In light of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, SPLC leadership has made the decision to present the 2020 Summit as a completely virtual event. We know this is the best option for delivering the Summit experience to our audience without encountering further uncertainty and delays – and we are excited about the opportunities the all-virtual mode offers to bring new audiences and new content into the mix!

The FAQs below are intended to answer questions that may arise for attendees, speakers, volunteers, and other Summit participants, and will be updated regularly. 

SCHEDULE 

When will the Summit take place? 

The Summit will maintain its original scheduled time frame of May 18-20th. Working with a virtual event provider, SPLC staff is reproducing the high-quality attendee experience of the Summit to the greatest extent possible. The Virtual Summit will run for 6 hours each day and include our inspiring plenary speakers, breakout panels and workshops, and a virtual exhibit hall where you can livechat with exhibitors. 

The virtual platform also enables us to build in creative ways (including open exploration and social time before and after the main event) to support the business networking, friendship, and mutual support connections that always come out of the Summit!  

What about Connect? 

Connect, the SPLC’s Buyer-Supplier Matchmaker event, will also go all virtual, moving to Summer 2020 as a standalone event. This will enable us to invite many more organizations and individuals from around the globe to set up meetings and discuss sustainable business opportunities in this dedicated forum, with no need to travel, and no conflict with other Summit sessions. In addition, the Virtual Connect platform will remain open for you to contact any other registrants, including live video chat, for up to a year following the virtual event! 

Please note: We will be launching an independent registration form for Connect in the coming weeks.

For now, when registering for the Virtual Summit, you can indicate your interest in joining Connect, and if you select a Full Summit Pass, we’ll send you instructions on how to receive $50 off the Connect base rates once Connect registration opens.

Will the Leadership Awards Ceremony still take place? 

SPLC Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Awards are best celebrated in person! Because of this, the SPLC leadership plans to move our Leadership Awards Celebration to an in-person event later this year. This means if you didn’t quite make our deadline, you are in luck, as we will now accept award applications through July 1, 2020. For those who have already completed applications, no action is necessary. However, if you’d like to revise your award application or add supporting resources, you may do so at any point up to July 1. To nominate your organization or an individual for this honor, access information and application on the 2020 Leadership Awards page. 

PROGRAM

Will the program and speakers be the same?  

The virtual format has necessitated some reductions in live content, but our schedule includes all of our inspiring keynotes, 24+ total hours of breakouts and workshops, Innovation Accelerator Roundtables, and more! See the revised schedule here.  

All Summit registrants will receive information via email on the scope of our online program, and detailed steps to register and access the Summit. 

PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION 

What should I do if…

I have ALREADY REGISTERED and will attend the Virtual Summit?

If you have already registered to attend the 2020 Summit + Connect, you do not need to re-register for the Virtual Summit – your registration will transfer to the virtual meeting automatically. SPLC will contact all current registrants to communicate the new pricing structure and associated offers. Our existing refund policy allows you to obtain a refund up until May 4.

I have NOT REGISTERED and plan to attend the Virtual Summit?

For those not yet registered we are offering new Virtual pricing – including a Buy One Get One 50% off offer for attendees from the same organization. Check out the pricing and register here.

I am an ACCEPTED SPEAKER?

While we have worked hard to include as much of our scheduled content as possible, we have had to reduce the amount of speaking time to meet the virtual event capacity.  If you were accepted to present at the in-person Summit, you should have received a separate notice of the status of your speaking engagement. 

• If your presentation is no longer included you should have received the alternate presentation options, and an invitation to register for the Virtual Summit at the Speaker rate as our thank you.  
• If your presentation is included you should have received instructions about how to proceed to prepare for the virtual speaking engagement. 

I can no longer attend the Summit, even virtually? 

If you can no longer attend the event, even online, you may: 1) Transfer your registration to another colleague in your organization, 2) Donate your registration to support the continued work of the SPLC, or 3) Receive a full refund up to May 4, subject to our refund policy.  

Refund requests should be sent by email to registration@sustainablepurchasing.org, with the subject line ‘CANCELLATION’, by May 4, 2020. Refunds will be processed on a rolling basis and may be deferred until after the meeting. 

SPONSORSHIP

What can our organization expect from a sponsorship?

As we selected a virtual presentation platform, SPLC staff prioritized enabling sponsor visibility, involvement and connection with attendees to the greatest extent possible. We will provide meaningful opportunities for sponsors to engage with attendees, showcase their offerings and offer additional information to all visitors. SPLC leadership will be reaching out to each sponsor individually to discuss details and help prepare for the opportunities ahead. Contact Bob Jarboe to learn about these great opportunities!

EXHIBITORS

Will there still be an exhibit hall?

SPLC staff is focused on reproducing the high-quality, in-person attendee experience of the Summit to the greatest extent possible, including a virtual 2020 Summit exhibit hall. Content-rich booths in the Virtual Exhibit Hall allow for video greetings, resource downloads, and live chat for as much of the day as exhibitors want to be present.  SPLC will reach out to current exhibitors (and those interested in exploring exhibit options) to provide details on our new online Summit Exhibit Hall, so exhibitors can take advantage of the interaction and demonstration features available to them.  If you’re interested in exhibiting, contact Bob Jarboe to learn more!

What if I had a Loews Atlanta Hotel Reservation?

The hotel has canceled all room reservations in the Summit block. To confirm your reservation cancellation, you may contact the hotel directly at 404-745-5000. 

FURTHER INQUIRIES

Please note that while our staff is fully occupied planning for the virtual event, we are happy to answer your questions.  We ask that you read through the complete FAQs here, and contact us if you have a specific issue or concern not answered here. This will allow us to focus on preparing the best possible virtual 2020 Summit experience. 

If you have particular circumstances not addressed in the above document, please reach out to:

Registration: registration@sustainablepurchasing.org

Exhibits: bob@sustainablepurchasing.org

Sponsors: bob@sustainablepurchasing.org 

Speakers: katie@meetgreen.com

SPLC Leadership Awards: catherine@sustainablepurchasing.org

Loews Atlanta Hotel:  Contact Loews Reservation Customer Service at 404-747-5000