2024 Annual Conference
July 11 - 14 • Chattanooga, Tennessee
When is the 2024 Conference?
The conference begins the evening of Thursday, July 11 and ends at the closing banquet on Saturday, July 13.
Plan to checkout and depart on Sunday, July 14.
Where is the 2024 Conference?
The 2024 Conference will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown. Attendees make their room reservations directly with the hotel. To help with costs, TTSGI has contracted a block of sleeping rooms for this event at a discounted room rate of $159 per night. Room reservations are made directly with the hotel. Please make your reservations early, as we only hold a limited number of rooms in the block.
What is there to do in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
While the Conference typically involves a full schedule on Friday and Saturday, here are some local recommendations if you plan to arrive before the conference begins or if you plan to extend your stay after the conference ends.
Are there any safety protocols for the 2024 Conference?
Please review our In-Person Gathering Policy.
Who may attend the Conference?
Current members of TTSGI and their guests (family, friends) are welcome to attend. A current member is one who has joined or renewed membership ($50.00 annually) within the last 12 months.
What is the schedule for the 2024 Conference?
Click here to view the 2024 Conference Schedule.
Who is the Keynote Speaker for the 2024 Conference?
Brent A. Birkhoff, MS, FT©, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
International Grief Coach
Brent Birkhoff is an accomplished professional spending 40 years in managerial and executive positions before turning his attention to hospice. He received his Master of Science from Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in Thanatology, the study of death, dying, grief, and bereavement, is a Fellow in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and is completely passionate about providing individuals the best care possible.
Brent spent five years volunteering with a non-profit hospice before working full-time as a Bereavement Coordinator. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer of Emergency Medicine Specialists, an independent group of emergency room physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. In this role, he sits on the Board and the Executive Strategy Committee.
Brent is the Treasurer of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, where he sits on the Board and the Executive Committee. He offers his specialized grief support groups, Surviving the Tide and Riding the Wave, both in person and on Zoom throughout the year. He continues to work with grief clients throughout the country and locally every day of the week.
Brent is excited to participate in his second Grief Cruise in February 2025.
In his spare time, Brent is a voracious reader, author of 4 books with an additional 2 planned to release in 2024, loves to quilt, peyote stitch, and teach. Brent and his wife Tina celebrated their 33rd anniversary in 2024. They have two daughters and two grandchildren, who keep them very busy.
What airport do I fly into?
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport is ~15 miles east of the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown and downtown Chattanooga. The airport code is: CHA
Are there any nearby airports?
Other nearby airports include:
- Knoxville (TYS) (91.5 miles away)
- Nashville (BNA) (107.7 miles away)
- Atlanta (ATL) (109.6 miles away)
How do I get back and forth from the airport to the hotel?
The hotel is located 9 miles from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA). The hotel does not offer complimentary ground transportation. To find ground transportation options, please visit Getting To and From the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.
What parking options are available at the hotel?
The Chattanooga Marriott Downtown offers TTSGI members a discounted self-park option of $15 per night during the conference.
What will the weather be like in Chattanooga?
In July the average high is 88° and the average low is 73°. For more info visit the link below.
What should I wear to the Conference?
The Conference is a casual event. Most attendees wear comfortable clothes such as pants, t-shirts, blouses, jeans, and shorts. The hotel meeting rooms will be air conditioned, so be prepared in case the hotel is cooler than you prefer. The Saturday night closing banquet is a bit dressier event. Men may wear a sport coat and ladies often wear dresses or a nicer pant outfit.
What should I bring to the Conference?
Attendees often bring photographs of their twins to show other twins they meet. Also, please consider bringing something to donate for the auction or raffle, which help support the organization.
I am a first-time attendee, what should I expect and what is expected of me?
The first two items on the schedule are Check-in and the First Time Attendees' Welcome Reception. At check-in, each first-time attendee will receive a name tag and a packet of information. Once checked-in, the attendee can go to the welcome reception. This event is designed to ease first-time attendees into the conference weekend. At this reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet others attending for the first time. They will also meet Board Members and Regional Coordinators. After the 30-minute reception, first-time attendees will be invited to join the other conference attendees at a dessert reception. We recommend having dinner prior to check-in.
During the conference, there will be keynote speaker sessions, breakout sessions, memorial events, and workshops. Our goal is to offer ample time for sharing; however, no one is required to speak. Between sessions, there will be scheduled free time for attendees to relax, reflect, and casually meet others. Finally, we will have a closing banquet on Saturday evening, followed by our annual live charity auction. Plan to depart on Sunday.
What meals are included?
Thursday – No dinner provided; Light dessert reception provided
Friday
Friday Breakfast – Hot breakfast is provided at the hotel and is included in your room rate
Friday Lunch – Not provided
Friday Dinner – Not provided
Saturday
Saturday Breakfast – Hot breakfast is provided at the hotel and is included in your room rate
Saturday Lunch – Not provided
Saturday Dinner – Banquet meal provided
Sunday
Sunday – Hot breakfast is provided at the hotel and is included in your room rate
Does the hotel have a fitness center?
Yes, the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown has a complimentary fitness center with 24 hour access with a room key. The hotel also has a heated outdoor pool open Mon-Sun: 9:00 AM-10:00 PM.
What is the cost to attend the 2024 Conference?
- Early Registration (Jan 12 - Feb 29, 2024): $265
- Regular Registration (Mar 1 - Jun 8, 2024): $290
- At-Door Registration (Jul 11, 2024): $365
Note: There are no discounts for partial attendance. All twinless twin members paying the registration fee can attend as much or as little of the conference as they are able. TTSGI does NOT offer day rates.
*All attendees must register individually. Conference registration does not include hotel reservations.
What should I do if I have to cancel at the last minute?
Unfortunately, we are unable to refund any registration fees 30 days prior to the Conference. The Conference hotel requires our final attendee count one month prior to the Conference, and they calculate our cost based on that number. The Conference hotel is unable to make cost adjustments for last-minute cancellations. For hotel cancellations, please contact the hotel directly regarding their cancellation policy.
What if I want to attend but am unable to afford the Conference?
Please contact our Executive Director, Michelle Getchell, at contact@twinlesstwins.org to find out about possible assistance.
Can I transfer my registration for the Conference to another member or family member?
No, we do not allow transfers of registrations.
See You in Chattanooga!
The Conference Committee, Board of Directors, Regional Coordinators, and all who make our Annual Conference possible are looking forward to a great Conference full of companionship, making connections, sharing stories, worthwhile breakout groups, and most importantly seeing you all there!