2024 Conference

2024 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference Banner

The host hotel for the 2024 Conference is the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel located at 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Discover historic charm and modern comforts at this Grand Rapids hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Set along the Grand River, the hotel has skywalk access to Van Andel Arena and downtown hot spots, and offers nine on-site restaurants and bars, a pool, fitness center and spa.

Downtown Grand Rapids

Online registration for the conference is now open.

A block of rooms for the group is available at the prevailing federal per diem rate of $117.00 plus 9% occupancy tax and 6% sales tax. The reduced rate will be available until March 4, 2024 or until the block is full, whichever comes first. To make reservations, please call 800-253-3590. You can also reserve a room online.

More hotel information

Overflow Accommodations

As of January 9, the Amway Grand Hotel is sold out on most nights. We are working to establish an overflow block but strongly recommend that you secure a room at another nearby hotel in the meantime as a backup. Should you want to secure a room immediately, the following hotels are within a few blocks of the Amway Grand:

Interested in holding a meeting or event at the North American?

You can now submit your session details and request event space. NOTE: All AFWA Committee Meetings will be coordinated through Cindy Delaney, Delaney Event Management.

You can view the preliminary conference schedule now.

The Plenary and Special Sessions for the 2024 conference have been announced. View descriptions for each session.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in becoming a Conference Partner? Consider sponsoring the conference or a specific event.

Learn more and register now

Gain exposure in the conservation community

The North American conference is a prime opportunity to make contact with North America's wildlife management professionals. Gain exposure by reserving table space in our exhibition gallery.

Learn more and register now

About the Conference

For more than 80 years, WMI has administered the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference. The North American Conference sessions, workshops and more than 150 separate meetings and functions, serve as the annual forum to set conservation policy in North America.

Conference attendees include the administrators of federal, state and provincial wildlife and other natural resource agencies, college and university program leaders, heads of leading private conservation organizations, and other managers, scientists, researchers, officials and students of natural resources. The conference is a regular gathering of professionals to learn and exchange ideas, through a formal program, related meetings and other scheduled business, social and educational events.

The conference format is designed so that attendees leave with

  • A better understanding of the origins, complexities and likely solutions to current conservation issues, and
  • A better sense of the need for and the methods to achieve coordinated, cooperative management of the continent's wildlife.

The "North American" is outlined annually by a Conference Program Committee, chaired by WMI. As many as 20 different agencies and private organizations have participated in helping set the agenda of the North American. In addition, agencies and organizations schedule more than 150 meetings and functions to overlap and occur in conjunction with each conference.