The ACI-NA team is here in Music City getting ready to kick off the 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition! Are you as excited as we are?

This year’s conference features enhanced networking opportunities, innovative educational sessions, pre-conference workshops and meetings, and access to our award-winning expansive trade show floor. You don’t want to miss what we have in store for you!

Join us today to kick off our pre-conference workshops ahead of the official opening of the Annual Conference. We encourage all conference attendees to participate in the workshops, as they each feature insightful topics pertaining to various challenges and emerging issues for the industry. Take a look at today’s agenda to see what’s happening.

We’re almost ready for show time. After the pre-conference workshops and meetings conclude tomorrow, plan to meet us at the Music City Center for the grand opening of the exhibit hall!

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

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.

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 2018 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition agenda on the Mobile App. 

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.

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

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 – 6:30 pm: Check-in / Registration - Level 3 Concourse
7:30 am – 8:30 am:  Networking Breakfast (for Committee Workshop Attendees) – Room 104
8:00 am – 4:45 pm: Committee Workshops and Meetings
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Networking Break (for Committee Workshop Attendees) - Level 2 Concourse
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm: Networking Lunch (for Committee Workshop Attendees) - Room: 104
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Networking Break (for Committee Workshop Attendees) - Level 2 Concourse
View today's full agenda on the Mobile App!