The American Lighting Association (ALA) has announced that its in-person 2021 Conference, originally scheduled for Sept. 26-28, is canceled due to wildfires in Lake Tahoe, CA. ALA is working to create a virtual option to replace the in-person event. Registrants will receive instructions regarding fees, and hotel rooms booked in the ALA block will automatically be refunded.
ALA sent an email to members with the following information:
We are saddened to announce the cancelation of the 2021 ALA Conference, which was set to occur Sept. 26-28 in Lake Tahoe, Calif. As most are aware, the Caldor Fire, which began Aug. 14 in an area southwest of Lake Tahoe, continues to intensify and threaten the surrounding communities.
Evacuation orders are being issued throughout the area and, currently, the fire is only 25% contained. California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the counties surrounding the fire, and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority stated visitors should postpone travel plans to the area until further notice. The ALA Board of Governors Executive Committee and ALA staff have determined that, due to the uncertainty of this situation and in the interest of the safety of everyone involved, the only option is to cancel this year’s event.
If you are registered for conference, you will receive a separate email detailing your options to recoup or roll over all registration fees.
If you have already booked your room in the ALA room block at The Resort at Squaw Creek, your reservation will automatically be canceled. If your email address is on file with the hotel, you will receive a message from the hotel confirming the cancelation. If you do not receive an email or are unsure of the status of your reservation, please contact the hotel directly.
Most airlines are currently allowing passengers to cancel their reservations at no cost and use the value of their unused ticket towards a future trip. We encourage all members who have already booked tickets to check directly with their airline as soon as possible, as there may be restrictions to this policy.
While we are all disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to reconnect in person this year, the 2021 ALA Conference Committee is working diligently to plan and announce a virtual alternative to this year’s conference. Please stay tuned, as details on this event will be released shortly.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ALA Conference Director Katie Grandel at Katie@ALALighting.com.
