First-Time Attendees

Early registration is strongly recommended to ensure the best selection of official ASH annual meeting hotels. You must register for the meeting before making your hotel reservation, and the hotels fill up quickly—particularly those within walking distance of the convention center.

While both members and non-members are welcome to attend the ASH annual meeting, members receive a discounted rate and other benefits. Learn about becoming an ASH member.

Due to the popularity of the ASH annual meeting and an increased demand for flights to during that time, we recommend booking your travel early in order to get the best possible flights and fares.

Take advantage of the air and travel discounts available through EWA Travel, Inc., the official travel agency for the ASH annual meeting, as well as special car rental rates for ASH annual meeting attendees.

To make sure you don’t miss any important dates, view the key dates and deadlines for the ASH annual meeting.

Attendees—especially trainees—should consider arriving early to attend some of the special activities and events, such as ASH-a-Palooza, the Friday Satellite Symposia, and the Friday Scientific Workshops, that are being held on the Friday before the official start of the ASH annual meeting.

With so many sessions, events, and activities offered, it can be helpful to browse the Schedule-at-a-Glance ahead of the meeting. As you look through the schedule and read session descriptions, take note of events and activities you may want to attend.

Keep in mind that there are several events on Friday for which you may want to arrive a day early. These include ASH-a-Palooza, Friday Satellite Symposia, and Friday Scientific Workshops.

Once the ASH annual meeting app is released in November, you will be able to create your own itinerary within the app, adding sessions and events for a visual representation of your schedule.

As you plan your schedule, be sure to leave space for networking and collaboration opportunities and fun activities. The key to making the most of your annual meeting experience is maintaining a healthy balance of discovery, connection, and enjoyment.

Whether you want to bring your spouse or the entire family, ASH has made arrangements to simplify the experience.

Spouses and guests are welcome to register for the ASH annual meeting. They will receive a badge that allows access to the exhibit hall, including daily coffee breaks and boxed lunches on Sunday and Monday, the Saturday evening welcome reception, and Sunday and Monday poster hall receptions.

Child-care services are available on site at the ASH annual meeting. As child-care space is limited, please register your child by October 30 to ensure availability.

The Nursing Mothers' Room will be available for nursing mothers in safe, accessible areas throughout the convention center.

Bringing a friend or colleague to the ASH annual meeting is a great way to enhance your experience and boost your learning capability.

Many attendees like to team up with colleagues to split sessions and swap information or compare notes to recap what they learned. For employers sponsoring attendance, sending teams of employees is a cost-effective way to increase value.

To receive important annual meeting updates and announcements, follow ASH on Facebook and Twitter, and keep an eye out for emails from ASH after you register.

There is no official dress code for the meeting, though most attendees dress in business casual. ASH recommends this attire as you will be interacting with leaders in the field, and the meeting offers many networking and collaboration events.

Comfort should also be a priority, as the days are long, and you will be walking between meeting sessions and events.

All attendees are strongly advised to plan their schedules before arriving. As a first-time attendee, this is particularly important to ensure you have a productive and stress-free experience. For more information on planning your schedule, see the “Before the Meeting” section above.

Once you are at the meeting, finalize your schedule with any last-minute changes or additions. You may also want to purchase tickets to one of the special Ticketed Sessions.

Finally, be sure to check your notification settings in the annual meeting app so you don’t miss important messages, such as session start-time reminders and any last-minute room changes.

Free shuttle-bus service is available to and from the convention center from most hotels in the ASH room block, and several hotels are located within walking distance. If your hotel is on a shuttle bus route, be sure to check your hotel lobby for a detailed schedule.

To help you find your way around the convention center and the surrounding meeting space, maps can be easily accessed through the annual meeting app and are available for download to your smartphone or tablet. If you prefer a larger print map, be sure to pick up a copy of ASH News Daily on site.

For those with disabilities or requiring mobility assistance, ASH is committed to providing an accessible environment and enjoyable experience. Learn more.

The poster hall is open Saturday through Monday and offers the opportunity to learn about important, novel research in the field.

During presentation times, authors are available to answer questions and discuss their research.

During viewing times, when authors are not present, you can use the free PosterCast app to listen to three-minute audio presentations recorded by the authors themselves.

Stop by the exhibit hall to learn about the latest in hematology technology and research. More than 250 exhibitors will be present, including pharmaceutical companies, medical suppliers, publishers, nonprofit organizations, and clinical diagnostic and research-based companies.

Make sure you visit the ASH Booth while in the exhibit hall to connect with ASH staff, get information about the Society’s many products and services, and pick up some free giveaways.

The ASH annual meeting is an ideal place to connect with colleagues and collaborate on exciting projects and research. ASH is pleased to offer the following events, resources, and facilities to help you make the most of your meeting experience.

• Collaboration rooms: Small conference rooms are available for reservation in ASH Central and allow 10 to 20 attendees to meet in a more private space.
• Trainee Lounge: Located in ASH Central, the Trainee Lounge offers a space for trainees to meet with colleagues and recharge with complimentary refreshments.
• Coffee breaks: Several 30-minute coffee breaks are built into the annual meeting schedule to allow time for connection and rejuvenation. Use these breaks as an opportunity to meet and collaborate with others, either in our on-site collaboration rooms or in MeetUp areas located throughout the convention center.
• Lunch: Open time for lunch is built into the schedule each day, including free lunch in the exhibit hall on Sunday and Monday.

The key to an enjoyable meeting experience is to balance discovery with well-being and enjoyment. ASH is pleased to provide a variety of resources that make it easy to stay healthy and have fun.

• Use the treadmills and stationary bikes in ASH Central while viewing select meeting sessions in the ASH Live: Remote Session Viewing area.
• Start your Sunday in a fun, healthy, and philanthropic way at the ASH Foundation Run/Walk.
• Smile for the camera at the selfie zone, where various props and backgrounds are available.

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

View important deadlines and other continuing education information.