Safety & Security

 

Emergency Preparedness Plan

AAPA operates under an internal detailed emergency preparedness plan which outlines policies and guidelines for situations such as, but not limited to an active shooter, bomb threats, extreme weather, social disturbances, etc. To ensure the safety of all those in attendance at AAPA 2026 this document is not shared publicly.

 

Safety Measures

AAPA will provide roaming security personnel at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during conference hours, and at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Thursday through Sunday. Additionally, both the Convention Center and Hilton New Orleans Riverside have internal security personnel to handle any situations that arise. As an added security measure, plain clothes officers will be present during the conference.

Admittance to AAPA’s House of Delegates Meeting in the Hilton New Orleans Riverside will be only by AAPA 2026 Conference Badge. There will be only one entrance to the meeting room, and security personnel will be positioned to check badges for delegate and member access.

As in any city, we remind conference attendees to be aware of your surroundings. If you see something, say something. We also recommend when you are walking around the city that you remove your conference badge and have a buddy.

The following specific measures are being taken for our AAPA 2026 attendees:

  • Firearms are not allowed on any premises during AAPA 2026, regardless of state laws.
  • There is security on-site at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
  • PA Night Out will remain a private event, only open to conference registrants.
  • There will be ample signage at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on what to do if there is a problem.
  • Safety and security information will be provided in the app, as well as the backside of every conference badge, about what to do if there is a problem.
  • Badges are required for all AAPA conference events.

 

Code of Conduct

During the registration process every attendee of AAPA 2026 is required to agree to adhere to the following Code of Conduct:

AAPA 2026 is intended for education, networking, and collaboration among PAs. AAPA is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful conference experience regardless of a person’s race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, age, religion, disability status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical appearance, or other characteristics. AAPA expects conference participants to communicate professionally and constructively and to uphold the professional and educational purposes of the conference.

We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.

 

Unacceptable Behavior

Harassment of conference participants or AAPA staff in any form is prohibited. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to offensive verbal comments, expressed or implied threat of physical or professional harm, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

 

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. If you experience or notice others experiencing any of the above unacceptable behavior or have any other concerns, please contact AAPA conference staff at [email protected].

 

AAPA’s Commitment

AAPA will investigate all incidents reported with discretion and confidentiality. AAPA reserves the right to bar any attendee who violates this Code of Conduct from attending future conferences and/or cancel membership without refund.

 

Health Safety Measures

By submitting an attendee registration for AAPA 2026, attendees must acknowledge and agree that they are fully responsible for their own safety and actions while participating in the national conference and recognize that they may be at risk of contracting airborne viruses, or other illnesses, no fault of AAPA.

Be sure to practice everyday preventive actions, including but not limited to washing hands often, and monitoring your health daily.

 

CME Sessions

At the start of each session moderators will remind all attendees that security information is printed on the back of the conference badge should it be needed.

Speakers and moderators have the authority to call security to have an attendee removed should a disruption occur.

Additionally, speakers will have the authority to end a CME session if deemed necessary due to an unmanageable disruption or security concern.

 

Hotels and Transportation

The following hotels will have shuttle service available to and from the convention center:

  • Doubletree New Orleans
  • Drury Plaza Hotel New Orleans
  • The Higgins Hotel New Orleans
  • Kimpton Hotel Fontenot
  • The Westin New Orleans

Shuttle service to and from PA Night Out will be available from all hotels within the official AAPA 2026 hotel block.

All attendees are encouraged to register and book their hotels early, as all hotels will eventually sell out. If all five hotels mentioned above are sold out and anyone feels uncomfortable walking to and from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, they should e-mail [email protected]. AAPA will make every effort possible to make a room on the shuttle route available.

 

On-Site Procedures

Important security procedures and phone numbers will be easily accessible on the back of every conference badge. All attendees are encouraged to utilize this information in case of any security concern or emergency situation.

Any concerns regarding personal safety or an attendee violating the Code of Conduct while on-site in New Orleans can be reported by e-mailing [email protected]. All e-mails will be addressed within 24 hours.

While AAPA has prepared and put mitigating measures in place to provide a safe and secure environment, AAPA cannot guarantee that we can prepare for, and prevent, every possible event.

 

Attendee Digital Security

Here are some recommendations to help protect your digital information and privacy during  AAPA 2026.

Tips

  1. Whenever possible, avoid connecting to public wireless networks. Instead, use a mobile hotspot if available (most phones offer this feature if supported by your carrier).
  2. Use a reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network) service for personal use. VPNs encrypt your data and help protect against attacks. Avoid free VPNs, which may contain malware.
  3. Never leave your devices unattended.
  4. Do not use public USB charging stations at airports or other locations. These chargers can be used in “Juice Jacking” attacks, where plugging in could allow data theft or malware installation. Bring your own USB charger and cable, connect directly to power outlets, or use a USB power bank for safer charging.
  5. Refrain from scanning QR codes in public spaces. Malicious actors sometimes place harmful QR codes hoping unsuspecting people will scan them, which can lead to compromised data or infected devices.
  6. Never plug in flash drives found in public areas. Cyber criminals may load these drives with malware, hoping someone will connect them to a device.