FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We hope the following frequently asked questions will help you prepare for the conference. If you have a question not addressed here, please ask or visit the conference desk on the 2nd floor of the Marriott.
Q: What is the address of the conference and what events are scheduled at each hotel?
A: The conference takes place at the Cavalier Resort, which is comprised of three separate hotels on property.
- Marriott Oceanfront: 4201 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
- Embassy Suites: 4101 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach VA 23451
- Historic Cavalier Hotel: 4200 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach VA 23451
Conference registration and keynote sessions will be at the Marriott Oceanfront on the 2nd floor.
Breakout sessions will take place at both the Marriott and Embassy Suites – see the agenda for hotel and room location. The walk between the two hotels is 2 minutes, door to door.
There are no conference-planned activities at the Cavalier, however some of our partners may have invitation-only events at the venue.
Q: I am staying at one of the resort hotels. What do I need to know about my stay?
A: Our contracts with the hotels specify no resort fees will be charged to guests in our room blocks. Please review your hotel bill and alert the hotel as needed. The resort hotel places incidental holds per day on each guest's bill. They recommend attendees come prepared to use a credit card over a debit card, so their cash won’t be on hold until the end of the conference. Marriott and Cavalier charge $100/day and Embassy Suites charges $150/day Parking rates vary by hotel.
Q: Will shuttle service be provided for offsite or commuter attendees? **UPDATED**
A: Please note that the resort provides parking for registered overnight hotel guests only.
NEW! The Cavalier Resort will be offering a complimentary shuttle service through Orange Peel. The shuttle will run from the 34th street parking garage to the cul-de-sac at the Embassy Suites. The shuttle will operate on a continuous loop during hours listed below, therefore they cannot provide exact pick-up and drop-off times. They will have a sign at the entrance/exit to the garage showing guests where to wait for the shuttle.
Sunday: 10am-8pm
Monday: 6:30am-6pm
Tuesday: 6:30am-6pm
Wednesday: 6:30am-2pm
There is also available street parking and lots throughout the resort area; pay attention to road signs if you choose to park on the street. The Virginia Beach Tourism site provides additional information about parking and transportation options in the resort area.
Q: Where is conference registration/check-in and when is it open?
A: Our conference registration desk is located on the 2nd floor of the Marriott. Our team will have volunteers at the desk during the following times: Sunday 2:00 -7:00 p.m., Monday and Tuesday 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday 7:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
If you are staying at the resort, we encourage you to check in on Sunday afternoon to avoid the Monday rush. Claim your name badge and other items you’ll need to get started Monday morning.
Q: What meals are provided with my conference registration?
A: Breakfast: Conference breakfast is provided Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the Embassy Suites and the Marriott. Attendees staying at the Embassy Suites also receive access to the hotel’s complimentary breakfast.
Lunch: Conference lunch is served Monday and Tuesday only at the Marriott.
Snacks and Beverages: Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks and drinks are provided Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. Snack breaks will be available only at the Marriott.
Q: Are water stations available to refill my water bottle?
A: Yes we encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle to help us reduce single-use plastics at the conference. Water stations are located throughout the venue.
Q: Do I need meal tickets to get my meals each day?
A: Your conference name badge is your meal ticket. Volunteers will check for your badge as you enter for meal pickup. Please ensure you always wear your conference name badge visibly, so it is easy for us to identify you.
Q: There is limited seating for eating my conference meals. What are my options?
A: Our meals are designed to be “grab and go,” allowing you to enjoy the resort during your meal breaks or bring your lunch with you to a session of your choice. In addition to the rooms set up with tables inside, many attendees choose to enjoy their meals on the expansive oceanfront veranda at the Marriott or poolside/beach side at the Embassy Suites. Our attendees have access to the entire resort while at the conference.
Q: The conference hotels are sold out. What are my other options for hotels?
A: We have contracted with the Holiday Inn & Suites located at 3900 Atlantic Avenue as our overflow hotel for the conference. Our room block is only available through March 27, 2026. In addition, the Virginia Beach Oceanfront offers many hotel options within walking distance or a short ride.
Q: What entertainment and restaurants are available in the area?
A: The Virginia Beach Oceanfront has many restaurants and entertainment options within walking or Uber/Lyft distance. The Virginia Beach Tourism page has information about restaurants and entertainment in the resort area.
The Cavalier Resort offers activities as well - some may require a fee and some require advance signup. View the resort activities for the week 4/8-4/14 here.
Q: How do I sign up to volunteer at the conference?
A: We have numerous opportunities to volunteer at the conference; you must be registered to attend the conference if you wish to volunteer. Opportunities include assisting with the registration desk, introducing speakers, and assisting with breakfast/lunch. Attendees can sign up here to volunteer.
Q: What is the dress code for the conference?
A: Conference attire is business casual, nautical/resort. We recommend that you dress in layers as session rooms may vary in temperature. Wear your conference T-shirt on Wednesday. Bring an umbrella (just in case) and a jacket or sweater as some rooms can be cool and bring a water bottle to refill and stay hydrated.
Q: Will presentation slides be shared?
A: If speakers have shared their slides or other materials, you can access them from the website and the App.
Want to view files shared by speakers from the App? Go to the schedule, open the session, scroll down, and look for a link(s) just above the speaker's name and photo. Alternatively, you can go to Speakers, open the Speaker information, scroll down and click on the session name, and then scroll down to the link.
Want to download or print files shared by speakers from the website? Go to the schedule on the website, scroll down to the session, and click on More Info.
Q: How many recertification credits will I receive for attending the conference? Are there HRCI Business and Ethics credits included? How will I receive the certification codes?
A: The full conference has been approved for 17 SHRM PDCs and HRCI credits. All sessions have been pre-certified individually as well. We have 16 sessions approved for HRCI Business credit and 2 of those sessions will earn Ethics credit.
Q: When will I receive the recertification credit information? How are the sessions I attend tracked?
A: All activity numbers will be sent to attendees that have checked in at the conference. No-shows or cancelled attendees will not receive the information. The information is sent shortly after the conference ends.
It is the responsibility of each attendee to track which sessions you attend.
Q: Is there a conference app? How do I use it?
A: Yes! Download the Attendee Mobile app in your app store or use this link on your phone https://mobile-mobile.swoogo.com/app/km5rx9.
Search for our event SHRMVirginiaDC 2026 Conference.
When you find our event, enter this password to access the app: SHRMVADC26
To build your own agenda within the app, you need to LOGIN to the app using your email and password from your conference registration. If you don’t know your password, click reset password. If you need to change your email associated with your registration, contact us at events@hrvirginia.org or see us at the Conference desk.
Q: Are lactation or other accessibility accommodations available during the conference?
A: Yes. A private room will be available throughout the conference for attendees who may need a lactation space or other personal accommodations. If you anticipate needing access to this room or require ADA or accessibility accommodation during the event, please let our team know at check-in and we will be happy to assist you.
Please note that the room does not include a refrigerator. If you need to store any items, we recommend bringing a cooler or insulated storage bag.
Q: Will there be an exhibitor hall? What are the exhibitor hours?
A: Yes! Our Marketplace Grand Opening is Sunday evening from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a welcome reception, and it will also be open Monday 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Be sure to come to the Seaside Ballroom by 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday to see if you won a prize from our partner drawings!
Q: Will there be a passport program this year?
A: Yes! Visit all 51 Partner booths between Monday and Tuesday and have your passport initialed at each booth. Attendees that visit all 51 booths and turn in their completed cards at the registration desk will be automatically entered into the drawing for a Free Registration to the 2027 Conference in Virginia Beach.
Turn in completed cards at the registration desk by 5:30 PM Tuesday. The winner will be announced at the Wednesday closing session – you must be present to win!
Q: Is there a happy hour during the conference?
A: Yes! Our Marketplace Grand Opening on Sunday evening from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. serves as the conference’s official happy hour. Attendees will receive a complimentary drink ticket and light snacks with their conference name badge while enjoying time to connect with fellow attendees and our valued partners in the Marketplace.
In addition, several of our conference partners will be hosting invite-only happy hours and networking gatherings throughout the conference, so we encourage you to spend time connecting and mingling with partners in the Marketplace to learn about these opportunities.
While there are no conference-hosted evening events on Monday or Tuesday, the resort hotels offer a variety of happy hours and experiences available for a fee in their onsite venues, including the onsite distillery at the Historic Cavalier, the Beach Club at the Embassy Suites, and Orion’s Roof rooftop lounge at the Marriott. Be sure to check the resort websites for additional details.
Q: What is the conference wi-fi and password for meeting rooms?
A: Thank you to our Wi-Fi Parter, Old Dominion University Strome College of Business.
Marriott Meeting Space Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi Name: ODUStromeGrad
Password: MonarchStrong!
Embassy Suites Meeting Space Wi-Fi:
Network: Hilton Honors
Password: premiumguest
Q: What events are happening during the conference to support SHRM Foundation?
A: We will have a 50/50 raffle with the winner taking up to $500 home. We will also have a 2nd raffle for 2027 Conference Registration with 3-night Hotel Stay! We will have a silent auction with baskets and items donated by our member chapters and partners. A QR code for the raffles and the auction items make it easy to purchase raffle tickets and place your bids from your smartphone. Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Wednesday – you must be present to claim your winnings! We hope to continue our tradition as an award-winning state council for SHRM Foundation fundraising, so bid high and bid often!
Q: I selected a t-shirt size with my conference registration. Where do I pick up my free conference T-shirt and when can I wear it?
A: Attendees that indicated their t-shirt size in their registration, will receive a red ticket at registration (attached to your name badge). Use the red ticket to pick up your t-shirt Sunday or Monday at the booth across from the registration desk. Wear your T-shirt to the conference on Wednesday to show your SHRM Virginia and DC spirit!
Q: I did not add my t-shirt size to my registration. Can I still get a free t-shirt?
A: If you did NOT indicate your t-shirt size in your attendee registration, we will have extra t-shirts available on Tuesday. The extra t-shirts are first come, first serve and your preferred size is not guaranteed if you did not select one in your conference registration ahead of time. Supplies are limited. Wear your T-shirt to the conference on Wednesday to show your SHRM Virginia and DC spirit!
Q: I am a National SHRM member, but I don’t know my local chapter. How do I find this and connect with a chapter near me?
A: Visit our SHRM Virginia and DC booth across from the registration desk! We can’t wait to meet you and connect you with your local chapter. We will have representatives from each chapter volunteering at that booth throughout the conference.
Q: Is there a SHRM Virginia and DC swag shop on site?
A: Yes! We will have limited SHRM Virginia and DC swag for sale at the SHRM Virginia and DC booth located across from Registration. Items are limited in quantity, so be sure to grab yours early! Cash, card, and Venmo will be the accepted payment methods. There is an ATM in the hotel. Proceeds will benefit the SHRM Foundation.
Q: How can I best share my conference experience on social media?
A: We love to see people sharing their conference highlights on social media! Tag us and/or use our conference hashtag when posting. #SHRMVADC2026
Our social media team will also be capturing memories and posting actively during the conference.
Q: What things should I remember to pack for my trip?
A: Weather in Virginia Beach in April can be tricky to predict. We recommend bringing an umbrella and light jackets/sweaters to ensure your comfort as you move around the resort area.
Q: Will there be any charging stations available for my devices?
A: YES! C.A. Short Company, one of our gracious partners is providing a charging station this year. Look for the Charging Stations around the conference.
Q: Is there a lost and found?
A: If you lose a personal item during the conference, stop by our registration desk; we will keep lost and found items there.