ALD’s 2024 Leadership Conference will be held in Chicago, IL from Friday, October 25 - Sunday, October 27.

Interested in attending the 2024 Leadership Conference? Send an email to aldconference@nationalald.org to “hold spots” for your chapter. The conference is limited, and registrations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Your email should include the following:

  • Your First and Last Name (if you’re not the Chapter Advisor)

  • First and Last Name, and email address of your Chapter Advisor

  • College/University

  • Number of Student Attendees (Each chapter is guaranteed up to two student attendees, if we have space available, up to four students may attend – more than two students will be added to a waitlist, and you will be notified if they are able to attend.)

  • Number of Advisors Attending (Each chapter can send one advisor; one additional advisor can be added to a waitlist, and you will be notified if they are able to attend. There is an additional fee of $200 for a second advisor.)

In early September, ALD Headquarters will reach out with the individual attendee registration form for all students and advisors attending to complete. We do not need attendee names at this time. Individual attendee registration forms must be completed by September 25th. The rooming and cancellation policies are available below in the FAQs.

Registration fees must be submitted by September 23rd to finalize your chapter’s registration. The registration fee is $100 per attendee (students & advisors) and covers the cost of your hotel room, most meals, and conference materials. Your chapter is responsible for transportation to and from the hotel. Registration fees can be submitted at any time by clicking on the “Submit Your Conference Payment Here” button below.

Leadership Conference FAQs

  • Reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, ALD and/or institution-branded clothing, credit card for hotel incidentals

  • There is no dress code, but you are encouraged to wear ALD or institution-branded clothing on Friday, and anything goes on Saturday and Sunday. Remember to check the weather forecast before packing! In October/November, Chicago weather averages a high of 62°/50° and a low of 50°/39°. And hotels can sometimes be chilly, so you may want to have a sweater.

  • Friday dinner and late-night snack, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Sunday breakfast

  • All attendees will need a credit card for the hotel to keep on file for incidentals (a hold of $100/per night will show as a pending charge until the end of your stay), even if you do not charge anything to the room. Please reach out to ALD HQ if you do not have a credit card. The hotel is cash-free. We recommend that attendees have some money (cash or card) for snacks, activities during free time, and dinner on Saturday night.

  • Join the official ALD HQ GroupMe chat

  • Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile – located at 633 North Saint Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611. ALD HQ books all hotel rooms on behalf of attendees. CASH FREE - Please note that this hotel only accepts credit cards, debit cards, and, where applicable, other contactless forms of payment. It is a cash-free environment.

    All attendees will need a credit card for the hotel to keep on file for incidentals (a hold of $100/per night will show as a pending charge until the end of your stay), even if you do not charge anything to the room. Please reach out to ALD HQ if you do not have a credit card.

  • Only valet parking is available at the hotel for $76/night. There are other parking garages available nearby for lower rates.

  • Both O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport have train routes to downtown (approximately $5/person and an hour ride). Detailed routes will be provided closer to the conference.

    Taxi service from each airport is approximately $45-$55.

  • Registration Fees: 9/23/24

    Individual Attendee Registration Forms: 9/25/24

    Cancellation without Penalty: 9/24/24

  • $245/per room, per night

  • $200

  • $245

  • We may invite student and advisor-led presentations. The official schedule for the conference is currently under development. Stay tuned for updates.

  • Attempts will be made to notify chapters regarding waitlisted students and advisors as soon as possible but may not be available until mid-September. If requesting funding/travel approval from your institution, we recommend that your request includes all potential student and advisor attendees.

  • Yes, if you need access to the individual attendee registration form for your institution’s required documentation you may email aldconference@nationalald.org to request a link beginning May 15.

  • ALD HQ will provide a detailed list of things to do around Chicago closer to the start of the conference including free and paid attractions, stuff within walking distance of the hotel, affordable spots for food and snacks, etc. ALD HQ will also provide sign-up sheets during the conference to help students organize self-led group outings. There will be free time late Saturday afternoon and evening.

  • ALD HQ is working on securing a community service project for Sunday morning. We encourage attendees to plan for a late afternoon departure, if possible.

  • Rooming for the conference is two attendees to a Two Queen Beds room. ALD Headquarters will make every effort to room student attendees from the same school, of the same pronouns together. If the school sends students with different pronouns, ALD Headquarters will room those students with students from another school, but of the same pronouns.

    Advisors will also be roomed in doubles (Two Queen beds) by pronouns unless they indicate they will be paying for a single room on the attendee registration form. This form will be sent in September.

    Roommate requests on the individual attendee registration form will only be honored if both attendees list each other’s name as a preferred roommate (pronoun matching is not required). Roommate requests are not guaranteed.

    If you have any questions about the rooming policy or would like to submit a request for a group of 3 or 4 students to room together, please email ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org for discussion.

  • If you register for the conference but cannot attend, you are required to notify ALD Headquarters so that other attendees may be allowed to attend. If you need to cancel your registration, please notify ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org by September 24. Failure to cancel by September 24 will result in forfeiture of your registration deposit.