The 79th BVA National Convention is Coming in 2024!
This year, The Blinded Veterans Association will be partnering with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in hosting this historic gathering at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.
Registration
Registration for the BVA Convention is $150/person. BVA registration includes Convention bag, t-shirt, BVA business meetings, BVA Gala, and Father Carroll Luncheon. Due to manpower limitations, if you require special assistance of a caregiver, you will be required to make those arrangements and register them as a guest.
Hotel
This year the annual convention will take place at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville at 225 East Coastline Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Rooms are $99 per night for Single or Double occupancy, $124 per night for Triple occupancy, and $149 per night for Quadruple occupancy. Room tax is 14.64%. A charge of $40 per night for incidentals will be charged to your card upon check-in.
Accommodations include free Wi-Fi, refrigerators in each room, a heated outdoor pool, and a 24-hour fitness center. Hotel self-parking is $15 per day including overnight and in/out fees. Valet parking is also available at $49 per day.
Dining options include the Market, SHOR Seafood Grill, Tavern, and Morton’s The Steakhouse.
To make reservations, book online or call (800) 233-1234 and use code G-ACOB. To receive the group rate you must register by June 10, 2024.
Transportation
Plane
The Jacksonville Airport is located 15 miles from the hotel.
Bus
Megabus and Greyhound both drop off at the Greyhound station, located 1.2 miles from the hotel at 1111 W Forsyth St.
Train
The Amtrak station is located 5.6 miles from the hotel at 3570 Clifford Lane.
Local Transportation
Uber and Lyft will cost approximately $25 from the airport to the hotel. A taxi is about $10 more.
Paratransit / ADA Jacksonville Information
Please view page nine of the 2024 Convention Information document.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall will be managed by ACB this year. To order your Exhibit Hall Booth contact Michael Smitherman, Conference Exhibits Coordinator, by email at exhibitors@acb.org, or by phone at (601) 331-7740.
Guest Information
Exhibit Hall Hours
- Sunday, July 7 from 9:00am-5:00pm
- Monday, July 8 from 11:00am-5:00pm
- Tuesday, July 9 from 11:00am-5:00pm
- Wednesday, July 10 from 9:00am-1:00pm
Exhibitor Information
Exhibit Hall Setup
- Saturday, July 6 from 1:00pm-5:00pm
Exhibit Hall Open
- Sunday, July 7 from 9:00am-5:00pm
Exhibit Hall Move-Out
- Wednesday, July 10 from 1:00pm-4:00pm
Schedule of Events
*The following is subject to change.
Sunday, July 7
- 8:30am-5:00pm – BVA VSP Office
- 9:00am-4:30pm – BVA Registration Open
- 9:00am-5:00pm – Exhibit Hall Open
- 7:00pm-8:00pm – 79th National Convention Opening Ceremony
Monday, July 8
- 8:30am-5:00pm – BVA VSP Office
- 8:30am-5:00pm – BVA Auxiliary Office (Meeting Times TBD)
- 9:00am-11:30am – BVA Opening Business Meeting
- 1:00pm-3:00pm – Bylaws and Resolutions Meeting
- 5:00pm-6:00pm – BVA Gala Happy Hour and Reception
- 6:00pm-9:00pm – BVA Gala
Tuesday, July 9
- 7:30am-8:45am – BVA Ambassador Recognition Ceremony (proposed)
- 8:30am-5:00pm – BVA VSP Office
- 8:30am-5:00pm – BVA Auxiliary Office (Meeting Times TBD)
- 9:00am-10:00am – BVA Board of Directors’ Membership Open Forum
- 10:00am-11:30am – Team BVA Outreach Teams Panel
- 12:00pm-2:00pm – Father Carroll Luncheon and Awards Ceremony
- 3:00pm-6:00pm – BVA Closing Business Meeting
Wednesday, July 10
- 8:00am-10:00am – BVA and BVA Auxiliary National Board of Directors Breakfast and Meeting
* Offsite tours are managed by ACB and not BVA. For more information, please visit ACB’s website at https://acbconvention.org.
National Convention Resources
National Convention Resources
2023 Official Convention Letter (CLICK HERE) (PDF)
78th National Convention Member Registration (CLICK HERE)
78th National Convention Offsite Activities Information (CLICK HERE)
78th National Convention Exhibitor Prospectus (CLICK HERE) (PDF)
78th National Convention Exhibitor Registration (CLICK HERE)