AHE Exchange | Association for the Healthcare Environment 2026
Event Date
August 16–19, 2026
Location
New Orleans, LA
Expected Exhibitors
70
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe AHE Exchange (branded Exchange26 Education and Solution Summit) is the premier annual event for healthcare environmental services (EVS), bringing together professionals to learn, network, and discover solutions. Breakout sessions provide ready-to-use templates, tools, and process improvements attendees can bring back to their teams immediately, cultivating the confidence EVS leaders need to advocate for their teams, influence decision-making and drive facility-wide improvements.
The summit draws hospital and health system EVS leaders, managers, technicians, and decision-makers, along with vendors serving the field. Attendees connect with 700+ health care environmental services leaders, innovators and decision-makers, and can earn up to 13 CECs while absorbing actionable insights from EVS experts.
Programming spans a focused, multi-day format. The event delivers 2.5 high-impact days with a packed agenda offering connection, education and camaraderie. It is worth attending for the practical, immediately applicable education, the large solutions marketplace, and the professional community it builds among EVS practitioners nationwide.
Show Highlights
The Exchange Summit is organized around focused learning and a large solutions marketplace.
- Four learning pathways — The Exchange Summit features four learning pathways tailored to meet the diverse needs of attendees: Infection Prevention, Leadership, Operations & Staffing, and Technology & Innovation.
- Featured keynotes and general sessions — Opening keynote "Exponential Commitment" by motivational speaker and adventure leadership expert Manley Feinberg; a general session "Joint Commission Focus for EVS Leaders" with Robert Campbell; a general session "Resilient Leadership: Thriving Under Pressure" with leadership educator Dale Anderson; and a closing keynote "Guiding Principles for Patient Experience Excellence through an EVS Lens" by Stacy Palmer, Senior Vice President & COO of The Beryl Institute.
- Signature sessions cover topics such as EVS's role in construction projects, building an EVS leadership pipeline, dedicated operating-room EVS teams, UV disinfection devices, and smart floorcare.
- Pre-Summit programs — optional add-on certificate courses in Surgical Cleaning (T-CSCT), Product Selection (CMPS), and Effective Leadership (CMEL).
- Solution Center — more than 70 companies will be onsite to answer questions and offer interactive demos, including cleaning and disinfection products, software solutions, UV technologies, robotics, textiles and linens and much more.
Attendance
The summit is promoted as an opportunity to connect with a large community of EVS professionals. The event connects attendees with 700+ health care environmental services leaders, innovators and decision-makers.
Registration
Registration is handled online through the event's Cvent registration site, accessible via the "Register" button on the AHE Exchange page.
- Pre-Summit programs can be added during registration. Attendees should use the Exchange registration button to register, but Exchange registration is not required to attend the pre-summit programs.
- Hotel block — to reserve a room at the discounted rate, you must be a registered attendee of the summit, and links to the hotel room blocks are available in the Exchange26 registration confirmation email. The deadline to reserve a room on the "AHE Hotel Block" is July 24.
- Questions — for general questions about registration or the AHE Exchange event, contact AHE@aha.org.
History
AHE Exchange is the annual education and solutions summit of the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association that serves healthcare environmental services professionals. The event has been held in recent years as "Exchange" (e.g., Exchange24), with the 2026 edition branded "Exchange26." AHE positions it as the field's premier annual gathering for EVS education, networking and solution discovery.
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Information
Detailed exhibitor list is being compiled. Check back soon or visit the official show website for the most current information.
Last updated: July 20, 2026
Venue & Travel
Venue
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
601 Loyola Avenue
The Hyatt Regency New Orleans is a 32-story hotel in the heart of the city's Central Business District, located next to the Caesars Superdome and steps from downtown. Amenities include a business center, restaurants, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and extensive meeting room and ballroom space, along with accessible guest rooms. It sits close to the French Quarter, Canal Street and the National WWII Museum, making it easy to explore the city.
Parking
Parking options at and near the venue include:
- On-site valet parking at the Hyatt Regency, starting from about $10 (rates increase by duration; on-site parking is valet-only and limited/subject to availability).
- 1301 Girod Street Garage (Platinum Parking) — connects directly to the hotel, roughly 0.1 mile away, with covered and overnight parking.
- Champion Square Garage, 1400 Girod St. — about 0.2 mile, one of the cheaper nearby options.
- Premium Parking, 701 S. Rampart St. — about 0.2 mile, covered and overnight parking.
Street parking in the CBD is limited and metered, and rates near the hotel can rise during Superdome and Smoothie King Center events, so booking a garage in advance is recommended.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), roughly 14–15 miles from the hotel. A taxi or rideshare takes about 18–20 minutes and costs approximately $40–$55; the hotel does not operate its own airport shuttle. Budget travelers can take the New Orleans RTA line 202 bus from the airport to the downtown area (near Loyola Avenue) for about $2, taking roughly 27 minutes. Once in the city, the Loyola-UPT streetcar line passes the hotel about every 20 minutes for a $1.25 fare paid on boarding, and the Amtrak Union Passenger Terminal is only about 0.3 mile away.
Nearby Hotels
The Hyatt Regency New Orleans itself serves as the host hotel, with a discounted AHE room block for registered attendees (reserve by July 24). The hotel is in the Central Business District, adjacent to the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center and about 1.5 miles from the French Quarter, so numerous downtown and Warehouse District hotels are within a short drive or walk. Nearby options include the Sheraton New Orleans, Le Méridien New Orleans and Hilton New Orleans Riverside, among many others in the surrounding downtown area.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 AHE Exchange held?
The AHE Exchange26 Summit takes place August 16–19, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, located downtown next to the Caesars Superdome.
Who should attend the AHE Exchange?
The summit is designed for healthcare environmental services (EVS) professionals, including leaders, managers, technicians, and decision-makers. It connects attendees with more than 700 EVS leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the country.
What can attendees learn or earn at the event?
Attendees can earn up to 13 continuing education credits (CECs) across 2.5 high-impact days. Programming is organized into four learning pathways: Infection Prevention, Leadership, Operations & Staffing, and Technology & Innovation.
How do I register and book a hotel room?
Registration is completed online via the event's Cvent site linked from the AHE Exchange page. To get the discounted hotel rate you must be a registered attendee, and the deadline to reserve a room in the AHE Hotel Block is July 24. For questions, contact AHE@aha.org.
What is the Solution Center and how many exhibitors participate?
The Exchange26 Solution Center is the event's exhibit marketplace where more than 70 companies showcase products and services. Vendors include cleaning and disinfection products, software, UV technologies, robotics, and textiles and linens, with interactive demos on site.
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