ECHO 24 | June 4-6, 2024

Hosted By:

What is Echo?

ECHO is a small, annual gathering hosted by GLMV Zoos, the Zoo Division of GLMV Architecture. Previous hosts have included Sedgwick County Zoo (twice!), The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Akron Zoo, North Carolina Zoo, and Birmingham Zoo. Its 7th year will be held at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, SC.

ECHO exists because Zoos and Aquariums have unparalleled potential to captivate, fascinate, and empower future conservationists. To do so in an ever-complicated world, leaders must constantly reach for new and innovative ways to effectively deliver on their organization’s missions. Unlike many other industry conferences, ECHO provides space to explore challenges and opportunities through the lens of non-zoological experts.

Limited to 30 zoo & aquarium leaders, conversations are deep & connections meaningful. By crafting collisions between provocative ideas and courageous, creative people combined with candid dialogue, ECHO advances a vision for a revolutionary future of Zoos and Aquariums.

What Attendees Are Saying

If your organization’s travel and professional development budget is tight, consider this before any other meeting or conference.

If you are looking for people who care about the world, want to make a difference, are passionate about what they do and why they do it, but are willing to challenge yourself to consider diverse perspectives & look for different ways of finding solutions, ECHO is definitely for you.

ECHO is an intimate gathering of great leaders with curious minds who show up to engage in deep conversations that don’t happen anywhere else.

This conference was by far my favorite conference that I have ever attended. Truly thought provoking.

ECHO helps to direct thinking outside of the zoo field. Being in the zoo profession for so many years, sometimes we all think alike!

This is the best professional development opportunity out there for our industry.

Excellent gathering of zoo and aquarium people willing to look outside the normal thought process. Exposure to a lot of non-traditional ideas from presenters. Not a huge time commitment, just right amount of time. GLMV sees to all arrangements from transportation to rooms and meals. Very easy to attend.

ECHO is a place where paradigms can shift for the betterment of zoos, their standards, practices, and operations.

group of zoo leaders at echo 2023

Schedule

Schedule at a Glance

Tuesday, June 4

	Attendees Travel to Columbia, SC
5:30pm	Welcome Reception & Dinner

Wednesday, June 5

8:00am	Breakfast at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden Sessions & Zoo Experiences Lunch Sessions & Zoo Experiences Continue
Time TBD	Siesta at Hotel
6:00 pm	Dinner & Fun in Columbia

Thursday, June 6

8:00am	Breakfast at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden Sessions & Zoo Experiences Lunch Sessions & Zoo Experiences Continue
Time TBD	Attendee Choice: Remain at Zoo or Siesta at Hotel
Time TBD	Reception & Dinner at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Registration

attendees at Echo 23 sharing ideas and laughing

ECHO24 is an All-Inclusive Experience

Your $1,495 Registration Fee Includes:

Programming: 2 days and 3 nights of workshops, presentations, and networking
Travel: Roundtrip airfare* or mileage/car rental reimbursement
Transportation: Event-related ground transportation
Lodging: Hotel room for 3 nights
Dining: Event-related food & beverage

Attendance at ECHO is by invitation only and is limited to two attendees per organization. Our curated guest list includes executive-level leaders from zoos and aquariums. If you are not yet on our guest list and would like to be considered, please email echo@glmv.com. ECHO is a high-energy, deep-thinking, and intimate gathering, and as such, seats are limited. A small number of scholarships are available for leaders who may not otherwise be able to attend.

*Applies to continental flights.

Travel information

Travel to ECHO24 is easy! Let us help with arrangements. Registration includes:

Travel: Roundtrip airfare* or mileage/car rental reimbursement.
Event-related ground transportation
Hotel room for 3 nights

*Applies to continental flights.

ECHO24 Conference Hotel

Cambria Hotel Columbia Downtown The Vista

1000 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201

View Hotel

Flying to ECHO24

We have partnered with Ken Brodbeck of Prairie Travel to coordinate air travel. Upon registration, Ken will contact attendees to make arrangements.

Travelers will fly in and out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Arriving flights Tuesday, June 4 will be scheduled for the morning & arrive before 4:00 pm. Departing flights will be scheduled for Friday, June 7.
Airline tickets will be issued in economy class on the most convenient and cost-effective routes.
Any changes or cancellations after tickets have been issued will be subject to penalties, which will be the sole responsibility of the traveler.
Baggage fees, seat upgrades, and other extras will be the responsibility of travelers, but can be arranged with Mr. Brodbeck.
GLMV will provide transportation to and from the airport.

Driving to ECHO24

Those intending to drive to ECHO24 are responsible for securing their own transportation and should arrive at the conference hotel by 4:00 pm Tuesday, June 4. We will reimburse the roundtrip cost of a rental car, fuel, and parking. If the roundtrip mileage is under 300 miles, attendees may drive their personal vehicles and be reimbursed at the current IRS mileage rate (2024: $0.655/mile). Drivers must submit receipts to receive reimbursement.

Transforming the Human Dimensions of Zoos & Aquariums

Hosted By:

What is Echo?

What Attendees Are Saying

Schedule

Schedule at a Glance

Tuesday, June 4

Wednesday, June 5

Thursday, June 6

Registration

ECHO24 is an All-Inclusive Experience

Travel information

Travel to ECHO24 is easy! Let us help with arrangements. Registration includes:

ECHO24 Conference Hotel

Flying to ECHO24

Driving to ECHO24

Sponsors

Presenting

Collaborator

Friends

Photos from ECHO23

Recaps from Past ECHO Events

Echo 23 Recap

Echo 2022 Recap

Echo 2019 Recap

Echo 2018 Recap