118th Annual Conference FAQs

Please see the following list of Frequently Asked Questions to best assist you with the registration process and any additional questions regarding GFOA’s 118th Annual Conference, June 9–12, 2024, at the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse, in Orlando.

Membership, Registrations, and Substitutions

Log in to your GFOA account and register online, here.

GFOA has streamlined the registration process combining both the preconference seminars and full conference registration into a single transactional flow. Please select all your options prior to checking out of your shopping cart. Once you have completed a registration you will not be able to add or remove products through your GFOA account.  To add preconference seminars at a future date, please fill out the selected options on this PDF  and submit it to training@gofa.org. Purchase Tuesday Closing Event tickets here.

Sign up and pay by January 26, 2024, to take advantage of the first early registration discount. For the second early registration discount, sign up and pay by March 15, 2024.

Please note if you have an outstanding balance on any conference registrations or ticket orders, only credit cards will be accepted onsite. Additionally, your registration must be paid in full to receive your conference badge and access to sessions.

Only individuals listed as members of GFOA are eligible to receive the member rate, but we do allow for a one-for-one substitution for government entities if one of your members cannot attend the Annual Conference—just mark the information in section 1 on the conference registration form. It is also easy to add individuals to your government’s membership by submitting the membership application.

Membership in a state or provincial association does not transfer to national GFOA membership. GFOA members receive discounted rates. Please visit GFOA’s membership page to read about fees and learn more about becoming a member. If you have any questions about membership, please contact GFOA's membership department.

At this time groups of individuals cannot be registered together. Please have each attendee log in and complete registration using their existing GFOA account.

We do not accept registrations over the phone. Please register for the conference online.

Yes, when you’re registering for the conference using GFOA’s eStore, please select the “Pay Later” option and enter “Check” and the check number in the P.O. field (i.e., Check #XXXX). Please mail your check then to GFOA, 203 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60601.

Please note if you have an outstanding balance on any conference registrations or ticket orders, only credit cards will be accepted onsite. Additionally, your registration must be paid in full to receive your conference badge and access to sessions.

Yes, please keep watch on your email as a copy of the confirmation and invoice will be sent to the registrant as a PDF attachment.

There will be a $50 fee for all cancellations received before May 3, 2024.

Cancellations received between May 4, 2024, and May 29, 2024, will be refunded, less a 50 percent service fee.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after May 30, 2024.

No, if you have received a past credit, we ask that you register and then please contact us at training@gfoa.org so we can assist in applying your credit.

Badges will be available to be picked up onsite at the conference registration desk at the Orange County Convention Center located in the West concourse, West Lobby E/F.

The conference registration desk will be open during the following times:

Friday, June 7 - 11:00am–4:00pm

Saturday, June 8 - 7:00am–4:00pm

Sunday, June 9 - 8:00am–4:00pm

Monday, June 10 - 8:00am–4:00pm

Tuesday, June 11 - 8:00am–4:00pm

First-Time Annual Conference Attendee Scholarships

Yes, the First Time Attendee Scholarship program covers the full conference registration fee. The application window for the scholarship is now closed. Applicants were notified of their status on November 17, 2023. Please note: No refunds will be issued to those that decide to register on their own before hearing if they received a scholarship.

Yes, to utilize the First Time Attendee Scholarship recipients will need to complete conference registration by February 16, 2024.

If you need to cancel your First Time Attendee Scholarship conference registration for any reason, please contact us before May 24, 2024.

Guests

During online conference registration, there is series of questions. If you are bringing guests, please enter the number of guests in the box and click on "Save Responses".  A blue box will appear and you will click on the box to enter the guest names. To add you first guest please click on the plus sign (+) and fill in their names. To add additional guests click on the plus sign again for the number of guests needed and repeat the process of adding their name.

Once onsite, guest registration will incur a $25/per badge fee.

Yes, you can go back to your registration and update your answers to the questions for guests at any time. To edit, click on the pencil icon. To remove a guest, click on the red X.

Guests can visit the exhibit hall and are encouraged to attend the Sunday Welcome Reception. Please register them so they can receive a badge to access the event. Attendees may also purchase Tuesday Night Finale tickets on behalf of their guests using the GFOA account associated with their conference badge or add their guest as an additional participant to their 5k Run and Walk registration.

Preconference Seminars

Preconference seminars are designed to give participants a more in-depth look into current issues before the conference even begins! GFOA’s preconference seminars also offer a great opportunity for you to earn additional CPE credits. This year’s preconference seminars will take place on Friday, June 7, 2024, and Saturday, June 8, 2024. Learn more here.

Sign up and pay by January 26, 2024, to take advantage of the first early registration discount. For the second early registration discount, sign up and pay by March 15, 2024.

Click here for details on this year’s offerings, CPE credit awarded, and to register.

Taking an afternoon session on Friday or Saturday?

An afternoon snack will be available in your session room.

Taking a morning session on Saturday?

A continental breakfast will be available in your session room.

Taking a morning and afternoon session on Saturday?

Enjoy a continental breakfast and afternoon snack in your session room, as well as a grab-and-go lunch.

They are being held at the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse.

Yes, there is a fee to attend each preconference seminar.

Conference Sessions

Sessions will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse.

More than seventy sessions will be available.

The general session begins at 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Sessions conclude at 12:10 pm on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Please visit the Annual Conference Sessions page for more details.

It is possible to earn more than 20 continuing professional education (CPE) credits at GFOA’s Annual Conference. Additional CPE credits can be earned by attending one or more of GFOA’s preconference seminars.

GFOA is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

No, delegates do not need to select the sessions they want to attend in advance.

Learn more about keynote speakers here. Keynote presenters will focus on delivering a perspective about current events, public finance knowledge, and essential leadership skills that can benefit all finance professionals.

All content is presented for an in-person experience and is not recorded for future access.

Sponsoring and Exhibiting

If you are interested in exhibiting, click here to access the contract and floorplan. If you have a company to suggest that you think would be a great exhibitor for GFOA’s Annual Conference, please email exhibit@gfoa.org.

Sponsorship is a great way to get your company noticed beyond the Exhibit Hall floor, click here to learn more. If you have a company to suggest that you think would be a great sponsor for GFOA’s Annual Conference, please email exhibit@gfoa.org.

Housing

Connections Housing is the ONLY official housing company for this event and will not contact attendees directly to make a reservation. Booking through GFOA’s official housing provider will ensure that attendees receive the GFOA discounted rate and are working with a reputable company and that credit card information is secure. Click here to access the housing reservation portal. Click here to visit the interactive conference hotel map.

Yes, GFOA will provide daily shuttle service between the DoubleTree, Hilton, Renaissance, and Residence in at SeaWorld and the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse. The Hyatt Regency, Rosen Plaza, and Rosen Centre are connected by pedestrian bridge to the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse.

Transportation

No, transportation between the airport and hotels is not provided. There are a number of ways to get to and from the Orlando Airport. Transportation options include taxicabs, ride-share services, and shuttles. A one-way trip via taxi or ride-share services takes between 15–25 minutes. See an Orlando area map here.

Yes, there is onsite parking available for a fee in the Orange County Convention Center's West Parking Lot. Click here to learn more.

GFOA Events

Yes, the Welcome Reception to kick off this year’s conference will be held on June 9, 2024, at the Orange County Convention Center, Hall WD2. Enjoy an evening of relaxing and networking with colleagues and friends. The reception is complimentary, and registered attendees, guests, sponsors, and exhibitors are encouraged to attend.

Yes, the Closing Event exclusive for GFOA conference participants and guests will take place Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Universal Studios Florida. Learn more and purchase tickets to the Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Closing Event here. You must be registered for the conference to purchase an event ticket. Be sure to log in to the conference attendee's account to purchase tickets. Tickets can be purchased for guests from registrants account. No refunds will be issued for this event after Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Event tickets will print out with your conference badge onsite at the registration kiosk. Tickets will not be mailed prior to conference.

Yes, learn more and sign up to participate in the Sunday, June 9, 2024, GFOA Charity Fun Run and Walk here.

About Orlando

Click here for recommendations and city information provided by Visit Orlando. Stop by the Visit Orlando Information Booth, off West Lobby E/F while attending the conference to learn more.

Summer visitors to Orlando will experience warm weather, averaging in the seventies and eighties.  For the latest weather information, go to weatherchannel.com.

General Inquiries

Click here to join GFOA's Annual Conference Member Community. In this community, you'll be able to engage with fellow attendees, ask questions about the conference, and get updates leading up to Orlando. This community is for active government members of GFOA. You can sign in by using your GFOA username and password.

Lunch will be provided on Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11, in West Concourse, Hall WE1, to all registered delegates, but not to exhibitors and guests.

We recommend wearing business casual attire and comfortable shoes.

By attending this conference, your photo is subject to be taken and used for various promotional purposes, including posts made on social media during the event.

Stay up-to-date on current developments by visiting gfoa.org/conference.

Yes, on Wednesday, June 12, there will be complimentary luggage check available.

Yes, please visit Scootaround to book online or for further assistance, call them at 1-800-441-7575.

We’re happy to assist you with any additional questions you may have about this year’s event. Please contact us.