• ILDA Beach Conference in North Carolina

The 2023 ILDA Beach Conference will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Oceanfront in North Carolina, September 17-20. The host is Michael Meyer of Emerald Owl Productions, Inc.

Atlantic Beach NC, where ILDA's hotel is located, has been named “Best Spring Break” by Outside Magazine and one of "21 Best Beaches" by Coastal Living Magazine.

The highlight of this Conference is expected to be a public outdoor laser show from the pier just outside our hotel. This beach show will feature ILDA Award winners and entrants. ILDA Conference attendees have a Welcome Dinner on the beach, prior to the laser show scheduled for Sunday, September 17.

We have applied for, and hope to have, sponsorship from the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority. The CCTDA website gives an excellent overview of the area, including things to do and see.

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We will meet in Atlantic Beach, in the middle of an 85-mile stretch of beaches known as the Southern Outer Banks. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Oceanfront has a pool, private pier, and of course meeting rooms.

We expect — but cannot guarantee — clear, rainless, warm days that should be perfect for outdoor activities.

The average air temperature for Sept. 17-20 is high around 83°F (28.3°C) and low around 67°F (19.4°C). The average sea water temperature is around 80°F (26.7°C), which is perfect for swimming.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Oceanfront is shown above. A view from one of the rooms, showing the pool and private pier, is below.

ILDA registration and hotel reservations

We do not yet have pricing for the ILDA Beach Conference registration. Of course, we are trying to keep it as low as possible. Registration includes the main ILDA events, as well as two lunches and three dinners. Optional extras are the laser safety courses, and some deluxe cultural tour events such as a fishing charter.

Pricing for the hotel is expected to be around $170 per night. While this is somewhat higher than previous ILDA Conferences, note that hotel rates — like so many other things — have risen since the COVID pandemic.

This page will be updated when we have the final ILDA registration and hotel reservation information.

Preliminary schedule

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    • Sun, Sept. 17: ILDA Laser Safety Officer Course (optional extra), Conference registration, Welcome Reception and Dinner, outdoor public laser show on the beach (from the hotel's pier) featuring ILDA Award winners and entries.

     • Mon, Sept. 18: ILDA General Business Meeting and Advanced Technology Workshop. NEW: Business and Marketing Seminar. In the evening, either the rain date of the beach laser show or an informal Lase-Off.

     • Tue, Sept. 19: Seminars on the ILDA Digital Network, Awards and Art. The ILDA Awards Banquet and Presentation takes place in the evening.

     • Wed, Sept 20: Cultural Day. Activities can include a bus trip to see wild horses and the Cape Lookout lighthouse, fishing or other watersports, and golf. At the hotel, courses on Audience Scanning and for Laser Operators (optional extra).

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Click for full-size preliminary schedule. Events subject to change.

Host and Sponsor

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See what a Conference is like

The videos below give you a quick overview of what an in-person ILDA Conference is like. The first one, from Christopher Short, shows lasers during the 2018 Lase-Off in Montréal, hosted by LaserTech Canada.

The second video shows meetings and seminars in the day, and the Lase-Off and the ILDA Awards in the evenings. Thanks to KVANT, host of the 2017 ILDA Conference, for producing the video.

Travel, hotel and area information

For more information, visit our other ILDA websites:

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ILDAmember.com: Membership database and event management, including joining ILDA
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LasershowSafety.info: Information about safe laser shows, including laws, regulations, checklists, and more

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"Washington Crossing the Delaware" painting by Emanuel Leutze, 1851, collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Water Symphony" photograph background by Visual Sensation, 2019.