TACOS AND TOPICS 2026

Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Wyndham Grand Executive Center Little Rock
3201 Bankhead Drive
Little Rock, AR 72206
Formerly the Holiday Inn Conference Center

10:30 a.m. - Registration Opens
11:00 a.m. - Welcome and Topic Discussions
12:30 p.m. - Tacos and Networking

Join ASAE for one of our most interactive - and popular - events of the year!
Tacos & Topics gives association professionals and associate members a chance to exchange ideas, ask questions and learn from one another. Attendees will be placed in small, mixed groups and rotate through four timely discussions where our members’ work and experiences intersect.
There are no formal presentations. Come ready to talk about what is working, what is not and what you are learning along the way.

REGISTRATION PAGE

2026 Topics

What Are You Actually Using AI For? AI tools are everywhere- but what are you actually using? We’ll share practical ways AI is helping with everyday work, what has been disappointing and where the human touch still matters.

Email, Text, Teams or Phone? The ways we communicate at work keep multiplying, but communication is not necessarily improving. We’ll talk about managing email, texts, messaging platforms, meetings and response expectations without losing information—or spending the entire day reacting.

What Makes an Event Worth Attending Now? With limited time and tighter budgets, attendees are becoming more selective. We’ll discuss what makes an event worth leaving the office or home for, including program content, networking, location, food and the overall experience.

What Planners and Partners Wish Each Other Knew! Successful events depend on good partnerships, but planners, hotels and other event professionals often see different parts of the process. We’ll have an honest, constructive conversation about what each side needs—from the initial inquiry and RFP through final counts, changes, billing and follow-up.

How It Works
After a brief welcome and instructions, attendees will rotate through all four topic discussions. Each table will include a mix of association professionals and associate members, giving everyone the opportunity to hear different perspectives, exchange practical ideas and make new connections.

After the discussions, we’ll gather for tacos and additional networking.  Please bring business cards, questions and real-world ideas. If you have an example, tool or resource that could add to the conversation, bring it with you!