2022 Innovation Academy: Official housing provider

Important note

Maritz Global Events (formerly Experient, Inc.) is the ONLY official registration and housing provider for AAD.

Maritz Global Events is the official housing provider for 2022 Innovation Academy in Vancouver, BC. The AAD has worked diligently with the hotels in Vancouver, BC to establish room blocks for attendees and exhibitors. Improper solicitation of hotel reservations from any company or housing provider other than Maritz is not approved by AAD. Reservations made by unaffiliated organizations may appear to be for lower rates, however they may be illegitimate, have unreasonable cancellation or change penalties, or be completely non-refundable. Please be aware of and report any unauthorized solicitation to AAD.

For your own protection, please do not make reservations through any unknown housing or travel company. If you receive a phone call or email from any company that is not our official housing provider, Maritz, please contact the Academy immediately at askme@aad.org.

There are many reported situations of false or deceptive activities by some of the third-party room block marketers. Here are some things to be aware of:

• Many of these agencies cannot guarantee a reservation because they do not have contracts for room blocks with the AAD hotels. They will contact a housing wholesaler to see if anything is available that can be resold to you.

• Even legitimate wholesalers cannot knowingly book convention attendees in the convention room block. Only an AAD housing representative can book within the AAD block of rooms. If the hotel determines a convention attendee has been solicited or contacted by a wholesaler, the room rate may be increased to match or exceed the group rate, or the room reservation may be canceled. A rate quote from a room broker is not a guaranteed rate. AAD rates are guaranteed.

• Rather than a one-night deposit, an unauthorized company may require payment of the full cost for the entire stay for each room booked at the time of booking.

• Reservation confirmations and numbers are often not available from these companies until less than a week before the arrival date. Even then, this may not guarantee that a room will be available when you arrive.

• Generally, these companies cannot secure a large block of rooms, but rather only one or two at a time. Exhibitors should be particularly wary, since they often need to book a group of rooms for their staff who will be exhibiting during the convention.

• AAD is unable to assist attendees who have reserved rooms outside the block if problems result from booking through an unauthorized company. AAD contracts with the official hotel blocks and includes clauses to protect AAD attendees should the hotel oversell the rooms or should any issues arise with reservations made within the block.

Some of these unauthorized companies may claim to be a partner of AAD or even outright falsely claim to be AAD's housing company. However, a legitimate company would not call or contact you. If you are contacted by a company that is not the AAD official housing provider, Maritz Global Events, or if you are ever unsure of whether a company is legitimate, please immediately email AAD at askme@aad.org.