Attendee Frequently Asked Questions

General Event Questions

When:

August 2 - 4, 2023

Where:

Hilton Minneapolis
1001 S Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Registration will open on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. with the first of the All-Access Sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The exhibit hall hours are:

Wednesday, August 2 - 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Thursday, August 3 - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Registration credentials can be picked up on-site at Garden Center Conference & Expo registration. The registration desk is in the Salon ABCD Foyer of the Hilton Minneapolis.

Click here to review the attendee demographics for the Garden Center Conference & Expo.

A list of attendees of the Garden Center Conference & Expo will be sent out to registered attendees post-show. Pre-event registration lists will not be sent out to non-exhibiting/sponsoring companies.

Business casual attire is appropriate for the event. We recommend you carry a light jacket or sweater for the air-conditioned meeting space and exhibit hall.

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all event participants. Event safety is our No. 1 priority and as such CDC guidelines and state and local recommendations will be taken into consideration during the event. Click here to view our Event Health & Safety Policy.

To apply for a media pass for the Garden Center Conference & Expo, please reach out to us at conference@gie.net.

Garden Center magazine
Garden Center magazine is the leading industry trade publication serving independent garden center retailers in North America. Garden Center is known for providing relevant, timely and engaging content in every issue, with a focus on topics leaders need to thrive, including management, marketing, meeting consumer demands, trends and merchandising. With a suite of services – including monthly print and digital editions, daily news updates, virtual conferences, news, product e-newsletters and a newly launched Conference & Expo – Garden Center provides business owners with the research, insight and analysis to help them grow their companies.

Registration Questions

To register for the conference, click here. If you have any questions while you register, please contact us at conference@gie.net.

For complete pricing click here.

All-Access Pass – This pass includes access to networking event functions, the exhibit hall, educational sessions, and the pre-show all-access workshops on day 1 of the event.

Conference & Expo Pass – This pass includes access to all networking functions (except the All-Access networking lunch on Day 1), the exhibit hall, and all general educational sessions (not including the All-Access Pre-Show Workshops).

Expo Only Pass – This pass includes access to all networking functions (except the All-Access networking lunch on Day 1) and access the exhibit hall.

Lunch on Day 2, along with all networking receptions, welcome refreshments, and networking breaks are included with all pass types. Lunch on Day 1 is only included with the All-Access Pass.

Yes, we are offering registration discounts to anyone who registers in a group of 3 or more as well as our early registration pricing discounts that can be seen on our pricing page here.

Yes, attendees registering in a group of 3 or more will receive a 15% discount on their total purchase. To qualify for the group rate, groups must register at the same time. Discount cannot be retroactively applied.

Yes, registrations are subject to discounted early pricing. To view our discounts and deadlines, please click here.

Yes, a one-day registration is available for $199 per person. This rate will only be available onsite at the event on a space available basis. The One-Day Only Pass includes access to the educational sessions and networking functions for one event day. (This does not include any designated All-Access Only sessions/functions on Day 1 of the conference).

No, the Garden Center Conference & Expo is a solely in-person event. No virtual event options are being offered at this time.

Yes. On-site registrations are accepted on a space available basis.

GIE Media accepts VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. Checks, wire transfers and money orders (made payable to GIE Media, Inc.) are also accepted but must be sent prior to the start of the conference. For information on where to send checks and wire transfers, please email us at conference@gie.net. Please do not send cash with mail-in registrations. Cash will only be accepted on-site for registration payment. Checks must be drawn in U.S. dollars and from a U.S. bank.

Each registration package includes access to different elements of the conference. To view what is included with each pass type, please click here.

Yes, you are able to upgrade your registration pass at any time. The cost to upgrade will be the rate difference between the pass type you registered for and the one you are looking to upgrade to (at the time of registration). To upgrade your pass, contact show management at conference@gie.net.

All travel costs including air and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the attendee. The Garden Center Conference & Expo has secured a block of rooms at the conference rate at the host hotel. Rooms in the conference room block are reserved for conference attendees. Detailed information on the discounted rooms for conference attendees can be found here.

After completing registration, you will be routed to a confirmation page that will allow you to add the event to your calendar, print a receipt, and edit your registration, as well as view a map and directions. In addition, you will receive a confirmation email with your registration information.

First, please ensure that the email conference@gie.net is whitelisted in your email server. The registration confirmation will be coming from Show Management from conference@gie.net and will be titled "Registration Confirmed - Garden Center Conference & Expo". Additionally, please keep an eye on your spam/junk folder in the event that the confirmation email was caught in your spam filter by mistake. If you still have not received it, please email us at conference@gie.net and we will re-send your confirmation email.

The system will save all of the information you have previously entered. You will just need to log back into the registration system to complete your registration. To log into the system, click here and select “Already Registered?”. Simply enter the email address that you used to begin the registration and the password created during the initial registration. The fields will populate with the data entered and you will be able to complete your registration.

All cancellations must be made in writing and either faxed or e-mailed. Voicemails will not be accepted. A full refund minus a 10% administrative fee will be issued if the cancellation is received by May 24, 2023. A 50% refund will be provided if the cancellation is received no later than June 14, 2023. No refunds will be issued after June 14, 2023, or for no-shows. If you cancel your conference registration, your hotel room will no longer qualify for the group rate and may also be cancelled if booked at the host hotel. Garden Center Conference & Expo reserves the right to cancel a program due to insufficient registration or instructor emergency. Attendees can notify the show at any time that another individual will attend the conference in his or her place. Garden Center Conference & Expo also reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event. A full refund of registration fees will be issued only if this occurs.

Percentage Refund Deadline
90% RefundMay 24, 2023
50% RefundJune 14, 2023
No Refunds AvailableAfter June 14, 2023

Attendees can notify the show at any time that another individual will attend the conference in their place.

AA full refund minus a 10% administrative fee will be issued if the cancellation is received by May 24, 2023. A 50% refund will be provided if the cancellation is received no later than June 14, 2023. No refunds will be issued after June 14, 2023, or for no-shows. If you cancel your conference registration, your hotel room will no longer qualify for the group rate and may also be cancelled if booked at the host hotel.

Percentage Refund Deadline
90% RefundMay 24, 2023
50% RefundJune 14, 2023
No Refunds AvailableAfter June 14, 2023

Hotel/Location Questions

Yes, we have contracted a discounted room rate at the Hilton Minneapolis. For more information on the discounted group room block please click here.

A block of discounted rooms is available at the Hilton Minneapolis to event attendees at special group rates of $209.00 per night plus tax for a single/double occupancy until July 10, 2023, or until the room block is full.

CLICK HERE to reserve your room at the host hotel.

To cancel your hotel reservation, call 612-376-1000 and request to cancel your hotel reservation. Any guaranteed reservation not cancelled 72 hrs. prior to the arrival date will be subject to a one night room and tax cancellation fee.

No, there is not a designated shuttle to and from the Hilton Minneapolis for the Garden Center Conference & Expo. For information on transportation to and from the host hotel, please click here.

You can find a list of Minneapolis attractions list by going to the hotel website or by clicking here.

Education/Program Questions

Click here to view the schedule of events for the Garden Center Conference & Expo.

Information on the 2023 keynote speaker will be available soon.

The presenters represent a diverse cross section of professionals, including top management from leading organizations in North America. Click here to view our full speaker lineup.

A series of pre-show sessions are available for All-Access Pass holders. These sessions take place from 10 AM – 2:30 PM on August 2, 2023. To view the sessions that are available as All-Access Pass sessions please click here and check the box next to the “All-Access Pass” selection on the left-hand side of the agenda to view the ones included only with the All-Access Pass. The light green label indicates an All-Access only session.

Presentations that we have been given permission to release will be available post-show through a PDF file. These presentations will be sent out to registered conference attendees in a link 5 to 10 business days following the last day of the conference.

The educational sessions for the Garden Center Conference & Expo are not being recorded.