Associations Spice Up Conference With Help From Cities. Here's How.

Associations are competing more than ever for conference attendees. Here are four that are incorporating the city where the conference is being held into the agenda:

Chicago

The American Sociological Association is one of several that chose the Windy City for its big event. ASA’s 110th annual meeting next month spans four days and includes nearly 600 program sessions, 3,000 research papers and 4,600 presenters. Chicago will be the focus of several of its sessions, including one on gentrification and urban change and another on Latinos in the Midwest. 

Toronto

The American Psychological Association heads to the Toronto Convention Centre next month for its 123rd annual convention. The event will feature over 50 social hours and 1,000 sessions. Other festivities include a night to see Kinky Boots at the Royal Alexandria Theatre, a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins, and a performance at the convention centre by the Second City comedy troupe.

Baltimore

The Ecological Society will celebrate its 100th birthday at the Baltimore Convention Center. The organization worked with Baltimore to create a tourism website with ideas on what to do in the city. There will also be info on the variety of ecosystems within a three-hour drive and places for canoeing and hiking. Attendees will also get discounts at 50 restaurants, retailers and attractions.

Philadelphia

The American Trucking Association is taking its members, primarily top execs running trucking companies, to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in October. The four-day conference will cover everything from driver shortages to regulatory issues. And then attendees can explore the city through an interactive map of nearby attractions created by the visitor’s bureau for ATA attendees.