The NASIG Site Selection Committee is very excited and pleased to announce the conference locations and dates for 2020 and 2021! The committee determined early on that we wanted to look to the Midwest and Western regions for the next two conferences, and we also wanted to keep our option open in doing so. RFPs were sent out to 26 cities with reasonable airport access that were also not in states on the California travel ban list. The committee reviewed the responses from all locations, factored in as many of the site selection criteria as possible, and narrowed down the selection to one city for each region. After a site visit to both locations, it was clear to the committee that these would be excellent choices for NASIG. Both of the selected hotels were in the heart of their respective cities, with plenty of dining and entertainment options nearby. Both hotels offered competitive room rates in the range NASIG attendees have come to expect. Both hotels had more than adequate meeting space and enough sleeping rooms for our conference size, with some room for anticipated growth. So, where are they? When are they? The 2020 conference will be held at[ The Davenport Grand ]( https://www.davenporthotelcollection.com/our-hotels/the-davenport-grand/ ) in Spokane, Washington, on June 8-12, and the 2021 conference will be held at[ The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club ]( https://www.concoursehotel.com/ ) in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 17-21. If you are interested in serving on the conference planning committees for either location, please indicate that on the[ volunteer form ]( http://www.nasig.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=708&pk_association_webpage=1268 ). Here’s what Spokane has to say about itself: Making the most of your time in greater Spokane is hassle-free and it’s easy to enjoy everything our great city has waiting to share with you. Without traffic to slow you down it’s simple to connect to our regional experiences. From the urban core to our family-owned farms, to banks of lakes and rivers, and up into the mountains there is so much to explore. And the best part is Spokane is so convenient that you don’t have to choose. Culinary adventures await you after your meeting! Within a few minutes walk of The Davenport Grand there are dozens of bold and daring restaurants with inspired chefs waiting to welcome you with a relaxing meal. Sip local wine or cheers a pint of Spokane Style craft beer while you discuss the latest innovations and best practices in your field with co-workers and new colleagues. When you meet in Spokane you don’t have to search to find the post-conference snack you’ve been craving since lunch, and you don’t have to wade through traffic to get there, it’s there right outside the doors. Searching for something to bring home with you? After your conference, you have time to explore local shops and boutiques and coveted national retailers. No grabbing something at the airport because you didn’t have time to find the shopping district. The shops are minutes from the conference. They’re so close you could even get some retail therapy in during the session lunch break. It’s all located in Spokane’s walkable downtown core – which the convention center district is a part of. Sometimes you just need to unwind with a brisk post-conference walk, or get your blood pumping with a quick run. Within minutes of your last session of the day you can change into your gear and hit the trail while you take in breath taking views of the majestic Spokane River gorge. Scenic views and a 100-acre park are adjacent to the convention center district. Rent a stand-up paddle board and explore the river, or plan an after-session group rafting trip with your colleagues, the river is not only right outside your door, but you can take those adventures without leaving downtown Spokane. When you meet in Spokane you get your time back. You can take that run, explore the shops and grab a great meal prepared by an award-winning chef all in one evening. When you meet in Spokane there’s a whole new session waiting for you when the conference lights dim, only in this session you explore the gracious city that’s welcomed you in. And Madison’s not too shy about its features, either: One of Madison’s many claims to fame is that it plays host to the nation’s largest producers-only farmers’ market. Farm-to-table fare continues to be a top trend nationwide, and you’ll often see our local chefs shopping the market for seasonal and sustainable offerings that are prepared and served that same day at our restaurants, from fine dining destinations to corner food carts. Greater Madison is microbrew country, and there are ample opportunities to sample it all, from award-winning ales to savory seasonals. But our craft culture doesn’t stop with beers. You may not think of ours as a grape-growing region, but we are home to two award-winning wineries as well as distilleries where spirits and liqueurs are handcrafted in small batches using Wisconsin-grown ingredients. Many of our breweries, wineries and spirits purveyors offer tasting rooms and tours, in addition to making their products available in fine restaurants and stores around the country and online. The greater Madison area is a mecca for recreational opportunities because we offer four seasons of fun! Whether you enjoy winter sports such as skiing or skating, love to be on the lakes (or in them!) for everything from sailing to swimming, you can explore the outdoors year-round in Madison. Fun fact: we boast about having more bikes than cars, and with more than 120 miles of scenic biking and hiking trails to explore, it’s no wonder we were ranked #4 in Best Cycling Towns by USAToday Travel. Madison is home to several colleges and universities, but is perhaps best known for UW-Madison, a world-class, public research university that has been recognized for everything from research and rankings to Game Day experiences. Our destination’s focus on higher education makes Madison a progressive center of activity, at UW-Madison and Madison College downtown, as well as at Edgewood College in Madison’s Monroe Street neighborhood. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent his childhood years in nearby Spring Green and returned to live in the area when he was at the height of his international fame. Greater Madison makes the most of its architectural heritage by offering many opportunities to discover Mr. Wright at special sites, from the Monona Terrace® Community and Convention Center to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous home, studio, theater, farm and burial site. The 2018-19 Site Selection Committee hope you put these dates on your calendar today and plan to attend the 2020 and 2021 NASIG conferences! Anna Creech Angela Dresselhaus Kristen Wilson NASIG is an independent organization working to advance and transform the management of information resources. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate and improve the distribution, acquisition, and long-term accessibility of information resources in all formats and business models. Visit [ http://www.nasig.org/ ]( http://www.nasig.org/ ) for more information.
