The following memo was released this week by the American Sugar Alliance:
Dear ASA Members and Sweetener Symposium Attendees:
Due to the global uncertainties of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the American Sugar Alliance has canceled its International Sweetener Symposium, scheduled for July 31-Aug. 5, 2020, at the Grand Hyatt Vail in Vail, Colo.
This year’s meeting would have marked the Symposium’s 37th consecutive year. We appreciate your longstanding support of this important event that provides a forum for all stakeholders of the domestic and international sugar, sweetener and food manufacturing industries to come together for an informative program and networking opportunity. While we regret that our industry won’t be able to gather in force this summer, we prioritize our members’ safety and well-being, and we believe this is the best course of action during this unprecedented time.
We would like to express our great appreciation to the Grand Hyatt Vail and its highly professional staff for their assistance in making this difficult decision. Understanding the excitement our membership has expressed about returning to the majestic Rocky Mountains, ASA is exploring options to host a future Symposium at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Vail.
Below is information for those of you who had already made arrangements to attend the Symposium:
- Existing Room Reservations: On Friday, May 22, the Grand Hyatt Vail will release all reservations currently held under ASA’s Symposium room block. You do not need to call the Grand Hyatt Vail to cancel your confirmed room reservation. Again, the hotel will release ASA’s entire room block on Friday. If a deposit was charged, Hyatt will issue a refund.
- Symposium Registration: Since ASA delayed opening the “conference registration” until we could determine if the Symposium would go forward, no conference registration fees were collected, and therefore, no conference registration refunds will be due.
Thank you for your patience as we evaluated all options, and we appreciate your understanding and continued support of the Symposium.
We look forward to the day we can again meet face-to-face. In the meantime, please mark your calendar for ASA’s 2021 International Sweetener Symposium, scheduled for July 30-Aug. 4, 2021, at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. If you have further questions, please contact us at symposium@sugaralliance.org or (703) 351-5055. Stay safe and be well.
