Terms

All Greater & Greener 2026 Conference Policies and Terms of Registration are adopted in consideration of and in the best interest of, attendees and other participants (“participants”) of the Greater & Greener Conference and related events (the “Conference”), City Parks Alliance (“CPA”), and the Conference host facilities.

Statement of Liability

CPA and other sponsors of the Conference claim no liability for the acts of any participants, exhibitors, or other third-party vendors at or for the Conference, or for the safety of any participant while in transit to or from this event. CPA and sponsors of the Conference shall not be liable for any delays or failure in performance, loss of business income or leads, or interruptions of services resulting directly or indirectly from any cause or circumstance beyond the reasonable control of such organization including but not limited to natural disasters and other acts of God; epidemics, pandemics, or other public health and safety concerns; acts of public enemy; war; acts of terrorism, accidents; fires; electrical, mechanical, or structural failures or breakdowns; strikes, labor disputes; postal delays; explosions; or governmental order or regulations.

CPA reserves the right to cancel this function without penalty. Participants who purchase non-refundable airline tickets do so at their own risk. The total amount of any liability of CPA and/or sponsors will be limited to a refund of paid Conference and session fees. CPA also reserves the right to cancel offerings within the conference (e.g., Weekend Tours or Mobile Workshops). Tours have minimum attendance requirements. In the case CPA deems it necessary to cancel an offering, CPA will offer the registrant to apply paid fees to another offering or will refund the registrant in full for the cost of that offering.

No alcohol will be served to anyone under the age of 21 and non-alcoholic drinks will also be made available. Conference participants are responsible for their own well-being and neither CPA nor sponsors will be held accountable for any events or occurrences resulting from excessive drinking, recklessness, or negligence on the part of any conference participant.

CPA and attendees of this function, under the terms of registration, agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless each other, including officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all liabilities, losses, claims, expenses, actions, or causes of action arising out of or resulting from any act taken or committed by the attendees or organizers of this function or any third party except for the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the other party. Furthermore, attendees and guests participating in optional weekend tours, mobile workshops, or other off-site activities that may include/allow participation in physical, strenuous, or dangerous activities that could create the potential for serious injury or death acknowledge that participation is voluntary and is done at the participant’s own risk. During the conference registration process, all registrants must acknowledge reading the terms presented on this page and agree to these terms in order to complete registration. All participants may be required to sign a separate waiver for each offsite activity prior to participating in the event.

Attendees are asked to present a photo ID at registration in order to collect registration materials. Furthermore, you agree not to allow any other individual to participate in your place either at the conference, during the registration process, or any other conference-related activity including acceptance of these terms of registration. If you need to transfer your registration from yourself to another person, please email registration@greatergreener.org.

Health and Wellness

The health and wellness of Greater & Greener participants, speakers, and staff are important to us. Greater & Greener will follow recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local authorities, and the conference venue to the extent practicable, and we reserve the right to implement additional safety measures to protect Greater & Greener participants.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of illness or feel unwell, please prioritize your health and the well-being of others by not attending.

Kindly respect personal space preferences and individual comfort levels. Some attendees may prefer to wear masks to protect themselves and others from airborne illnesses. We ask that attendees respect everyone’s individual preferences.

By registering for Greater & Greener, all registrants agree to follow all communicated health & safety requirements before and during the conference. Those who willingly disregard health and safety requirements during the conference may be asked to leave the conference without a refund.

City Parks Alliance may update these requirements at any time at its sole discretion.

Code of Conduct

City Parks Alliance is dedicated to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all conference participants including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, CPA/Greater & Greener staff members, service providers, and all others involved. Conference participants are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct throughout the conference.

By registering and attending the Greater & Greener conference, participants agree to abide by and engage in specific health and safety protocols and beneficial conduct while attending the event.

City Parks Alliance has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. If you notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please notify the conference organizer as soon as possible. Unacceptable Behavior is defined as:

Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form

Verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, CPA staff member, service provider, or other event guest. Examples of verbal abuse include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to race, gender and/or gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, religion, and national origin; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces and in presentations; and threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, Greater & Greener staff member, service provider or other event guest

Disruption of presentations during sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events organized by CPA throughout the Conference. These disruptions include verbal remarks, protests, or other actions intended to stop or prevent Conference proceedings, or the distribution of printed material not approved by the conference organizer in advance. (All participants must comply with instructions given by the room host, moderator(s), and any CPA or Hotel staff.)

Presentations, postings, and messages should not contain promotional materials (outside of accepted exhibitors), special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitations for services. CPA reserves the right to remove such messages and to ban sources of those solicitations.

Partisan political material or speech in any form is strictly prohibited.

If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, CPA reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate including the immediate removal of participants from the event without warning or refund.

Conference Premises

The Conference is a unique experience taking place in a variety of locations in Austin, Texas, and neighboring municipalities. The Conference hub is at the Austin Marriott Downtown, 304 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701. Conference participants must adhere to all policies, procedures, and guidelines for the use of the hotel and other designated Conference facilities. Your conference badge must be worn and visible at all times to participate in any and all conference activities. Persons without proper credentials will not be permitted to access conference spaces both at the hotel or at offsite locations and activities. Badge sharing is not permitted. In cooperation with local public safety authorities, CPA and its sponsors reserve the right to deploy enhanced security measures at some or all conference venues and activities. This may include but is not limited to, bag and person checks or the use of magnetometers and x-ray machines.

Firearms

Although Texas law allows for the open carry of firearms, Greater & Greener, operating fully within the legal guidelines of the City of Austin and the State of Texas, prohibits firearms at all of its events. In addition, firearms are not permitted on the premises of the Austin Marriott Downtown, the host hotel for the conference.

Conference Accessibility

CPA is dedicated to providing access and reasonable accommodations that meet ADA guidelines for people of all abilities. CPA staff will assist participants of the conference with accessibility accommodations to help ensure a full experience for all. In order to plan effectively, CPA respectfully asks that individuals needing special accommodations provide our staff with advance notice and pertinent information on their registration form. You may also contact us with inquiries related to special accommodations by contacting the conference coordinator (coordinator@greatergreener.org) to discuss your individual needs. CPA will make every effort to accommodate the requests we receive on-site.

The Greater & Greener conference activities include several park tours and mobile workshops that take place away from the Conference hub, including on park trails, roadways, paths, and waterways with, at times, third-party providers that may not provide complete accommodations. Please contact us to confirm accommodations before registering for off-site events that include biking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, etc.

Guests

Guests of conference registrants may attend selected activities of the Conference (Opening and Closing Receptions and Weekend Tours) for additional fees. Guests are registered with the Conference attendee and guest fees are added to the Conference Registrant’s registration. Guests may also attend the Volunteer Service Day at no cost but are required to pre-register. Guests are not permitted to attend Conference-related sessions or mobile workshops unless registered as a paid participant (attendee) for the Conference. Guests must abide by the Terms and Conditions stated in this document.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you need to cancel your registration, you have two options:

1- Transfer your registration to someone else within your organization at no charge

You can transfer your registration to another person within your organization at no charge. Your chosen substitute will follow your pre-selected schedule, including Weekend Tours and Mobile Workshops.

To initiate a transfer of your registration, contact the Registration Coordinator at registration@greatergreener.org and provide the substitute’s name, title, email address, and mobile phone number.

2 – Cancel your registration with cancellation fees

If you are unable to find a replacement, the following cancellation fees apply to your Base Registration Fee (not ticketed add-ons):

The cancellation fees listed above are applied to your base registration fee only. If you selected additional ticketed items such as weekend tours, the following refunds and fees will be added to your total cancellation fee:

If your guest registered for Weekend Tours, the Weekend Tour cancellation policy noted above will apply. Guests are not allowed to register for Mobile Workshops.

How to cancel your registration

Online with confirmation number

Cancellations may be made online with your confirmation number prior to the close of online registration. Cancellations must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on May 31, 2026, in order to obtain a refund of paid registration fees as per the schedule above. No refunds will be issued if a request is made after May 31, 2026.

Via email

If you do not have your confirmation number, request your cancellation by email to registration@greatergreener.org. You must include your name, title, organization, and email address. You will receive an electronic notice of receipt.

Important: City Parks Alliance membership dues are non-refundable.

Last Minute Changes to Tour and Workshop Registrations

To make a last-minute change during the conference to a weekend tour that you previously registered for, the following policies apply:

To change from one Weekend Tour to another onsite, you will be refunded the original tour fee less a $35 change fee. You must pay the cost associated with the newly selected tour by credit card, regardless of how your initial registration was paid.

There are no refunds for “no shows” for Weekend Tours.

Payment Methods

Registration forms submitted without providing a method of payment will be considered incomplete, and such registrant will not be able to attend the Conference until payment has been made. CPA accepts checks, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express as forms of payment. Checks should be sent to City Parks Alliance, ATTN: Greater & Greener Registration, 1777 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

If paying by check, payment in full must be received 30 days after the registration date or by June 1, 2026, whichever comes first. On June 2, 2026, registrants must pay via electronic payment only. Registrations without full payment will be canceled. The conference coordinator will reach out to the registrant via email at least twice to follow up on the status of the payment prior to the cancellation of the registration.

Photographs and Video

By attending the Greater & Greener conference you grant CPA permission to photograph you, record your voice and/or videotape your likeness and image, and grant CPA the absolute right to publish, use, or assign any and all photographs, videotapes, sound recordings and/or other electronic or mechanical reproductions, now known or hereinafter invented, or any part thereof, that CPA has taken or made of you during the Conference (including live-streaming and/or related-activities). The conference photographer reserves the right to use images captured at the conference for self-promotion purposes only and is prohibited from selling those images.

Greater & Greener encourages the use of social media by attendees throughout the conference vis-à-vis personal channels or the conference mobile app. Attendees are encouraged to capture their Conference experiences in the permitted areas of the Conference venue and post their own social content from the Conference (text, photos, audio, video, streaming), provided it does not defame other Conference attendees or Exhibitors or infringe on copyrighted CPA and sponsor branding and content.

Smoking and Vaping

For the comfort and health of all participants, smoking and the use of e-cigarette products (vaping) are not permitted at the Conference. This includes all sessions, weekend tours, mobile workshops, and receptions. The Austin Marriott Downtown is a smoke-free environment. Please consult with the hotel concierge for designated smoking areas. Smoking/Vaping is not permitted in Austin parks or other public spaces. Participants should adhere to any signage preventing or authorizing smoking/vaping in certain locations.

Marijuana

Recreational or medical marijuana use is not legal in the state of Texas. Cannabis products are not permitted at Greater & Greener venues. Conference participants are responsible for their own well-being and neither CPA nor sponsors will be held accountable for any events or occurrences resulting from cannabis use, recklessness, or negligence on the part of any conference participant. For additional information, visit this link.

Children and Infants

Due to the nature of the Conference, children under the age of 18 are not permitted access to Conference-related programming. Children under the age of 18 and over the age of 5 will be permitted to attend the Opening reception if they are registered guests (payment of fees required) of a Conference registrant. No one under the age of 21 will be served alcohol at CPA events, and participants may be asked to produce identification to confirm their age. Parents traveling with small infants, including mothers who are breastfeeding, are ultimately responsible for making all necessary arrangements for the care and well-being of children and infants so that they are able to fully participate in the CPA conference programs. To obtain advance information on local support services, we recommend you contact the hotel’s front desk or concierge and inquire directly for assistance and information. Greater & Greener will provide a designated room for breast pumping for nursing mothers.

Conference Etiquette

As a courtesy to our speakers and in consideration of all participants, please refrain from the use of and silence all cell phones and mobile devices during presentations and please take any conversations that are unrelated to the program outside of the session rooms.

Additionally, the WiFi bandwidth is limited in conference sessions. You are encouraged to participate in activities (e.g., use of the conference app or checking email) on your smart device but refrain from activities that utilize large data packets (e.g., video streaming, application downloads, etc.). To ensure that all participants have equal access to WiFi in the Conference venues, data demand will be monitored and those using excessive data for non-approved usage will be temporarily disconnected from the network.

In order to accommodate the environmental sensitivities of some of your peers, if at all possible, please do not wear scented products while attending the conference, especially in the session rooms. Please also consider that moderation and restraint in the use of perfume, cologne, or scented products in sessions and events greatly enhance the ability of individuals who suffer from chemical sensitivities, such as MCS, to fully participate in this valuable educational forum.

We ask that all participants maintain a respectful, considerate, and courteous attitude toward everyone they engage with at the conference; discrimination, abuse, and harassment in any form will not be tolerated. Secure your belongings and be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. If there is a situation that looks concerning or makes you feel uncomfortable, please advise conference organizers. You are responsible for your own well-being.

Badge Scanning

Conference organizers use badge scanning to determine session attendance, deliver session surveys, manage session capacity, record attendance for those seeking professional credits, and enforce session restrictions. Attendance data from session scanning will not be shared with exhibitors. Greater & Greener also allows Exhibitors to do their own badge scanning at the Conference. CPA is not responsible for Exhibitor scanning. When an Exhibitor scans your badge, permission to do so must be requested and a copy of their privacy policy should be available to you. In permitting the badge scan, you are consenting to allow that Exhibitor to use your contact information to communicate with you about their services and special offers in accordance with the Exhibitor’s Privacy Policy.

Note: Please be aware that exhibitor scanning of attendee badges is optional and attendees may, without penalty, refuse to have their badges scanned at booths.