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Plant Health 2024 FAQs

Location, Lodging, and Logistics

• What is the date and location for Plant Health 2024?

  Plant Health will be taking place from July 27–30, 2024. Please note that for 2024, the meeting will close on Tuesday evening. The meeting will take place at the Renasant Convention Center. Check out the Hotel & Travel page for hotel reservations and transportation information.

  A full meeting agenda can be viewed here.
  

• What are the host hotels to book lodging?

  Room blocks are available at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel (connected to the Renasant Convention Center) and the Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown (a family-friendly hotel) for Plant Health 2024. Stay at one of these hotels to receive a discounted room rate and save $100 on your meeting registration.
  

• Will there be childcare?

  The Renasant Convention Center, and by extension APS, does not provide childcare services and does not have a specific organization that they recommend. APS is pleased to again offer Sprouts Corner during Plant Health 2024. A parent or guardian is required to accompany children at all times in Sprouts Corner. Children are also welcome to join their parents at the opening reception and closing party. Please see registration for details. APS, its officers, and its staff are exempt from any and all claims, demands, suits, costs, and charges in connection with or arising out of the use of child care providers, including but not limited to personal injury, bodily harm, injury, or property damage occurring while the child/children is/are in the care of any child care provider during Plant Health 2024.
  
  The APS Family and Caregiver Support Committee, support from APS Council, and sponsorships provide up to three travel grants every year. The travel grant may be used for any caregiving/PAS costs that the applicant would not normally incur during their workday, such as the cost (airfare, hotel, meals) to travel with a child/caregiver or PAS or after-hours at-home care, or cost of breast-milk transport services.​
  

• What is the dress code?

  The dress code for Plant Health 2024 is business casual.

  The convention center has air conditioning to maintain a comfortable environment for all attendees. We recommend dressing in layers to ensure your comfort throughout the meeting.
  

Registration and Registration Plus

• When does registration open?

  Registration opens on March 18, 2024. View details on the Registration page.
  

• How much is registration?

  Registration rates for Plant Health 2024 are posted on the Registration page. Advance rates will be available from March 18, 2024, through June 7, 2024.

• What is Registration PLUS?

  Select the "Registration PLUS" option while registering to receive the member registration rate, and all the membership benefits for one (1) year are included.

  By joining APS with your meeting registration, you will receive the member registration rate PLUS one year of APS professional, early career, or student membership (valued at $96, $65, and $40, respectively). Undergraduate student membership with APS is free. Undergraduates who wish to receive the discounted student member registration rate must first become a member of APS before registering. Visit the undergraduate student membership page to learn more.

• Are meals included in my registration?

  Meals are not included in your registration. You can purchase a lunch bundle to participate in daily lunches. Take advantage of this convenient on-site opportunity to learn and participate in meaningful conversations with fellow attendees. The fee is $98.

  Food will be available at the Opening Reception and Closing Celebration. For available food and drink at additional events, check the event description.

• Can I bring a guest?

  APS allows registered guests to visit the Plant Health HUB during open poster and exhibit hours. A purchased ticket and badge will be required for adults and children 6 yrs. and older to attend the following events (children 5 and under do not require a badge or ticket):

  • Opening Happy Hour
  • Closing Celebration

  The Guest designation is for social guests attending in a non-business capacity. Business associates and colleagues are not considered guests and must register for the entire meeting.

Cancellations

• What is the cancellation and substitution policy?

  Registration cancellations must be made in writing and emailed to APS at apsmeeting@scisoc.org by June 21, 2024. Cancellations received by this date are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received after June 24, 2024, are not subject to a refund.

  • Registration fees will be refunded the same way they were paid to APS.
  • Attendee substitutions are permitted. If the original registrant is a member, the substitute must also be a member and pay the membership fee or the difference between the member and nonmember rate.
  • Membership fees paid with PLUS registrations are non-refundable after 30 days from registration.
  • In the event APS cancels the event or associated ticketed events, APS is not liable for any charges, including nonrefundable hotel charges, airfares, or change penalties imposed by an airline.
  • You agree to the cancellation and refund terms and conditions by registering for this event.

Accessibility

• Are there accommodations to make the meeting accessible?

  APS strives to be accessible, inclusive, and diverse in our facilities, programming, and other offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability (including but not limited to vision, mobility, hearing, physical, or other health-related), require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you need a reasonable accommodation for another reason, we ask that you register by June 15, 2024, so APS can clarify, secure, and confirm necessary services or materials. If you are unable to write by this date but intend to register, or if you have questions about accessibility at the event, be sure to get in touch with APS meetings as soon as possible.

  Learn more about accessibility at The Renasant Convention Center on the Accessibility page.

International Registrations

• When should I apply for my visa?

  Attendees are encouraged to apply for a visa as soon as they are confident they will attend Plant Health 2024. Some consulates may have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews, so applicants should contact the consulate directly to determine wait times or visit the U.S. Visa website. Do not wait until you receive notification that your abstract submission has been accepted before applying for a visa. If your abstract presents new information and follows the published rules and guidelines, it will most likely be accepted or accepted with revisions.

  Customized visa invitation letters can only be issued to confirmed registrants, including those who have paid the meeting registration fees), have submitted an abstract, or are otherwise presenting. When you register for the meeting, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to auto-generate a customized visa invitation letter. If you cannot register early enough to begin the visa process and have submitted an abstract, please complete the invitation letter request form. Invitation letters generated using the request form are identical to those created when registering. However, they are manually created and may take up to 5 business days to be processed.

  All applicants must be able to qualify for a visa on their own merits. APS cannot intervene with embassies in other countries for any meeting participants. If you require an invitation letter before registering or if you have additional questions, please get in touch with the APS Registration Desk.

Program/Presenter Questions

• Is there a printed program available?

  Plant Health 2024 is paperless! The Plant Health event app is your one-stop shop for everything happening at the meeting. You can view and print a printer-friendly meeting schedule here.
  

• How do I download the official meeting app?
  

  Take the event mobile and get social with fellow attendees by downloading the meeting mobile app for this event on your Apple or Google device. Download the app and search for APS. After you sign in again, create your schedule, connect with speakers, message other attendees, and connect with sponsors. 
  

• When will I know if my submitted abstract has been accepted?

  The deadline to submit an oral or poster abstract to Plant Health 2024 is March 15, 2024. Notifications will be emailed in late April. If you have any questions on your submission status, please reach out to the Plant Health program coordinator with your question.

• What is the registration deadline for abstract presenters?

  Presenters of an oral presentation and/or poster MUST register by June 7, 2024, or the abstract will be withdrawn from the meeting.

• Will any programs be offered virtually?

  All programs will occur in person in Memphis, Tennessee, at Plant Health 2024.
  
  Registered attendees will have access to Plant Health Rewind after the conference. Plant Health Rewind will feature recorded talks, poster PDFs, and an attendee photo album.
  

Health & Safety

• How can I minimize health risks while traveling to Plant Health 2024?

  We recommend following the current CDC guidelines, such as practicing frequent hand hygiene, receiving up-to-date immunizations, or wearing masks in crowded areas. Additionally, consider opting for contactless check-in options to minimize contact points.

• What should I do if I feel unwell during Plant Health 2024?

  Your health and well-being are important to APS. If you feel sick during the meeting, we encourage you not to attend any of the scheduled events and stay in your room to prevent the spread of illness. Notify staff immediately through the Mobile App if you experience any symptoms of illness requiring immediate medical attention.

• What safety measures are in place to ensure the security of attendees during Plant Health 2024?

  Ensuring the safety of our attendees is of the utmost importance to APS. Memphis Tourism works with local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our visitors, delegates, and clients. Safety is a top priority for our organization, industry, and community as a whole.
  

  Ahead of all events, hotel occupancy is forecasted and shared with the Memphis Police Department (MPD) to ensure there is sufficient staffing and security for events so that our community and visitors feel confident in their safety. This has always been a policy of APS and will continue to be our policy.

  In addition to MPD, over 20 downtown ambassadors known as the Blue Suede Brigade engage with the public in high-traffic areas such as Beale Street, and beyond. They also serve as additional safety patrols with direct lines to law enforcement, should the need arise.

• How do I report a concern or misconduct during the meeting?

  APS uses Lighthouse reporting app to report any violation of misconduct that takes place during Plant Health 2024. The QR code is located on the back of your name badge and can also be accessed through the Mobile App.

• Are there any specific safety guidelines or protocols for navigating Memphis during my stay?

  While exploring any city we recommend adhering to general safety guidelines, such as staying in well-lit and populated areas, removing your name badge when not at official Plant Health 2024 events, traveling with a group, and being aware of your surroundings at all times.