May 2-3, 2024
at JW Marriott Downtown Houston
806 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
Registration Opens at 10:30 AM on May 2.
Join us at the JW Marriott Downtown Houston on May 2-3 for the 2024 DBIA-SW Regional Conference. This year's conference promises to be informative and engaging, bringing together industry leaders and experts to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in design-build!
Directions | Registration | App | Schedule| Networking | Tips | Info for Speakers | Questions
Getting to the Conference
The conference venue is located at 806 Main St, Houston, TX 77002.
Driving & Parking
The venue is between Rusk and Walker on the west side of Main Street. Those driving may use the valet at the JW for $21 and overnight valet parking at $35, plus taxes and gratuity (if you choose to tip). Please let the valet know you are attending the DBIA-SW Regional Conference.
Other nearby parking options include the Walker @ Main Garage, the 801 Travis Garage, and the McKinney Place Garage. *Pricing and hours may change. Please contact parking lot operators directly with any questions.
Flying
Attendees can fly into the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (~22.4 miles away) or the William P Hobby Airport (~10.7 miles away).
To book a shuttle service from either airport, please contact the Texans Super Shuttle. If you are staying at the JW, you might be able to book a complimentary shuttle service to pick you up. Please get in touch with 713-237-1111 for more information.
Transit
The METRO Red line stops up the street at Central Station Main. Additionally, the Green and Purple lines stop at Central Station Rusk. To determine your best route, CLICK HERE to use Google Maps.
Registration and Checking into the Hotel
Registration will open on May 2 at 10:30 a.m., and the opening plenary lunch will kick off at 11:30 a.m.
The registration table will be in the Mezzanine on your way to the Gallery Level. Upon arrival, please come to the registration table to get your name badge. If you are staying at the JW, you can then head to the hotel lobby to check in at the front desk. Depending on room availability, you will have a chance to either leave your luggage in your room or the hotel concierge will hold your luggage for you until your room is available.
Attending the Astros Game? Be sure to download your ticket ahead of time!
The 2024 DBIA-SW Conference's Reception on May 2 will be at Minute Maid Park. Pre-registration was required to attend. (Sorry, folks, we are all sold out!).
If you snagged a ticket to this event, be sure to download the ticket on the MLB Ballpark App before attending the game. This is the only way you can get in!
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1 - Download the MLB Ballpark App on your phone
Step 2 - Set up an account (it's best to use the same email address that you used to register for the conference)
Step 3 - Verify your email address
Step 4 - Open your email app and find the ticket email from tickets@tickets.mlb.com with the subject "You have just been forwarded an Astros ticket for 2024-05-02"
Step 5 - Click "Accept Ticket"
Information about Speakers & Sessions
The conference will feature several industry experts sharing their knowledge and experience with attendees. Information about the speakers can be found on the conference app and the conference website.
Conference App
QR codes on your name badge and throughout the venue will connect you to the conference app. The app provides access to the conference schedule, session details, speaker bios, and a list of sponsors and participants, as well as a way for you to rate the sessions you attend (useful for CEU purposes).
To get the app, click the button below and bookmark the page.
Schedule of Events and Attending Sessions
We'll open registration on May 2 at 10:30 am, with the opening plenary lunch kicking off at 11:30 am. From there, attendees can choose which sessions to attend throughout the day, with plenty of opportunities for networking and learning.
Most sessions do not require pre-registration. You can choose which session you want to attend and walk in the door! However, the Astros Game on May 2 does require pre-registration, as these spots are limited.
Want to start looking through the sessions? Check out the full conference schedule here -
Networking Opportunities
There are many great ways to relax, socialize, and get to know our host city! Check out this blog post for more information -
Tips for Attendees:
Plan your schedule in advance: Review the conference schedule and plan out which sessions and events you want to attend. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you don't miss anything important.
Engage with speakers: During sessions, engage with speakers by asking questions and sharing your thoughts. This will help you get the most out of each session and make the experience more interactive.
Take notes: Bring a notebook or use your phone to take notes during sessions. This will help you remember key takeaways and information to apply to your work.
Use social media: Use social media (for example, the LinkedIn Event Page) to share your conference experience, connect with other attendees, and share what you have learned. You can use the hashtag #DBIASW and tag "DBIA Southwest Region" on any posts you make!
Stay engaged: Stay engaged throughout the conference by participating in discussions, attending sessions, and connecting with other attendees. This will help you get the most out of your conference experience and make valuable connections within the industry.
Are you a Speaker at the Conference? Here’s what you need to know to prepare:
Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled session and check in at registration in the Lobby.
Each breakout session will have 10 minutes in between for you to come in and get set up. Please be respectful of the speakers in the room before you and wait to set up until after they are done. Additionally, please be respectful of the speakers after you and keep your presentation to your allotted time of 60 minutes.
If you are giving any slide show presentation, we advise you to bring your own laptop with your presentation already loaded. Additionally, we suggest you bring a USB flash drive loaded with your presentation as a backup. Each room will have a projector set up with an HDMI input for video and a small speaker input for audio. Feel free to bring your own clicker for your presentation if you have one. If you have a newer Mac computer, we suggest you also bring your own HDMI adaptor.
Your point of contact for any day-of conference questions will be Sumbel Zeb, DBIA-SW Events Coordinator. You can email her at Sumbel@dbia-sw.org or call her at (214) 551-5771. Please be advised that during the conference she will be very busy. Try to submit any questions that you have well ahead of May 2.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about the conference, don't hesitate to reach out to our team at info@dbia-sw.org. We're here to help make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.