The ACI-NA team and I will be landing in Music City next week to host the 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition. We’re excited to show what’s in store for you at the world’s largest "for airports, by airports" event!

As you know, our signature event gets bigger and better each year. In addition to a robust agenda, enhanced networking opportunities and access to our award-winning expansive trade show floor, attendees will help us continue the celebration of our seventieth year as the Voice of Airports in North America.

With a special anniversary comes a one-of-a-kind conference. The airport industry faces new challenges each day ranging from emerging security threats, enhancing the customer experience, to rising air cargo demand. This year’s annual conference is full of sessions that will address these challenges and give attendees insight from expert speakers and panelists who have successfully pushed past those obstacles.

ACI-NA has worked tirelessly to ensure everyone’s time in Nashville is beneficial to their organization’s continuous success in the future. It’s almost show time, so get ready to learn, network and enjoy. 

Don’t want to miss out? On-site registration will be available at the Music City Center. 

I look forward to seeing you all in Nashville. 

Kevin M. Burke
President and CEO, ACI-NA

Make the most of your ACI-NA Conference experience by downloading the ACI-NA Conferences app on your smartphone or tablet. The ACI-NA Conferences app lets you search the participant list, connect with attendees, customize your agenda and much more!

Get the app now by searching "ACI-NA Conferences" in the App Store or Google Play.

Username: Email used to register for the conference

Password: airports

For questions pertaining to the Mobile App on-site, please visit the registration area on the level 3 concourse in the Music City Center. There will be a Mobile App help desk agent available near the registration desk.

PRE-CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WORKSHOP/MEETING SCHEDULE 

Saturday, September 29

8:00 am  – 9:00 am: Environmental Affairs Committee: Air Quality Working Group - Room: 204
8:30 am – 12:00 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee Workshop - Room: 205
8:30 am – 5:00 pm: Business Information Technology Committee Workshop - Room: 209
8:30 am – 5:30 pm: Legal Affairs Committee Workshop - Room: 208
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Environmental Affairs Committee: Land Use and Natural Resources Working Groups - Room: 206AB
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Environmental Affairs Committee: Water Quality Working Group - Room: 207A
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Environmental Affairs Committee: Waste Management Working Group - Room: 204
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee: Construction and Project Delivery/Facilities - Room: 205
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee: Facilities and Maintenance Working Group - Room: 204
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Environmental Affairs Committee: Sustainability Working Group - Room: 101BC 
3:15 pm – 4:45 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee: Joint NextGen and Operations & Safety Working Group  - Room: 205
3:15 pm – 4:45 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee: Planning & Development Working Group - Room: 206AB

Sunday, September 30

9:00 am – 2:30 pm: Air Cargo Committee Meeting - Room: 102B
9:00 am– 4:45 pm: Environmental Affairs Committee Workshop - Room: 207BCD
9:00 am – 4:45 pm: Operations & Technical Affairs Committee Workshop - Room: 205
9:00 am – 4:45 pm: Legal Affairs Committee Workshop - Room: 208
9:00 am – 4:45 pm: Business Information Technology Committee Workshop - Room: 209
9:00 am – 4:45 pm: Finance Committee Workshop - Room: 202
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Small Airports Committee Meeting - Room: 207A
2:00 pm – 4:45 pm: Business Diversity Committee Meeting - Room: 101D 

General Session I: Keynote Address

Leonard Brody
President
Clarity Digital Group

Known as "a controversial leader of the new world order," Brody is a two-time Emmy nominee, award-winning entrepreneur, venture capitalist, best-selling author and President of the Clarity Digital Group.His talent lies in helping leaders understand today’s rapid pace of change, innovation and disruption – and how to deal with it. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the world’s experts on innovation!

General Session II 

Julie Setser
Vice President, R & D Innovation Capability
Proctor & Gamble

Julie Setser is currently Vice President of Innovation Capability at Procter & Gamble. In this role, Julie has responsibility for identifying the best internal and external innovation practices, and scaling them across P&G to accelerate growth through innovation that truly delights consumers. She leads P&G’s multifunctional effort to adopt agile/lean innovation.

Julie started her career in R&D at P&G in 1985 after receiving her Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from U. C. Berkeley. She led major innovation programs and technology platforms in several business units, including hair care, pet care and fabric care, and has had international assignments in Caracas, Kobe and Brussels. 

Check out the full 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition agenda here. 

Balancing Access and Operational Concerns in Accommodating Passengers with Disabilities
Airports and airlines work to maintain operational efficiency and provide a pleasant travel experience while complying with their respective legal obligations relating to passengers with disabilities. In the U.S., airports must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act while airlines must adhere to the Air Carrier Access Act. Recent increases in the number and types of emotional service animals in airports and on planes have caused problems, with some passengers falsely claiming their pets are service animals to avoid paying airline fees. In Canada, airports and airlines have largely voluntary measures to assist passengers with disabilities, but the federal government is moving to tighten legislative and regulatory requirements. Join us for a discussion of the challenges facing airports, airlines and an important, growing segment of air travelers.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Cyberwar
Airports have enhanced their physical security to deter and prevent terrorist attacks. Airports have also strengthened their information technology systems to fend off growing cyberattacks. As airport technology becomes increasingly interconnected with passengers, airlines and concessions to improve the travel experience, there is increased vulnerability that a cyber espionage attack could damage critical systems used to support infrastructure and physical security. Join us for a discussion on recognizing potential threats and better integrating physical and cyber security.

Rethinking the Customer Experience
From multi-million dollar capital improvement programs to implementing the latest in technology to revamped training programs to partnerships with airlines and federal agencies, North American airports have recognized that providing a high-quality customer experience is a business imperative. Some use public-private partnerships to renovate facilities or implement innovative initiatives to improve the travel experience. But how do you decide what enhancements to make over the short and long term to translate passenger happiness into an improved bottom line?

Incorporating a Culture of Innovation
Adjusting to and planning for the ever-changing airport environment is increasingly difficult. To move beyond innovation as a mere buzzword to tap its transformative potential, organizations need to understand that it’s more than just technology; it’s a process centered on people that requires a culture shift and executive level commitment. How can we foster the involvement of leaders, employees and the local community to spur innovation? Don’t miss this important discussion about how airports, airlines and concessionaires are incorporating innovation to effectively respond to trends affecting operations and revenues.

Commercial Space – The Next Frontier for Airports
Commercial space operations are a critical priority for the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and bipartisan supporters in Congress. In 2017, a record 23 launches were licensed by FAA, but in just a few years this is forecast to more than double. Many of these new generation spacecraft are reusable, increasing demand even more than the forecasts suggest. Already, several U.S. airports have had to address potential conflicts between traditional aircraft operations and "space launches," whether by vertically launched rockets, horizontally-launched rocket planes or suborbital balloons. In this rapidly evolving "space," how will airports, space operators and the FAA effectively balance the interests of commercial aviation and commercial space in the National Airspace System?

Delivering Today: E-Commerce and Airports
Industry experts expect retail e-commerce to more than double over the next three to four years. This growth is expected to continue driving air cargo demand, despite rising trade tensions and increasing fuel costs. Airports need to be more involved with e-commerce development because the increasing variety of products transported often means new and different requirements for cargo and modal transportation facilities. Learn from the experts about how you can be more successful in this important and growing industry sector.

The latest issue of Centerlines, ACI-NA’s flagship magazine is here! Each topic and article was carefully selected to position 2018 annual conference attendees ahead of the curve. Read the articles below or stop by registration to pick up a copy!

Cheers to 70 Years: The Best Is Yet to Come: 2018 represents a great milestone for ACI-NA. Anniversaries like this provide a great opportunity to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and look ahead to the future.

Finding a Seat at the Slots Table: Many airports around the world are designated as constrained with slot controls. In "Finding a Seat at the Slots Table," we took a look at the processes officials contend with at slot-controlled airports through interviews with airport directors.

Airports Seek New Efficiencies to Go with the Flow: Through collaboration with agencies and business partners and exploring innovative trends, North American airports are making sure they can be competitive on a global scale by working to streamline the passenger experience.

What’s on Trend for 2019?: Learning about new trends from our membership is what drives content for educational sessions at our 20+ conferences. Take a dive into the future developments for two of ACI-NA’s Platinum Plus members, in concessions and transportation.