A news announcement made yesterday may impact the location of AAO’s 2027 Annual Session, currently planned for Honolulu. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported yesterday that the Hawaii Convention Center will be closed due to construction from January 2026 through November 2027.
A little over six months ago, the AAO signed contracts with this venue to bring the 2027 Annual Session to Honolulu. The decision to move the AAO’s 2027 Annual Session from San Francisco to Honolulu would not have been possible without the incentives offered by the Hawaii Convention Center and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. It is very disappointing to realize that while Hawaii tourism officials were encouraging (even incentivizing) the AAO to move our conference to Honolulu, those same stakeholders may have been aware of the growing scope of the deferred maintenance necessary at the Convention Center.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that tourism officials in Hawaii canceled their contracted obligations to host the AAO’s Annual Session. You may recall that the 2022 Annual Session was scheduled to be held in Honolulu. Less than a year before our show was set to open, the AAO was informed that the Hawaii Convention Center would not be available to us because government offices were being housed there at the time, an arrangement that was extended through the following year. The AAO’s response in 2021 was to quickly find another host destination. And, while 2022 Annual Session attendees enjoyed convening in Miami, Florida, our members continued to express their desire to attend an Annual Session in Honolulu. These member sentiments are what led to the conversations and ultimate relocation of the 2027 program.
It is not clear how the AAO may be required to adapt its future meeting plans in light of this announcement. The impact of this decision on the AAO’s Annual Session cannot be understated, and we are considering all possible options. The economic impact of the AAO’s Annual Session exceeds $25 million to any host destination. The decision to withdraw our contribution to the Hawaiian economy could have significant effects on the people who count on tourism for their livelihood. This is not a decision that we take lightly. The AAO may be able to redesign the Annual Session in such a way as to convene without using the Convention Center, but not without the flexibility and support of local and state authorities, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and hotel management companies. While we are hopeful this will occur, we will consider all potential options in order to continue to deliver a world-class conference to our members.
In just a few weeks the AAO will convene The World’s Greatest Celebration of Orthodontics in Philadelphia. The 2025 program will be unlike any other Annual Session our members have experienced to date. Every year the AAO raises the bar on providing the education, sense of community and shared experiences our members have come to expect. Despite these complications, rest assured that 2027 will be no different – regardless of the location.
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
