Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) shared new program and travel details for its 2026 Summer Educational Conference during a recent “Know Before You Go” webinar.
The conference will take place June 28-July 1 at Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Canada. ESCA leaders encouraged attendees to arrive Sunday, June 28, or earlier for board and council meetings, badge pickup, and the opening reception.
Education focuses on venues, labor, AI, and leadership
Rachel Rhodin, director of education and events at ESCA, and Julie Kagy, executive director of ESCA, walked attendees through the conference schedule, education sessions, activities, and travel details.
The Monday program includes keynote speaker Monica Cohen, chief executive officer of the American Cider Association. It also includes a venue-focused session with Chris Schimek of Freeman, Mark Tester of Orange County Convention Center, Freddie Peterson of Miami Beach Convention Center, and Larita Clark of McCormick Place.
In addition, Monday’s schedule includes sessions on industry engagement, safety, and data from Marsha Flanagan, president and chief executive officer of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
Tuesday’s education program includes economist Anirban Basu, a mergers and acquisitions session, and an artificial intelligence session led by Nick Borelli of Zenus. Attendees can also choose breakout sessions focused on mergers and acquisitions, AI-powered prompt engineering, or economic trends.
Wednesday’s program includes Deb Gabor on competitive bidding, Hope Goldstein on labor relations, Tommy Goodwin of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) on advocacy, and Danny Goldberg on leadership.
Banff activities shape networking schedule
ESCA also outlined several networking and activity options. Monday afternoon activities include fishing at Lake Minnewanka, an afternoon at Lake Louise, and lunch at Fairmont Banff Springs. Many activities have waitlists, but ESCA said spots may open as attendees adjust plans.
Tuesday activities include the Quest Events golf tournament at the Fairmont Banff Springs Stanley Thompson course and the Above Banff Gondola experience. ESCA noted that no Tuesday evening event is planned, giving attendees time to explore Banff.
On Wednesday, ESCA will host the Peaks and Pours reception, a silent auction hour, and the closing reception in the Cascade Ballroom. The closing reception will carry an “O Canada” theme in recognition of Canada Day.
Travel details and reminders
ESCA reminded attendees that passports are required for travel to Canada. Most attendees will fly into Calgary, which is about 90 minutes from Banff. ESCA recommended booking shuttle transportation in advance and noted that rental car drivers will need a Banff National Park pass.
The conference is eligible for 8.25 Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) recertification hours. ESCA also encouraged attendees to download the event app when it becomes available and to bring layers, comfortable shoes, business cards, and a refillable water bottle.
The silent auction will support the ESCA Scholarship Fund, which awards academic and need-based scholarships to ESCA members and their families. The 2026 auction has a $25,000 fundraising goal.
ESCA also notes that the Dennis Hale Memorial Scholarship Program honors Dennis Hale, former executive director of CORT Events and an ESCA board member.
For questions, attendees can contact ESCA at events@esca.org.
Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) represents service contractors and partners in the exhibition, meeting, and event industries. Established in 1970, ESCA supports information exchange, education, advocacy, best practices, and professional standards across the industry. The association includes more than 175 member companies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more info, visit www.esca.org.
