As the 2021 ACRA Conference draws closer, the health and safety of our attendees is our first and most important priority and we must be mindful of public health best practices as a part of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to take a moment to share with you the guidelines that we will be using during the event; see below. These guidelines are subject to change as the situation continues to evolve, but we hope that what we share below helps you feel safer and more prepared to attend the conference.

Updates to these guidelines will be posted on the conference page. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions, and we look forward to seeing you there!

REMINDER: Early Bird registration rates end in one week! After August 15, registration rates will go up by $50 for all registration categories. Register now so you don’t miss out!

Local Guidelines

The conference is being held in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, a close suburb of Washington, DC. The DC region is one of the most highly vaccinated areas of the country with over 75% of adults having received at least one dose. We will be following all local guidelines and requirements.

In DC the city government has just reinstated the indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status. Virginia has not issued that mandate but has recommended that masks be worn indoors even by vaccinated individuals as a result of the delta variant. The City of Alexandria has issued a requirement (effective July 30) that masks must be worn in all government buildings. Our awards reception is located at the Lyceum, which is owned by the City—this means that masks must be worn during our reception when not eating, drinking, or presenting as a part of the ceremony.

Although Virginia has not issued a mask mandate, local businesses are permitted to set their own stricter rules regarding mask-wearing in their establishments, and conference attendees are expected to follow the guidelines of the businesses they choose to patronize outside of the conference. Attendees should be aware that many restaurants and businesses in the DC area are starting to require proof of vaccination in order to enter and should come prepared with their proof of vaccination.

Conference-Specific Guidelines

For the ACRA conference events, we recommend that all attendees wear masks indoors when not eating or drinking regardless of vaccination status although it is not mandatory for vaccinated guests. Proof of vaccination at check-in will be required in order to attend any of the conference events without a mask. Proof of vaccination can be in the form of your physical vaccination card, a clear photo of the card, or a state-provided digital pass.

Masks will be provided for each attendee in the welcome bags, and the hotel will provide hand sanitizer stations in each room and in public spaces. We will be socially distancing conference seating as much as we possibly can in the venue, including for our exhibitor tables. Our welcome reception will also have an outdoor space to allow for additional distancing.

We will continue to work with the hotel on this evolving situation and will be posting additional conference-specific guidelines on the conference page as they arise.