The NRPA Annual Conference is the largest gathering of park and recreation professionals in the world, and the best event for companies to showcase their products and services to thousands of people with purchasing power from the park and recreation field and beyond.
This fall, we will host the first-ever hybrid experience of the NRPA Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2021 NRPA Annual Conference will give park and recreation professionals, champions and industry suppliers the opportunity to attend the conference in person or virtually.
September 21–23, 2021
Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Important Notice: The safety of our staff and attendees is of the utmost importance to NRPA. We will follow all federal, state and local guidelines set for in-person gatherings, as well as recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). In-person attendees can anticipate daily health and wellness check points, physical distancing and face covering requirements, as well as other health and safety protocols. If, at any time, NRPA feels we cannot create and maintain a safe in-person event or if any federal, state or local restrictions prevent us from hosting an in-person event, NRPA will cancel the in-person component while continuing to offer a quality virtual event. Read the full statement.
Exhibit With Us
Expand your reach and buying power by exhibiting in person and virtually. Booth sales for the in-person event in Nashville, Tennessee, are now open!
2021 NRPA Virtual Exhibit Hall Information: Coming Soon!
Stay tuned for more information about exhibiting in our virtual exhibit hall. We are excited to announce many new, dynamic features that will enhance the exhibitor and attendee experience. Be the first to know when virtual booth sales begin by subscribing to receive exhibitor and sponsor news on the right side of this page!
How will current COVID-19 restrictions affect attendance capacity?
Based on current restrictions, we can accommodate 3,000 education seats.* The 3,000 education seats may increase if the CDC reduces the 3-foot physical distancing guidance for classrooms prior to the conference.
*The number of education seats does not reflect total conference attendance. We also will sell a limited number of Exhibit Hall Only passes.
Floorplan and Exhibitor List
View the floorplan and exhibitor list here. If you have questions about booth placement/configuration, or if you would like to create a custom booth, please contact Ruth Wheeler.
Exhibit Rates and Booth Packages
| Square Footage | 100–500 | 600–900 | 1000+ |
| Exhibit Fee | $30 | $29 | $28 |
| Open Corner Fee** | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| Elite Exhibit Area | $675 | $675 | $675 |
**per corner, 2 corners $600, or islands with four corners, $1200
Standard Booth Package
Two Booth Staff Passes (exhibit hall only) per 100 square feet. Maximum allotment is based on local and national health and safety guidelines. NRPA will update exhibitors on any allowable increases based on the convention center’s and City of Nashville’s rules and regulations.
- Standard pipe and drape.
- One 7-inch by 44-inch, single-line identification sign per in-line exhibitor.
Upgrade to the Elite Exhibitor Package
- Access to premium booth locations on the exhibit hall floor.
- Elite status featured in the Exhibit Hall Guide.
- One-time use of the NRPA membership list (*direct mail use only).
- One-time use of the pre- and post-show attendee list (*direct mail use only).
- Double Priority Points.
- One-year NRPA Individual Supplier Membership.
- One monthly subscription to NRPA’s Parks & Recreation magazine.
*NRPA does not release an attendee or membership list directly to your company. We provide the list to a mail house that you send your marketing materials to for distribution. Any costs associated with sending direct-mail marketing is at the expense of the exhibitor and is not included in the Elite Exhibitor package fee.
To learn more, contact Ruth Wheeler at 703.858.2178 or rwheeler@nrpa.org.
Why Exhibit?
Each year, conference attendees participate in the NRPA Annual Conference for professional development opportunities, networking with peers and industry partners, and to recognize and celebrate leaders in the park and recreation profession. The conference is an excellent place for you to showcase your products and services to this key target audience.
TARGET BUYERS
85% are at the management level or higher in their profession.
PURCHASE POWER
93% play a roll in their agency's purchasing process.
BUYERS
99% shop the exhibit hall for products and services.
BUDGET
More than 40% have an annual operating budget of $10 million.
Attendee Demographics
For more information about prospective customers at the NRPA Annual Conference, check out a breakdown of the demographics of the attendees and their employers.
Exhibitor Testimonials
“NRPA always offers a high-quality conference for both attendees and exhibitors. The conference is well organized and thoughtfully developed. The 2020 NRPA Virtual Conference was no different and our team had a very positive experience. We enjoyed the virtual conference because it allowed attendees to visit our booth and "look around" when they may or may not have stopped by the booth in person. Additionally, the virtual booth was available for the duration of the conference and attendees could review information as they were available.” – 2020 Exhibitor
“I would absolutely recommend the NRPA conference to other exhibitors. I feel the sessions you bring to the table are top notch to the parks communities and it shows with the quality and quantity of attendees that show up every year.” – 2020 Exhibitor
“NRPA Conference was a tremendous networking tool. People from all over the country gather to learn about best practices and share experiences. It is the perfect place to tap into the potential of the parks and rec field.” – 2019 Exhibitor
“The NRPA Annual Conference is a great way to connect with Parks & Recreation professionals from across the US and Canada in a single space. The exhibit hall is a great place to introduce a product or service to qualified prospects and to meet with existing clients, partners, and other influencers in your space. NRPA provides great social networking opportunities and always brings out the best of each city that the show is hosted in. This is possibly the most valuable conference for us in terms of the leads and opportunities we generate.” – 2019 Exhibitor
Exhibitor and Sponsorship Inquiries
For questions about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please review our 2021 Exhibits and Sponsorships Frequently Asked Questions or contact us directly.
Ruth Wheeler
Senior Corporate Development Officer
rwheeler@nrpa.org | 703.858.2178
Michelle Dellner
Senior Corporate Development Officer
mdellner@nrpa.org | 949.248.1057