Now that you’ve mastered the maze of hallways and the bus shuttle routes at the Gaylord Palms, Marriott World Center and Caribe Royale, get ready for a different NAVC venue in 2017. The annual conference is abandoning its traditional January schedule and moving to the Orange County Convention Center. Next year’s event will take place February 4 to 8. “I’m excited about the move for two primary reasons,” NAVC’s CEO, Tom Bohn, said when the change was announced. “First, since we’ll be taking over all three hotels connected to the center [and] we can continue to offer the intimate and closely connected experience our attendees have come to expect. “Second, the new space allows us to add new programs and partnerships as we seek innovative ways to deliver outstanding conference programs.” The closest hotels will be within walking distance of the convention center: the Hilton Orlando, Hyatt Regency and Rosen Centre. Lectures, luncheons, master classes and laboratories will be held under one roof. The same goes for the trade show. NAVC has booked the convention center through 2023. Other scheduled dates are Feb. 3 to 7, 2018, and Jan. 19 to 23, 2019.
