February 2 – 5, 2025 | Marriott Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
THIS is where the Advocacy community convenes
Our can’t-miss event for anyone managing an advocacy function, engaging stakeholders or seeking to advance public policy. Participants learn best practices in grassroots, communications and lobbying strategy from the profession’s top experts.
Innovation Awards
Presented at The Advocacy Conference each year, these awards recognize outstanding initiatives that showcase creativity, inclusiveness, innovation and organizational relevance.
Innovation Award Winners
2025 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: National Apartment Association
Communications Innovation: Trilogy Interactive
Lobbying Innovation: Grupo Estrategia Politica (GEP)
2024 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: International Paper (IP)
Communications Innovation: Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
Lobbying Innovation: Grupo Estrategia Politica (GEP)
2023 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Feeding America
Communications Innovation: AAA – Auto Club Group
Lobbying Innovation: Community Associations Institute
Hotel / Travel
Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
As of our January 10 cut-off, our group room block is CLOSED. As of this date, the hotel still had availability, but the group room rate is no longer available. If you’d like to check on the hotel’s availability and current rates, please contact the hotel directly at (954) 525-4000 or via their website.
WAIT LIST: If you would like to be placed on the wait list for a room at the group rate, please contact Kristin Hanley. Being placed on the waiting list is NOT a guarantee of a room. We recommend that you make an alternate reservation (see list of options below) and note the cancellation policy for your reservation in the event a room does become available at the group rate. Rooms will be granted as cancellations are received. You will be contacted no later than January 24 if a room becomes available. After that date, the wait list will be released.
Hotels Near the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach:*
- Best Western Plus Oceanside Inn – 5 min walk to conference hotel
- B Ocean Resort Ft. Lauderdale – 5 min walk to conference hotel
- Bahia Mar Ft. Lauderdale Beach – 3 min drive to conference hotel
- Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Lauderdale – 5 min drive to conference hotel
- Hotel Maren Fort Lauderdale Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton – 5 min drive to conference hotel
- The Westin Ft. Lauderdale – 8 min drive to conference hotel
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Ft. Lauderdale – 8 min drive to conference hotel
*The Public Affairs Council has not vetted these hotels and this is not a complete list of hotels in the area. These recommendations are provided purely on distance to the conference hotel. Please review the hotels and their policies thoroughly prior to booking.
CONFERENCE LOCATION
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING GROUP ROOM BLOCKS
Once the rooming block is full or after the cut-off date (whichever comes first), you may not be able to obtain the Public Affairs Council group rate or a room at the conference hotel. Therefore, we recommend that you book a room as early as possible.
Also please note that the room rate is only valid for the nights of the conference (check-in taking place on the first advertised day of the conference and check-out on the final day.) Some hotels have been known to honor the room rate on the few days before and after our events, but please be aware that it is not guaranteed and that the room rate may be different.
SCAM ALERT
Please beware of SCAMS. The Council does NOT work with any third parties or intermediaries for booking reservations for our group room blocks. You will ALWAYS be instructed to book directly with the hotel for any Public Affairs Council conferences. Though you may receive reminders to book your hotel room and warning/notices as we get closer to our hotel cut-off date, those e-mails will always come from a pac.org e-mail address and no one will ever call you soliciting reservations or credit card information.
RESERVATIONS & HOTEL RESERVATION POLICIES
A credit card number or one night’s deposit is required to secure a room.
Cancellations must be received 72 hours prior to arrival or one night’s room and tax will be charged as a cancellation fee.
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Reservations: Reserve Online / 800-222-6543 (when calling, identify yourself as a “Public Affairs Council” registrant to secure the group rate)
Room Rate: $354++ per night plus a resort fee* of $10++ per night
Cut-off date: January 10
Check-in: 4 p.m.
Check-out: 11 a.m.
* Please note that the resort fee has been discounted for the group and you can disregard any other fees listed.
More Information on the Resort Fee
Please note that resort fee inclusions are subject to change. Currently, this charge includes the following:
High-Speed Internet in Guest Room.
- Two Beach Chairs Per Day
- Two Resort Welcome Beverages Per Stay
- One-Hour Rental of Non-Motorized Water Sports Equipment Per Day For Up To Two Guests (Weather Permitting) – Select From Skim Board, Paddleboard, Boogie Board Or Kayak. Age Restrictions Apply.
- Two Fitness Classes Per Day. Visit The Spa for Class Schedule (Reservation Required)
- 90 Minute Tennis Court Use, Includes Racket and Balls, Per Day. (Reservations Required)
- One Hour Use of Beach Games Daily – Giant Jenga, Connect 4, Bocce Ball, Horse Shoes
PARKING
The rates listed below are subject to change by the hotel without prior notice.
- Onsite parking: $52.43 daily
- Valet parking: $58.85 daily
AIRPORTS
The closest and most convenient airport to the hotel is the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) which is ~5 miles from the hotel. Estimated taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is ~$20 one way. The hotel can also be accessed via Miami International Airport (MIA) which is ~32 miles away or Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) which is ~50 miles away. Please visit the hotel’s website here for more information.
MAP / DRIVING DIRECTIONS
For customized directions, please use the map:
Sponsorship
Put your brand front and center at The Advocacy Conference. As a sponsor, you’ll have the opportunity to network with peers, reinforce existing relationships and develop new partnerships. Speaking and branded collateral opportunities are available.
Becoming a sponsor is simple:
1. Download the sponsor packet and review our offerings
2. Fill out the form to indicate your selections
3. Email your form back to us
Alex Kolb, AT&T
Alfred Campos, AARP
Alisa Mairone, BAYADA Hearts for Home Care
Amy D. Meli, PHD, University of Virginia
Andrew Holt, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
Andrew P. Fimka, Narrative Strategies
Austin Hodge, AARP
Brandon Graham, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Caitlin Demchuk, Walgreens Boots Alliance
Charles Rogers, Crestview Strategy
Chauncey Southworth, Cross Screen Media
Crystal Espie, AARP
Cynthia Montalvo, Quorum
Dan Meyers, APCO
Danielle Bubnis, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Darlene Rosenkoetter, S&P Global Inc.
Elizabeth Bartz, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Emily Festa, Toyota Motor North America
Emma Will, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Jeff Michaud, eBay, Inc.
Jessica Cooper, NFIB
Kate M. Zaykowski, McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC
Kristen Prather, National Automobile Dealers Association
Lauren Alejandro, Caterpillar Inc.
Lindsay Shuba Donnelly, TLC Political
Lisa Wagor, Target Corporation
Meghan Cox, Impact Advocacy Group
Michael Sokoloski, BAYADA Hearts for Home Care
Mike Lord, The Washington Campus
Paul C. Rohde, Waterways Council, Inc
Phoebe E. Neseth, ESQ, Community Associations Institute
Sarah Yi, CTIA – The Wireless Association
Sherry Whitworth, *Council Friends & Family
Sue Zoldak, The Zoldak Agency
Thomas Donnelly III, American Farm Bureau Federation
Thomas Tucker, Safelite AutoGlass
Travis Smith, Boys and Girls Club of America
Tyler C. Irwin, Aristotle International
Wade Patrick Balkonis, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
“The Public Affairs Council’s Advocacy Conference is now the only advocacy conference I attend – it’s that valuable. If you are involved in the advocacy field, this is the event to attend for best practices and innovative ideas.”
— Jeff Michaud, Head of Advocacy & Policy Programs, eBay, Inc.
“I was a first-time attendee in 2018, and I walked away from the conference energized and full of new ideas. Each session gave me the opportunity to hear from experts and interact with my peers. The lessons I learned paid immediate dividends by giving me actionable ways to improve the public relations and grassroots strategies at our association. The conference is also the gift that keeps on giving. The numerous networking opportunities allowed me to make connections with folks from across the spectrum, connections that I reach out to on a regular basis for advice or new ideas.”
— Sean Brown, Vice President, Communications, Federation of American Hospitals
January 12 – Cancellation deadline for full refund
January 29 – No refunds or credits will be granted on or after this date
Please visit our Conference Policies page for a full breakdown.
This conference is eligible for: 6 Grassroots credits toward the Certificate in PAC & Grassroots Management, 6 credits toward the Certificate in Government Relations and Lobbying and 6 Elective credits toward the Certificate in Public Affairs Management.
Register
By December 19 – early-bird price
Members: $1,599 | Non-Members: $1,799
After December 19
Members: $1,899 | Non-Members: $2,099
More Registration Info
** As a Signature Event, this program is not included in Membership Plus.
Additional discounts may apply to this meeting. These discounts may include:
For multiple registrants: A discount will apply to the standard member/nonmember rate for organizations that register two or more participants for the same meeting. The first registrant will pay full price, the second participant will receive a 10% discount and each additional registrant will receive a 15% discount. To register multiple participants, you may either register online or download the print and fax registration form.
Member discounts: Discounts for members are applied to all Public Affairs Council meetings.
Nonmembers: Join the Council today, and save by registering at the member rate and using the $300 new-member coupon you will receive. Contact our membership team for information about joining the Council.
Questions? Contact us at 202.787.5950.
January 12 – Cancellation deadline for full refund
January 29– No refunds or credits will be granted on or after this date
Please visit our Conference Policies page for a full breakdown.
Questions
Laura Brigandi
Senior Manager, Advocacy & Digital Practice
202.787.5976 | [email protected]