Dear GIA Conference Attendees,
Why We’re Relocating
As you may know, the ongoing labor dispute at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel has not yet been resolved. This continues to affect both our original hotel and our overflow hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St Paul Downtown.
In addition, several other Twin Cities properties are engaged in prolonged labor negotiations, and a number of large programs are also relocating at the same time. Together, these factors have limited the number of venues available to us.
In line with our values and our commitment to supporting labor organizing, we have been working diligently to relocate the conference to venues that meet our needs while ensuring accessibility, COVID-19 safety, and as much program continuity as possible.
We recognize this may create some challenges for attendees, and we are deeply grateful for your patience and support.
New Conference Venues
GIA has identified the following locations for our new conference venues:
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown| Main Lodging and Event Space
Minneapolis Marriott City Center | Secondary Lodging
The Dayton’s Project | Event Space
Northstar Center | Event Space
All venues are within a two-block radius of each other and connected by a skybridge. Maps and signage will be provided on-site and digitally through Whova to ensure ease of navigation.
Transportation Support
GIA will provide accessible transportation options for preconferences and off-site sessions.
We will not provide transportation from the old Saint Paul venue to the new Minneapolis venues, except in cases of accessibility needs.
For additional accessibility requests, please contact us at GIA2025Access@gmail.com.
Hotel Accommodations
For general hotel accommodations, attendees may choose to remain at their originally booked hotel, while others may explore nearby alternatives. The decision to stay or relocate is entirely up to you. Should you wish to pursue another hotel or short-term rental, please be sure to review the cancellation policies (Intercontinental policy, DoubleTree policy) of your current booking and confirm directly with your provider to avoid penalties.
Attendees may either:
Stay at your originally booked hotel (InterContinental or DoubleTree) and commute approximately 25 minutes by car each day.
Cancel your reservation (see cancellation links for the IC and DT) and rebook at one of our two conference hotels:
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown
The Minneapolis Marriott City Center
Important note: If you are arriving before Sunday, please book at the Marriott, as the Royal Sonesta is full over the weekend.
For help with cancellations or rebooking, email Jill David at jill@lookingglasscreative.net.
Looking Ahead
We are deeply grateful for your flexibility as we work to ensure that the 2025 Conference remains accessible and aligned with our values. We will continue to share updates and confirmed details as soon as they are available.
Thank you for standing with us! We look forward to gathering with you in Minnesota this October for a thought-provoking and inspiring GIA Conference.
With gratitude,
The GIA Team and 2025 Conference Committee