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The Advocacy Conference

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.

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In addition to a diverse agenda on innovative best practices and the best networking opportunities, you’ll get access to:

Senior-Level Content: Advanced sessions and topics for experienced and returning professionals

Unparalleled Networking: Meet the top leaders in grassroots, public affairs, communications and stakeholder engagement — and learn from them to advance your own program

Mentoring Program: Be paired with alumni for career and conference advice from people who really get it

Industry’s Only Resource Marketplace: Check out the best sources available for advocacy technology, products and services

Innovation Awards

Presented at The Advocacy Conference each year, these awards recognize outstanding initiatives that showcase creativity, inclusiveness, innovation and organizational relevance.

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Innovation Award Winners

2024 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: International Paper (IP)
Communications Innovation: Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
Lobbying Innovation: Grupo Estrategia Politica (GEP)

TAC Award Winners 2023

2023 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Feeding America
Communications Innovation: AAA – Auto Club Group
Lobbying Innovation: Community Associations Institute

2022 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Vot-ER
Communications Innovation: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Lobbying Innovation: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

Hotel / Travel

Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Hotel Room Reservations

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
Getting Here

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

Become a Sponsor
2025 Advisory Committee

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

Testimonials

“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

Cancellation Policy

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 $200 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]