ICMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE LONG BEACH, CA

Your next great idea is on the exhibit floor

The exhibit hall isn’t a break from the conference – it’s one of the most valuable parts of it. Here’s why the most experienced local government leaders make it a priority every year.

  • Real demos, real conversations

  • Free with registration
  • Solutions, not sales pitches

You’re already solving hard problems. The exhibit hall helps you solve them better.

Between sessions, the exhibit hall puts you face-to-face with the companies building the tools, platforms, and services that local governments are using right now. No RFP required — just honest conversations about what’s working, what’s new, and what might work for your community.

1

Discover things you didn’t know you needed

Live demos let you pressure-test solutions on the spot. Ask hard questions, walk through your specific use case, and get a real feel for the product — not just a slide deck. It’s due diligence without the formal procurement process.

2

Discover things you didn’t know you needed

Some of the best investments local governments make start with a casual booth conversation. You came in looking for one thing and left with a solution to a problem you’d written off as “just part of the job.”

3

Compare vendors side by side — in person

In one afternoon, you can speak with multiple providers in the same category, compare approaches, and get a market overview that would take weeks of research back home. No coordinating calendars, no back-to-back Zooms.

4

Get honest peer intelligence

Run into a fellow manager at a booth? That’s a goldmine. Some of the richest conversations happen when two attendees compare notes on the same vendor — what worked, what didn’t, what they wish they’d known.

5

Build relationships, not just contracts

The best vendor relationships start with a handshake. Meeting the people behind the product — before you ever sign anything — changes the nature of the partnership. You’re not a ticket number; you’re a contact they remember.

A tip from seasoned conference-goers

Come with your current challenges top of mind. The more specific you are with exhibitors — “we’re a city of 40,000 struggling with permitting turnaround times” — the more useful the conversation becomes. Vague questions get vague answers.

Solutions across every area of local government management.

ICMA exhibitors span the full spectrum of local government operations — from resident-facing services to back-office infrastructure.

GovTech & digital services
Public safety & emergency management
Community development & planning
Finance, HR & operations
Parks, recreation & sustainability
Workforce development & training
Infrastructure & public works
Resident engagement & comms

“I always set aside at least two hours for the exhibit hall. Last year I found a constituent engagement platform I hadn’t heard of — we implemented it six months later. That’s the value.”

— City Manager, returning ICMA conference attendee

We are Cloudi, the leading cloud computing company

Plan ahead

Browse the exhibitor list before you arrive and flag the ones most relevant to your community’s current priorities.

Use dedicated hours

Exhibit-only hours mean fewer distractions and more time with exhibitors who matter to you. Don’t skip them.

Take notes, follow up

Jot one thing you want to follow up on from each booth. The best ROI happens after the conference ends.

The exhibit hall experience goes further than you think.

Woven throughout the exhibit hall floor, you’ll find spaces designed to recharge, inspire, and — yes — bring you serious joy. Don’t miss these while you’re there.

INNOVATION THEATER

Innovation Theater

Short, punchy presentations from leading GovTech innovators — no hour-long commitments required. Catch a session between booth visits to surface ideas you can bring straight back to your community. Sessions run throughout exhibit hall hours; check the conference app for the schedule.

A person smiling holding a puppy at the 2025 positivity park.

Pawsitivity Park

Short, punchy presentations from leading GovTech innovators — no hour-long commitments required. Catch a session between booth visits to surface ideas you can bring straight back to your community. Sessions run throughout exhibit hall hours; check the conference app for the schedule.

People getting massages at the 2025 relaxation lounge.

Relaxation Lounge 

Conference schedules are full. Your shoulders know it. Stop by the Relaxation Lounge for complimentary chair massages, a quiet place to decompress, and a moment to breathe before the next session. Your future self — the one who actually retained everything from the afternoon keynote — will thank you.

Sponsored by Cigna

The exhibit hall is included with your registration. Make the most of your conference experience and spend time learning how to enhance your community.

For Exhibitors

The ICMA Annual Conference will offer your organization the perfect opportunity to meet the key decision makers in the local government market and share your newest ideas and solutions.

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For Sponsors

Being a sponsor at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference positions your company as a leading supplier for local governments, a supporter of the community and a partner for the future.

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