This Friday, Sept. 6, is the last day to secure discounted housing for  Rendezvous, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) annual leadership forum that takes place at Loews Coronado Bay in San Diego Sept. 30 – Oct 2.


The event will bring together hundreds of outdoor industry professionals for three days of learning, networking and service.

This year’s Rendezvous focuses on the millennial consumer and the future of outdoor retail. With tracks on innovative leadership, the consumer revolution and dynamic diversity, the educational line-up is designed to help outdoor businesses understand changing consumer behavior and how companies can adapt and thrive. The schedule is packed with eye-opening sessions that promise to educate and energize outdoor companies and help them stay at the forefront of trends that are affecting the outdoor industry.


The keynote features the continuation of OIA’s Outdoor Retail of the Future Project, a multi-year initiative aimed at reinventing the outdoor retail experience. IDEO – a world-renowned design consultancy – will host a participatory session that will inspire a “concept retail environment,” which OIA will showcase this at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in January 2014.


“Rendezvous is the must-attend industry event of the year,” said Michelle Biersner, OIA’s director of education and events. “In addition to a great line-up of educational sessions, Rendezvous offers a great chance to share ideas and make personal connections that fuel business evolution and growth throughout the industry.”


This year’s event also features the 15th annual Rendezvous Service Project Sponsored by Timberland, a unique opportunity to get dirty and bond with colleagues while giving back to the local community. OIA is partnering with WiLDCOAST, an international conservation team that works to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife, to help clean up the Tijuana River Valley, one of the largest open space areas in south San Diego County. For the first time, the service project is on the first day of Rendezvous to turbocharge bonding and networking at the start of the event.


The full Rendezvous agenda can be found online at www.outdoorindustry.org/events/rendezvous/agenda.html.


The housing block is limited, and discounted rooms are available until Sept. 6 or until the block is full. Register online at www.outdoorindustry.org/rendezvous.