The Water Quality Association (WQA) has opened registration for the 2021 WQA Convention & Exposition, to be held July 28 to 30 both in Las Vegas, Nevada, and as an online event, depending on the attendee’s preference.
The convention website offers easy-to-use access to registration, housing and COVID-19 safety information for the convention and the July 27 WQA Business Boot Camp, both at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“We couldn’t be happier that we are able to plan events that will allow us to gather together in person after all this time, while still engaging with a virtual audience,” said WQA President DJ Shannahan in the WQA press release. “Our convention theme of ‘Imagine’ has challenged us to imagine these and other possibilities for our individual businesses and the industry as a whole.”
The WQA Convention & Exposition initially was planned for April, but late in 2020 the WQA Board of Governors opted to delay it three months to increase the likelihood of hosting an in-person event in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the loosening of restrictions on large gatherings paved the way for the in-person convention.
WQA is committed to hosting a safe event for attendees and exhibitors and will follow safety measures based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) as well as local government requirements, according to WQAs press release. Attendees can find those health and safety guidelines and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the convention website.
The trade show, which will be open July 29 and 30, provides opportunities to see the latest products and services in drinking water treatment while still adhering to social distancing. An online trade show experience will be available for those attending virtually.
Education sessions are scheduled for all three days of the event, with many offering Continuing Professional Development credit toward certification. The Convention’s Opening General Session will feature keynote speaker Simon T. Bailey, updates from WQA leadership and honors for the 2020 and 2021 Leadership Awards Winners. (The association’s Annual Meeting, for the election of WQA officers, will be held online April 27.)
The WQA Business Boot Camp will be held July 27, the day before the Convention. The intensive one-day workshop focuses on leadership, hiring, retention and onboarding employees, according to WQA. Attendees can register for that event with a separate fee at the same time they register for convention.
Advance convention registration pricing is offered for those who register by May 5. The room block at the WQA headquarters hotel, the Wynn Las Vegas, will be opening soon; registration information will be available at wqa.org/convention.
WQA members receive a discount on registration and sponsorship opportunities, and new WQA members are eligible for free convention registration their first year of membership. Membership information is at wqa.org/membership.
