I am excited to be here in Music City with you.

The 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition brings all sectors of the airport industry together to provide airport decision-makers and their peers from across North America with insights on the latest trends and strategies that advance the industry. I hope you all are ready for ACI-NA’s signature event!

Throughout today, attendees will continue to participate in pre-conference committee meetings and workshops featuring updates and educational presentations. Later, we will get to experience the grand opening of the exhibition hall. Recently recognized as one of the “Fastest Growing Shows” by Trade Show Executive, ACI-NA's trade show floor is the place to be tonight!

Don’t miss out on the 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition, jam-packed with many educational sessions and opportunities to enhance your professional network. This conference is also special because we’re celebrating ACI-NA's 70th anniversary as The Voice of Airports in North America. The event will be a continuous celebration while learning about new trends and strategies that will help the industry be even more successful in the future. 

We are glad you’re here; it’s show time! 

For those watching along at home, our daily issue of Centerlines LIVE will keep you up to speed.

Enjoy!

Candace S. McGraw
Chair, ACI-NA

Yesterday, Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) announced that Howard Eng, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), was named this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award. The award was announced during the 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Nashville, TN. "ACI-NA is pleased to recognize the distinguished leadership of Howard Eng with the 2018 Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award," said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. As the head of GTAA, Howard leads Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International, with the belief that the success of the airport is a shared responsibility. His commitment to advancing the industry will ensure a strong airport for the Toronto region’s workforce, travelers and local community.

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.

Are you ready to see the exhibition hall? This year's exhibitors are pulling out all of the stops in preparation for tonight’s grand opening!

Many attendees participated in issue-specific workshops, committee meetings, and conference educational sessions.

 

Music City has been very welcoming! How do you like it so far?

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 on the Mobile App. 

The Long and Winding Last Mile: Improving Airport Ground Access
Even small airports can generate millions of vehicle trips per year. Private vehicles that drop-off and pick-up passengers, public transportation vehicles, for hire vehicles, delivery & services vehicles, employees, large trucks serving cargo facilities & integrators…the list goes on. These trips impact roads and transit systems between homes, offices, hotels and other originating or destination points in the airport catchment area. The closer to the airport, the higher the concentration of airport-related vehicles on the surface transportation system. More and more often the volume of traffic on roadways serving the airport is becoming greater than the capacity of the system. Come hear how three airports are working to unwind the last mile/kilometer by improving access and reducing the stress of getting to the plane on time. 

Rightsizing Airport Infrastructure for Future Success
Evolving airline strategies have led to significant changes in passenger traffic for many airports in the United States and Canada, resulting in operational and financial challenges. Learn how airports are successfully responding to the ups and downs of the industry by revising their capital improvement plans, redesigning their facilities and revising their financial plans to serve their passengers and communities today and in the future. 

Airport Regulatory Forum
Join us for this perennial Annual Conference favorite, which provides you with the opportunity to interact face-to-face with senior officials from both Transport Canada and the FAA. In this year’s session we will be discussing ongoing regulatory reform efforts from both agencies, key environmental and policy initiatives, and airport funding. Bring your questions and concerns for an engaging and informative discussion.

North American Aviation Security Update
In order to address evolving security threats, close coordination with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Canadian agencies is essential. Collaboration between agencies and industry is critical when developing new risk-based policies and in deploying technology designed to increase security effectiveness and efficiency. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk directly with senior TSA and Transport Canada representatives about strategies to enhance the security of the aviation system.

Be sure to tweet comments and photos at the 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition. Mention @airportscouncil and use this hashtag: #airports18

Just because you’re at a conference doesn’t mean the world stops. Centerlines LIVE will continue providing the latest industry news while Centerlines Today is on hiatus. This section will feature the latest industry news so you don’t miss a beat while networking with old friends and new connections.

>> ACI-NA releases its newest batch of airport trading cards
The coolest part of your trip might’ve been spent at the airport. Did you know Charles Lindbergh was a mail pilot at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport before his historic cross-Atlantic flight, or that the former landowners of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport are buried underneath the runway? Learn these facts and more by picking up your own North American Airport Collectors Series Airport Trading Cards at the help kiosks of more than 80 participating airports throughout the U.S. and Canada. Subscription required. 

>> Canadian Airport Safety Week at the Fredericton International Airport
Fredericton International Airport joined airports across Canada for Canadian Airport Safety Week September 17 – 21, 2018. Each day, the airport community was invited to join in for a presentation on a safety-related topic. 

>> Winnipeg airport sees record increase in travelers
Last week, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport announced it had its busiest summer on record — with the number of passengers in July and August reaching more than 895,000. August was the busiest single month ever, with a passenger count of 462,719. 

>> Hundreds participate in annual 'Plane Pull' at Newark airport
A number of teams participated in the ultimate strength test at Newark Liberty International Airport during the annual Plane Pull to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.

>> T.F. Green Airport to welcome new airline
T.F. Green Airport has scheduled an announcement for Oct. 11 to unveil a new airline coming to Rhode Island’s main commercial airport, but airport officials aren’t saying much about it in advance. 

>> JetBlue plans no-frills fares for 2019, vows not to make passengers 'feel like second-class citizens'
The New York-based carrier is planning to unveil no-frills fares next year, as it competes with similar offerings from larger U.S. competitors whose cheapest tickets don't include free advance seat selection or the ability to change travel dates.

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.

7:30 am – 7:00 pm: Check-in / Registration - Level 3 Concourse
7:30 am – 7:00 pm: BNA Welcome Desk Level 3 Concourse
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Networking Breakfast - Room: 104
9:00 am – 4:45 pm: Committee Meetings and Pre-Conference Workshops (see Mobile App for details)
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Networking Break - Level 2 Concourse
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Networking Lunch - Room: 104
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Networking Break - Level 2 Concourse
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Exhibition Hall Grand Opening (Reception in Exhibit Hall) - Exhibit Hall B/C (Level 3)
View full agenda on the Mobile App!