustainable content systems and planning a diverse content mix that achieves B2C engagement and B2B goals simultaneously, alongside real-world examples that have successfully navigated this balance. Attendees will learn tactical approaches including content repurposing strategies, bulk creation workflows, partnership leverage and how to translate business-focused content into consumer-friendly formats. We'll discuss how to plan strategically without overwhelming small teams, determine when social media is the right channel for specific audiences, and measure impact in ways that resonate with both the public and business stakeholders. Whether you're a one-person marketing team or managing limited staff, you'll leave with actionable strategies to optimize workload while increasing your social media's effectiveness and reach.
- Apply frameworks to translate business-focused content into consumer-engaging formats that serve both B2C and B2B audiences simultaneously.
- Implement sustainable content planning systems, including repurposing strategies, bulk creation workflows and partnership models, that reduce workload while maintaining consistent social presence.
- Evaluate whether social media is the appropriate channel for reaching specific stakeholder audiences and adjust strategy accordingly based on audience behavior and organizational goals.
- Christine Stadnik, Creative Marketing & Communications Specialist, Downtown Denver Partnership (CO)
- Leo Manning, Director, Strategic Communications, Center City District (Philadelphia, PA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Organizational Management
- Intermediate
- Are you a new CEO or Executive Director of a place management organization or a tenured leader looking to exchange ideas with peers? Join this newly designed session created specifically for CEOs and Executive Directors of urban place management organizations. This interactive 75-minute session features topic-focused roundtables, each hosted by a subject matter expert. Engage in conversations that interest you, meet new people, exchange business cards and learn from others' experiences in this ever-evolving profession. Topics will include strategic plans and staff deliverables; economic development; fundraising; managing staff; stakeholder critics to advocates; finance; working with elected officials; CEO/ED Role vs Board Chair roles; media relations; and much more!
- Please note this session is limited to practitioners of place management organizations who hold the position of President, CEO and / or Executive Director.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Queens Quay Room, Street Level
- Enjoy a vibrant space designed for connection, creativity and flavor! Meet inspiring small business owners from across five years of IDA Foundation’s Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, hear their stories and explore a slice of Toronto’s local food scene – all in one place. With tastings and interactive moments woven throughout, it’s an easy, engaging way to connect and take a refreshing break.
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 2&3 Room, Convention Level
- Join this open discussion forum and share experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Pauline Larsen, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Downtown Yonge BIA, Toronto, Ontario (CA)
- Michael Forbes, Assistant Vice-President, University Relations, Toronto Metropolitan University (ON)
- Tracy Styf, Executive Director, Town Center CID (Kennesaw, GA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Curb management is shifting from focusing on parking management to a holistic assessment of the curb and sidewalk space to make smarter, safer and more balanced decisions that address dynamic mobility, operations and quality of life needs. This session will discuss how planners and place managers from New York and Chicago have worked to develop ambitions curb management strategies, where timing, data and local priorities guide how the public right of way could best serve people. Focusing on economic, mobility and livability questions, we will present a recent parking study that takes a neighborhood-scale look at curb usage with NYC’s Meatpacking District, which has been a leader in using their streets to create a vibrant environment for both businesses and visitors. Further, we’ll hear about Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)’s curb management planning process, specifically the challenges and opportunities around Kimball Station Area in Chicago. We’ll conclude with an interactive activity to brainstorm how place management professionals can work with local government to reprioritize uses at the curb.
- Participants will gain an understanding of how to establish a comprehensive framework for organizing curb space to support safer, cleaner and more efficient districts.
- Participants will experiment with a prioritization scenario for different functions of curb space including mobility, access, public realm, services, safety, circulation and vehicle storage.
- Participants will be able to apply curb management strategies to their geographies and develop initiatives to support transformation of curb space uses beyond vehicle parking.
- Lian Farhi, Director of Planning & Urban Design, TYLin (New York City, NY)
- Angel Hart, Senior Director, LIC BID, Long Island City Partnership (NY)
- Evan Sweet, AICP, Director of Neighborhood Operations and Planning, Meatpacking District (New York City, NY)
- Robert Morris, AICP, Principal Analyst, RTA (Chicago, IL)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- Not every downtown organization operates in an environment where a standing clean and safe or ambassador team is feasible. Governance frameworks, property owner maintenance requirements, assessment limitations or political realities often restrict a district’s ability to provide direct services — even as expectations around cleanliness, safety and public-realm quality remain high. This session explores how downtown organizations manage public-realm conditions when they do not directly control clean & safe service delivery. Through practitioner perspectives, the discussion will examine alternative operating models that rely on coordination, expectation-setting and shared accountability with municipalities, property owners and service providers. Through candid discussion, the session will examine how coordination-first approaches work in practice, where gaps persist and how organizations navigate accountability, escalation and stakeholder expectations when direct service delivery is not an option. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the tradeoffs involved — and practical strategies for managing public-realm outcomes when authority and responsibility are shared.
- Identify governance and operational conditions where coordination-first models serve as alternatives when direct clean and safe service delivery is constrained.
- Evaluate accountability, escalation and partnership structures used when downtown organizations do not control field services.
- Apply communication strategies that set realistic public-realm expectations while maintaining visible value and stakeholder trust.
- Cheryll Diego, Public Realm Director, Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA) (Toronto, ON)
- Alexander Michael, Public Realm Operations Manager, National Landing BID (Arlington, VA)
- Christopher Sanders, Executive Director, East Metro Community Improvement District (Decatur, GA)
- Arthur Sinclair, P.Eng., Senior Engineer, Transportation Services – Operations and Maintenance, City of Toronto (ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Policy and Advocacy
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- We all see people suffering from mental illness in our downtowns, cycling over and over for years through the justice and hospital systems without meaningful improvement or treatment. It is estimated that as many as 70% of the people in jail are suffering from untreated serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders, a huge social and financial cost to the community. After years of local inaction, two downtown programs, Spokane and Charlotte, have decided to take leadership, using their skills, reputation and connections to set up a process for change. In 2025, Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) and the Downtown Spokane Partnership each convened task forces of city, county, justice, law enforcement, homelessness providers, health and behavioral health partners and people with lived experience to research and apply national best practices to better align their justice and behavioral health systems and reduce the suffering from mental illness in their communities and in downtown. In this session you will learn about their process, hear about their success and learnings and get ideas on how to start a similar process in your community.
- Understand the impacts, social and financial, of the lack of alignment of the mental health and justice systems and how that impacts your community.
- Learn how to define who the key public and private partners who must be at the table to provide innovative solutions to community problems such as homelessness and serious mental illness.
- Explain your Charter, members, actions and time frame for those actions and how you plan to communicate to the community to develop support.
- Kate Joncas, Director of Urban Strategy, MIG (Seattle, WA)
- Michael J. Smith, CEO, Charlotte Center City Partners (NC)
- Spencer Merriweather III, J.D., Mecklenburg County District Attorney (Charlotte, NC)
- Emilie Cameron, LPM, President and CEO, Downtown Spokane Partnership (WA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour B Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Introductory
- As traditional newsrooms shrink, many seasoned journalists are finding an unexpected – and powerful – second act: downtowns. This panel explores how former journalists bring storytelling instincts, creativity and curiosity into place-based storytelling, helping downtown organizations move beyond marketing and into authentic narrative-building. With fewer constraints and closer proximity to the community, these storytellers capture the human moments that connect people to place. Using an Emmy-nominated downtown-focused television and digital storytelling platform as a case study, the panel will show how journalists transition from traditional media into place-based storytelling while pushing creative boundaries. The case study demonstrates how downtown storytelling lives across broadcast, social media and owned digital channels.
- The panel will also showcase a sports and community-focused podcast hosted by a former professional athlete and former journalist, illustrating how journalistic storytelling builds loyal audiences. Panelists will discuss and showcase: Why downtown organizations are a natural home for journalists.
- Differentiate between promotional marketing and authentic journalistic storytelling by evaluating real content examples and identifying what drives trust and emotional connection to place.
- Create a journalistic story approach for their own district through small-group exercises, applying narrative strategies discussed during the session.
- Apply strategies for integrating newsroom-style storytellers and low-cost storytelling workflows into place management organizations, particularly within small to mid-sized budgets.
- Gabe Holmstrom, LPM, Principal, Capitol + Main (Little Rock, AR)
- Dana Schlagenhaft, Executive Director, Downtown Bentonville Incorporated (AR)
- DJ Williams, Owner/Operator, 4th and Five (Little Rock, AR)
- Aaron Nolan, Communications Director, Downtown Bentonville Incorporated (AR)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Public space interventions can have long-lasting economic and social impacts and have the power to address today’s most pressing challenges. The presenters studied six placemaking activations worldwide, measuring how their work impacted local economies and changed people's lives. These selected interventions in North American and European districts – some permanent and some temporary – serve as a starting point to develop research projects focused on understanding and improving the social and economic impact of cultural investments in a variety of contexts. As part of the research project, a methodology was developed to examine the inclusive, accessible and engaging nature of placemaking initiatives. It proposes strategies to study the quality of interactions amongst the public, the impact of activations on community ties and sense of belonging, as well as direct and indirect economic benefits of these investments. This session will share this methodology and ensuing results and comparative data, offering a deep look at measuring impact, quantifying social value and ROI and assessing long-term effects of successfully animated districts on the lives of all those it represents and serves.
- Discover effective methodologies and analytical approaches for measuring impacts of placemaking.
- Analyze real-world data from economic and social impact studies and how they can relate to a variety of types of districts and downtown areas.
- Reflect best practices to understand how they might be transferable across different public-realm projects in different contexts.
- Leyla Nahas, MA, International Relations, Business Development Associate, Daily tous les jours (Montreal, QC)
- Mouna Andraos, MPS, Interactive Telecommunications, Co-founder, Daily tous les jours (Montreal, QC)
- Joshua Bloom, MS, Historic Preservation, Director of Community Strategies, The Lakota Group (Chicago, IL)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Street Level
- Leadership Development; Marketing, Communications & Events
- Intermediate
- IDA is making a multi-year investment to elevate the accomplishments and impact of our industry through a coordinated public and media relations effort. Proven practices from one city can often be adapted to meet challenges in another, and no downtown solves its challenges alone. In this facilitated discussion, member CEOs and Executive Directors will explore how IDA's new messaging framework can be used in conversations with media, policymakers and community stakeholders. After a brief introduction to the framework, attendees will share stories, case studies and local successes that reinforce key messages. The session is designed to spark peer learning, uncover powerful proof points and equip participants with examples they can adapt and use in their own markets.
- Dan Sweet, Senior Vice President, DDC Public Affairs (Washington, DC)
- Mary-Claire Burick, LPM, President, Rosslyn BID (Arlington, VA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 7&8 Room, Convention Level
- Explore how GIS-powered citizen reporting can transform individual reports into actionable intelligence for downtown and place management organizations. Using Pulsiam’s SafetyNet One platform, attendees will see how community-submitted reports are automatically mapped, analyzed, and integrated into daily operations—providing a real-time operational picture for safety teams, ambassadors and managers.
- Service Advisories are private-sector insights specifically tailored to the place management industry. This Service Advisory is presented by Pulsiam. In addition to the above content, this Service Advisory may include a demo of their product or service.
- Holly Blanks, Director of Global Business Development and Marketing, Pulsiam (Encino, CA)
- Isaac Blanks, Global Business Development Manager, Pulsiam (Encino, CA)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Convention Level, Harbour ABC Foyer, 2nd Floor
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 7&8 Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Retail vacancies remain a pressing challenge for downtowns in the post-COVID environment, and BIDs are increasingly playing a more active role in retail attraction. Yet many BIDs are asked to “lean in” without a clear understanding of how retailers actually make decisions, what causes deals to stall or where BID involvement is most effective.
- The purpose of this session is to help BIDs better understand their role in the retail attraction process by grounding it in tenant decision-making and market reality. The session brings together three complementary perspectives: a former national retailer site-selection decision-maker who will explain what retailers look for and how BIDs can avoid pursuing unlikely deals; a retail market researcher who will unpack why some locations that appear strong on paper struggle to convert interest into openings, and what data BIDs should focus on when targeting tenants; and a national industry intermediary who will share practical insights into how downtown organizations across the U.S. and Canada are supporting retail attraction in both broker-rich and broker-limited markets.
- Explain how retailers evaluate markets and sites in today’s urban leasing environment.
- Identify common misalignments between downtown attraction strategies and tenant decision-making.
- Apply market-driven insights to refine local retail attraction approaches.
- Larisa Ortiz, Managing Director, Streetsense (New York City, NY)
- Alex Doherty, Senior Strategist, Streetsense (Washington, DC)
- Morgan Wortham, Director, Community Advancement, Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) (Washington, DC)
- Tony Hernandez, PhD, Professor, School of Retail Management & Department of Real Estate Management, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour A Room, Convention Level
- Economic Development
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- Public markets lower barriers for entrepreneurs, create neighborhood economic anchors and strengthen regional economies by linking urban and rural communities while keeping dollars circulating locally. Beyond economic development, they activate public spaces and bridge socioeconomic divides by bringing people from all walks of life together. Yet markets are often overlooked by place management professionals, policymakers and property owners who don't fully understand their benefits. Markets face significant challenges: development pressure, limited capacity and inadequate infrastructure investment. However, place managers can leverage a market’s potential to help them thrive. Identifying overlapping goals between markets and place professionals can lead to collaborations that address broader city challenges and benefit all community institutions. This session shares case studies from cities across the U.S. and Canada demonstrating how markets serve as engines of entrepreneurship and business incubators with far-reaching community benefits.
- Attendees will learn program strategies from markets in cities of all sizes, exploring how they support cultural heritage tourism, placemaking and economic opportunity while maximizing their broader value. Examples will highlight effective partnerships and messaging that have led to strong buy-in from decision-makers. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for integrating markets into comprehensive place management approaches that create more attractive, livable destinations.
- Explain how public markets serve as entrepreneurship engines and community anchors that align with core place management objectives, especially related to public space activation and economic development.
- Assess partnership models and messaging strategies from markets in various cities to identify effective approaches to achieve buy-in from decision-makers.
- Develop strategies to integrate existing markets into place management approaches that help advance broader citywide goals.
- Kelly Verel, BA/MS, Co-Executive Director, Project for Public Spaces (New York City, NY)
- Marina Queirolo, BA, MES PI., Economic Development Officer, City of Toronto, Economic Development & Culture Division (ON)
- Kelly Lanser, President & CEO, Corporation for Findlay Market (Cincinnati, OH)
- Lori Beazer, Community Animator, Market Manager, Afro Caribbean Farmers' Market (Toronto, ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 4 Room, Convention Level
- Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- This session explores the full lifecycle of waterfront district development from early planning and vision setting through active construction to long term operations and identity building across districts of different scales and economic roles. Using comparative case studies, the session examines how waterfronts evolve under varying conditions including small and emerging districts, mid-scale urban waterfronts, large and complex environments and tourism driven destinations. Participants will learn how place management professionals can engage at each stage of development even when they are not the primary project sponsor. Key topics include aligning planning decisions with long term place goals, maintaining activity and public trust during construction, adapting strategies to budget and governance constraints, and shaping district identity as projects mature. Rather than promoting one size fits all solutions, the session focuses on realistic roles, decision points and leverage opportunities that translate across contexts. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to evaluate what types of work are feasible in their own districts, what strategies are transferable and how to guide waterfront development toward outcomes that reflect local character and community priorities.
- Identify which waterfront development activities place management professionals can directly lead, influence or monitor at the planning, construction and operational stages based on their district’s scale and authority.
- Evaluate how comparable waterfront districts at different scales have adapted strategies to fit limited budgets, political constraints, tourism pressures or long timelines.
- Apply a stage- and scale-based framework to determine what types of programming, partnerships and identity work are feasible now versus later in their waterfront’s development lifecycle.
- Trevor Abarzua, President & Executive Director, Waikiki Business Improvement District (Honolulu, HI)
- Claudia Jolin, Executive Director, Baltimore Peninsula Partnership (MD)
- Emeka Moneme, President & CEO, Navy Yard BID (Washington, DC)
- Oliver Hierlihy, LPM, Director, Operations, The Waterfront BIA (Toronto, ON)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Pier 5 Room, Convention Level
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Intermediate
- CM | 1.25
- "This job is about changing lives: We just pick up the trash along the way". Business Improvement Districts across the nation have unhoused populations that can be an asset to the community. Cleaning Programs must meet scope of work requirements and the expectation of ratepayers to deliver clean and welcoming environments. This session will highlight how these programs can provide entry level jobs for those in recovery and formerly incarcerated, providing often isolated people a community to be a part of, a place to be cared for and to be given an opportunity and onramp to a better life. This session will tell the story of how partnering with a nonprofit that serves people experiencing or at risk of homelessness through employment opportunity has transformed the internal and external worlds of the most vulnerable of our community AND has transformed the streets of Downtown Portland, Oregon. The opportunity to be part of the BID family through employment, when provided for in careful structured ways, can serve the unhoused community that businesses may deem problematic to livability and safety issues, and can also help unhoused people be the answer to both community challenges and personal barriers to having a better life.
- Understand how providing job opportunity for un-housed community members can transform BIDs.
- Identify the environment of care, accountability and skill development provisions that are essential for success.
- Consider application to your own city context, including potential nonprofit partners within your community.
- Sydney Mead, Senior Director of Downtown Programs, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe (OR)
- Laura Brown, Senior Business Manager, Clean Start Program, Central City Concern (Portland, OR)
- Mike Leslie, MBA, Director of Enterprise, Central City Concern (Portland, OR)
- Steve Wytcherley, MBA, LPM, Director of Operations, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe (OR)
Location:
- The Westin Harbour Castle, Main Building, Harbour C Room, Convention Level
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Introductory
- This session will introduce a district-led approach to artificial intelligence that positions AI as community infrastructure rather than an extractive, third-party platform. With this approach, districts now have an opportunity to pursue a model where AI is governed locally and aligned with community priorities. Too often, place management organizations must rely on global “off the shelf” digital platforms that monetize local data without local control. In response, we built a human-centered AI-powered directory for Dumbo, Brooklyn designed as a “digital concierge,” enabling the support of more than 100 independent small businesses through in-depth, curated and conversational recommendations. We additionally created an office tenant-specific version, facilitating B2B connections and lead generation. Using this real-world deployment as a case study, panelists will explain how this place-based AI system was scoped, launched and governed. The session will introduce foundational concepts, including a vision of specialized language models that outperform general-purpose tools, with greater transparency, better data security and a sustainable energy profile. By demystifying AI and sharing lessons learned from an early deployment, the session provides a practical framework that districts of all sizes can adapt – empowering place management professionals to shape how local economies operate in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
- Define the differences between extractive platform-based AI and community-controlled, place-based AI models.
- Explain why specialized language models (AI) can outperform general-purpose systems in local district applications.
- Apply community-controlled, place-based AI models to a real life neighborhood, illustrating how such tools can uplift communities and small businesses, and advance a neighborhood.
- Clara Schuhmacher, Senior Vice President, Programs, Dumbo Business Improvement District (Brooklyn, NY)
- Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown, COO & Co-founder, Pull City (Brooklyn, NY)
- Christopher Bruno, Chief of Economic Development Programs & Strategies, New York Law School (NY)
- Paul Johnson, CEO & Co-founder, Pull City (Brooklyn, NY)
Location:
- The Quay, 3rd Floor, 100 Queens Quay East, Toronto, ON M5E 1V3
- Step into The Quay with IDA, DTBIAA, and the City of Toronto—where the city’s rich waterfront history meets contemporary design. Set along Toronto’s East Waterfront, The Quay features a modern indoor space complemented by an outdoor terrace, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the skyline. This reception will take place indoors and partially outdoors.
- The Quay is 1.2 kilometre (0.8 mile walk) from the host hotel. There will be a shuttle transport limited to those that are unable to walk to the venue, beginning at 5:00 pm looping every 15-20 minutes, departing from The Westin Harbour Castle, Conference Centre, Frontenac Ballroom Foyer. The shuttle will run on a continuous loop until 8:00 pm, dropping off at The Quay and returning to the hotel.
- Please wear your conference badge at all times and have a government-issued ID available upon request.
- www.getjia.co
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