Make the Case to Attend Our 53rd Annual CHPRMS Conference: Connected by Purpose
November 11-13, 2026 | Francis Marion Hotel | Charleston, SC
WHY ATTEND
Your budget is limited. Your reasons should be compelling.
We know how it goes: conference season arrives, budgets are tight, and every line-item needs a rationale. We've put together this page to help you make a strong, specific case for attending the 53rd Annual CHPRMS Conference — not just for your own growth, but for your team and the communities your organization serves.
The CHPRMS Conference is built differently. It's three days of peer-to-peer learning, candid table-side conversations, and practical sessions led by people who are doing this work right now — not just talking about it. Attendees are participants, not spectators. That's the CHPRMS difference.
Attending can help your organization address challenges that matter right now:
• How are healthcare organizations using AI, digital tools, and emerging technologies in practical, responsible ways?
• What recruitment, retention, and employee engagement strategies are making a measurable difference?
• What metrics and reporting frameworks are healthcare organizations using to demonstrate marketing, communications, and digital ROI to leadership?
• What approaches are helping healthcare organizations strengthen trust, reputation, and community connection?
• Which ideas can we take home and implement immediately to improve our work?
Most importantly, you’ll gain access to a network of healthcare communications and marketing professionals who are willing to share what they’ve learned, offer honest advice, and help one another succeed long after the conference ends.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN
Learning, connection, and tools you'll actually use.
CHPRMS has always stood for something specific: the kind of honest, collegial exchange that only happens when people trust one another. That spirit shapes every element of our conference programming.
• Peer Learning: Engage with healthcare communications and marketing professionals from across the Carolinas and beyond. Hear what's actually working — and what isn't — in real organizations like yours.
• Member-Built Programming: Sessions are shaped by CHPRMS members, for CHPRMS members. Expect practical conversations on digital strategy, patient and community engagement, brand leadership, crisis communications, team development, and more.
• Vendor and Partner Connections: Meet solution providers and collaborators who understand the unique context of healthcare communications. Find partners who can support your digital, creative, and strategic goals.
• Round-Table Discussions: Many sessions are structured as round-table and small-group discussions, where attendees work through shared challenges together rather than just listening to a presentation. These guided conversations are often where the most candid, practical advice comes out.
TEAM AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT
The return on investment doesn't end when you drive home.
One of the most powerful things you can do after attending CHPRMS is bring the learning back. The conference's value multiplies when it's shared.
• Team Building: Attending alongside colleagues fosters shared language, strengthens collaboration, and accelerates the adoption of new ideas when you return to work.
• Knowledge Sharing: Host a debrief or team presentation after the conference. Build an action list that traces specific ideas back to their CHPRMS source — that documentation makes the ROI visible.
• Sustained Impact: Reference conference insights in planning meetings, staff conversations, and strategy sessions throughout the year. The connections you make in Charleston will continue to pay dividends.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE VALUE
When seeking approval, be specific.
The most effective requests for approval tie attendance directly to your team's current priorities. Here's how to frame it:
• Highlight Relevant Sessions: Once programming is announced, identify sessions that directly support your team's initiatives. Briefly explain how you'll apply what you learn when you're back in the office.
• Register Early: Early registration saves money and helps secure hotel accommodations at the Francis Marion. Check the conference registration page for current deadlines and rates.
• Calculate the Full Picture: Account for registration, hotel, parking, and transportation when building your request — a clear cost summary makes approval easier. For planning purposes, the 2026 rates are:
○ Early-bird registration: $600 (member) or $700 (non-member)
○ Hotel: Francis Marion Hotel conference rate of $229 per night, plus approximately $34.06 per night in taxes and fees
○ Parking: Valet parking is available for approximately $40 per night
○ Transportation: Airfare, mileage, rideshare, or other ground transportation expenses
Many conference meals are included in the registration fee, including breakfast and lunch on Wednesday and Thursday, breakfast on Friday, and the Wallie Awards Dinner on Thursday evening. Attendees are typically responsible only for dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and lunch on Friday after the conference concludes.
Example: A member attending the full conference and staying three nights at the conference hotel should budget approximately $1,510 for registration, lodging, taxes, and valet parking — before transportation and additional meals.
• Plan to Share What You Learn: Offer to bring back a debrief report, team presentation, or action plan. Your supervisor is more likely to approve attendance when they see it benefits the whole team, not just the individual.
TEMPLATE LETTER
Ready to send. Just fill in the blanks.
Use the letter below as a starting point when requesting approval to attend. Customize the highlighted fields to reflect your specific role, team priorities, and relevant sessions once programming is announced. (Click the template below to download a word document.)
