2026 A1F National Conference

Airport

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Transportation

Airport Shuttle

Complimentary airport shuttle service to and from San Diego International airport runs daily every 30-40 minutes from 4:45 AM – 12:00 AM. Confirm next available time with the front desk at at 619-291-2900.

Shuttle Pick-Up Locations at SAN Airport:

• Terminal 1: Cross the Sky Bridge, walk back towards the airport, and look for the “Hotel Courtesy Shuttles” sign on the third island.
• Terminal 2: From baggage claim, cross the street to the second island and look for the “Hotel Courtesy Shuttles” sign.

Key Details:

• Hours: 4:45 AM – 12:00 AM daily.
• Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes.
• Marking: Shuttles are marked with the “Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina” logo.

Self-parking and valet parking are available at the hotel.

There is a 20% discount for self-parking in the hotel parking lot. Please pull up to the gate to receive a ticket and then proceed to park. There is no discount for valet parking.

Additional parking is available in a lot across the street for $10 a day.

Conference Registration Desk Hours of Operation

Please stop by A1F Conference Registration in the Seascape Foyer on the Ballroom Level to pick up your conference name badge, registration bag and materials.

Thursday, June 4th: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed for lunch from 12:30 to 2:00 pm)
Friday, June 5th: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 6th: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Exhibit Hall Hours

Grand Opening – Friday, June 5th – 8:30 am to 10:00 am

Friday, June 5th: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 6th: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Conference attire throughout the day is casual and comfortable. Comfortable shoes are encouraged for moving between sessions and activities.

Meeting rooms are often kept cool, so we strongly recommend bringing a sweater, jacket, or light layers to stay comfortable.

Please avoid wearing perfumes, colognes or other scented items. This can trigger a serious asthma attack for some Alphas.

Friday Dinner: Piano Bar Glam

For Friday evening, we invite you to embrace our Piano Bar Glam theme. Think classic, elevated style with a touch of sparkle and sophistication. Take inspiration ranging from sleek black outfits and satin finishes to statement accessories, bold lipstick, or a hint of vintage flair. Whether you go full glam or keep it simple with polished elegance, the goal is to have fun and enjoy a stylish night “out” with the Alpha-1 community. 

Saturday: PURPLE

On Saturday, we’re celebrating the signature Alpha-1 color PURPLE and invite you to wear it all day long. Think elegant purple, whether that’s a full purple outfit, or a purple shirt, purple dress, sharp purple blazer, or even purple shoes. You can go all in or keep it simple; every touch of purple shows support for the Alpha-1 community. From subtle purple touches to full monochrome looks, we’re aiming for a sea of purple throughout the hotel.

Saturday Dinner: Elegance in Purple

On Saturday, we’re celebrating the signature Alpha-1 color PURPLE and invite you to wear it all day long. Keep it going into the evening by wearing elegant purple attire to dinner as well! Fair warning: you may not be allowed in without your PURPLE on.

Thursday, June 4th

Alpha Angels Reception & Memorial

Join us for light bites and refreshments as we remember and honor our Alpha Angels.

Friday, June 5th

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

Enjoy breakfast and explore the Exhibit Hall for the first time this weekend!

Dinner Reception: Piano Bar Glam

For Friday evening, we invite you to embrace our Piano Bar Glam theme. Think classic, elevated style with a touch of sparkle and sophistication. Take inspiration ranging from sleek black outfits and satin finishes to statement accessories, bold lipstick, or a hint of vintage flair. Whether you go full glam or keep it simple with polished elegance, the goal is to have fun and enjoy a stylish night “out” with the Alpha-1 community. 

Saturday, June 6th

Dinner Reception: Elegance in Purple 

On Saturday, we’re celebrating the signature Alpha-1 color PURPLE and invite you to wear it all day long. Think elegant purple, whether that’s a full purple outfit, or a purple shirt, purple dress, sharp purple blazer, or even purple shoes. You can go all in or keep it simple; every touch of purple shows support for the Alpha-1 community. Keep it going into the evening by wearing elegant purple attire to dinner as well! Fair warning: you may not be allowed in without PURPLE on. From subtle purple touches to full monochrome looks, we’re aiming for a sea of purple throughout the hotel. 

Sunday, June 7th

Farewell Brunch 

Join us for brunch from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM with the community as we say goodbye to the 2026 A1F National Conference!

COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgement

For those planning to attend in person, please read the COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgment – Event Liability Waiver and Release of Claims.

Official Conference Name Badges

All official conference name badges MUST be worn at all times while in the conference areas. Please be advised that A1F National Conference name badges must be worn at all times in order to enter the exhibit hall, attend sessions and meals. Anyone not wearing an official conference name badge will be asked to leave the conference area.

Patient Confidentiality

Due to the sensitivity of health information, we encourage you to make an informed choice about whether or not to provide your personal information to the organizations exhibiting and participating at this conference.

Photography

Please be advised that the Alpha-1 Foundation (A1F) is taking photos and video throughout the conference. All photos and video taken by the official photographer and videographer may be used in A1F publications or reproduced to be used for newsletters, promotional materials, inclusion on websites or any other purpose. You release A1F from any liability connected with the taking of photographs and video. If you do not wish to have your picture used in any publication, please let A1F know in writing.

Conference Guidelines and Disclaimers

Please note that all A1F National Conference attendees, including but not limited to, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry representatives, exhibitors, patients, caregivers, and community members, are not permitted to recruit participants for studies or clinical trials, or otherwise solicit or collect patient data or information from attendees for any research, business, or commercial purposes. Only research studies, clinical trials, and related materials that are pre-approved by A1F may be disseminated at the A1F National Conference. The Alpha-1 Research Registry and the AATD-Liver Scan (FibroScan) Study are the only programs approved to recruit participants during the A1F National Conference.

The content provided at the A1F National Conference is for learning and informational purposes, not for self-diagnosis or treatment. Please contact your physician with any questions regarding your personal health or diagnosis.

All educational content, materials, and presentations are the intellectual property of the Alpha-1 Foundation (A1F). No part of this educational conference may be recorded, reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior authorization from A1F. The content is intended solely for educational and informational purposes.

Special Dietary Requests

The conference can reasonably accommodate special dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Please indicate if you will need a special accommodation at the time of registration. 

The hotel will clearly indicate allergens at buffets, if applicable. Meals provided with your registration may contain certain allergens. During plated meals, it is the responsibility of the attendee to ask hotel staff if there is a question about any ingredients.

Participants who have made a special dietary request will have it noted on their name badge in the bottom right hand corner. Please make sure to let the banquet server know that you need a special meal and show them your name badge.

Cell Phones/Electronics

Please silence cell phones and other electronic communication devices during the general and breakout sessions.

Will the educational sessions be recorded and available for later viewing?

Yes, sessions will be recorded and available to view on-demand on the virtual environment (VE) for one month following the conference. The VE will close one month after the close of the conference. Educational sessions will be available to watch in the A1F Video Library on ALPHA1.ORG by Monday, one month following the conference.

Alpha-1 Kids Room

This year, the Alpha-1 Kids Room will not be available, as no children have been registered for the National Conference. We remain committed to offering this space when needed and look forward to providing it at future events.

For general questions about the Alpha-1 Foundation National Conference, email
nationalconference@alpha1.org.

For questions about conference registration:
Kim Caraballo, Patient Outreach Manager
1-877-228-7321, Ext. 323
kcaraballo@alpha1.org