It really is The Super Bowl of conservative gatherings. It’s the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) sponsored by the American Conservative Union.
This year’s four day event took place at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. The usual venue in the DC metro area of National Harbor, Maryland declined to host the event, as the area continues to remain largely “shut down.” But as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the opening speaker, stated in his remarks kicking off the conference, “Welcome to our oasis of freedom.” He also added, “Florida got it right. Lockdown states got it wrong.”
AMAC had a strong presence at this year’s event, most notably a prime media booth location right outside the General Ballroom entrance and exit and right in the middle of what is commonly known as “Broadcast Row.” AMAC CEO Rebecca Weber and AMAC Action Senior Vice President Andy Mangione interviewed conservative commentators, sitting members of Congress, potential 2022 candidates for Congress, and key influencers in the conservative movement on Saturday. Interviews were live-streamed on AMAC’s website and on YouTube all day on Saturday February 27th.
Also, in attendance was AMAC’s co-founder Judy Weber, AMAC Action President Bob Carlstrom, Vice President of Operations and Advocacy Jennifer Bengtson, Jeff Szymanski from Political Communications, and Chief Technology Officer Dave Kane, along with his support staff. Dave’s team hit a home run in making sure everything ran smoothly.
“This was my third CPAC, and it was quite a change from past years to see so many prominent conservatives coming to and seeking us out to thank AMAC for its advocacy on behalf of mature Americans and to share their thoughts on conservatism today and what is happening with policy in Washington,” noted Szymanski. Mangione called the event a “huge success” and noted “no available podcast slot went unfilled. We interviewed guests non-stop from 9 to 4:30.” Carlstrom said of AMAC’s involvement, “It’s critical to network, make connections, and have a strong presence, and we did all that and more in Orlando.”
Just a few of the over 125 speakers on the big stage at the conference included Donald Trump, Jr., South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo along with many conservative television commentators such as Dan Bongino and Pete Hegseth. The event concluded late Sunday with the eagerly anticipated first speech since leaving office by former President Donald Trump.
Attendees were united in praising the Hyatt Regency for welcoming the event and putting on a first-rate conference. In response to hosting CPAC at its hotel brand in Orlando, a Hyatt spokesperson told Fox Business, “We take pride in operating a highly inclusive environment and we believe that the facilitation of gatherings is a central element of what we do as a hospitality company.” Of course, that hasn’t stopped the left from already engaging in “cancel culture” by calling for boycotts and the like.
AMAC is already beginning to plan for CPAC 2022, wherever it may be held. It’s an important election year for all 435 members of the U.S. House and one third of the Senate. AMAC will not only be in attendance but also invites any of our 2.4 million members and our dedicated volunteer advocates to consider attending what can predictably be deemed an unforgettable experience that will never disappoint.
