San Diego Digital Government Summit 2026 Banner

Overview

The San Diego Digital Government Summit is where innovation meets impact!

Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this summit empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Summit delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

I’m excited to participate in the third annual San Diego Digital Government Summit, building on the momentum of last two years. The summit brings together public sector technology leaders from across the San Diego region to collaborate, exchange insights, and focus on practical ways technology can enhance public services and quality of life.

- Jonathan Behnke, CIO, City of San Diego

Speakers

Jonathan Behnke

Jonathan Behnke LinkedIn

Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, City of San Diego

Jonathan Behnke is the Chief Information Officer for the City of San Diego and is responsible for the technology strategy and operations for America's eighth largest city in support of IT services for almost 13,000 users and 1.4 million residents.
He has over 20 years of IT experience managing and implementing technology for a broad range of industries including public sector, contract services, energy, automotive, distribution, consulting, construction, and manufacturing.
Jonathan serves on the board of the Gov AI Coalition of over 900 state and local government organizations united to promote responsible and purposeful AI in the public sector through resource sharing, standards, and advocacy.
Jonathan is also a member of the Municipal Information Systems Association of California, San Diego Infragard, SIM San Diego, and Metropolitan Information Exchange representing a group of CIOs from many of the largest cities and counties in the USA.

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Jonathan Brill

Jonathan Brill

AI Inventor, HP Global Futurist, Bestselling Author

Don’t just watch your future happen — architect it. Jonathan Brill is Forbes’ #1 futurist and “the world’s leading transformation architect”, according to HBR. Inc. called him a “Silicon Valley Legend” for his work as the global futurist at HP, as an inventor of AI and Metaverse technologies, and as an advisor to the Secret Service.
In his talks, he brings you to the frontlines of tomorrow and shows you how to turn disruption to your advantage. Drawing from a $15 Million research program and his international bestseller, Rogue Waves, he shares how the collision of technology, geopolitical, economic and societal trends will impact your specific audience. Brill then unveils practical, innovative tools to gain from the change. He makes your future concrete with relatable stories that inspire awe, action and a new comfort with uncertainty. JP Morgan’s Head of Learning and Development said, “our executives walked away changed”. You will too.

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Mazen Abugharbieh

Mazen Abugharbieh LinkedIn

Program Manager: Business Intelligence Manager, City of San Diego

Andrell Bower

Andrell Bower LinkedIn

Chief Data Officer, City of San Diego

Ian Brazill

Ian Brazill

Assistant Deputy Director of Compliance and Digital Equity, City of San Diego 

Ian is an Assistant Deputy Director with the City of San Diego’s Department of Information Technology and has worked for the City for over nine years, with six years in IT. He has a master’s in public administration from San Diego State University and has led the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab for several years. Ian has worked with regional stakeholders to grow a stronger cyber community. Over the past year he has engaged with academia and industry-leading experts in AI development to create an innovative public-facing AI chat bot, My eCISO (https://myeciso.com), designed to provide the general public, local small businesses, and other public sector agencies with quick, detailed cyber security evaluations based on the NIST framework to put actionable intelligence into the hands of those who need it most. Along with the Cyber Lab, Ian is responsible for the City’s PCI compliance program, digital equity operations, account administration and eDiscovery operations, and more.

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Professor James Cooper

Professor James Cooper

California Western School of Law

James M. Cooper is Professor of Law at California Western School of Law in San Diego, where he has also served as Associate Dean, Experiential Learning and an Assistant Dean. A Cambridge-trained Barrister and Solicitor, he serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Heidelberg in its Master of Law program in Chile. He has been a leader for over two decades on legal reform matters, consulting with governments, corporations, Indigenous groups, and non-governmental organizations about disruptive technologies, intellectual property, and sustainable development. He has served on the U.S. government delegation to the WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement. He is the co-author (with Kashyap Kompella) of “A Short and Happy Guide for Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers” (2024) and “A Short and Happy Guide for AI Governance and Regulation,” both released by West Academic Publishing, the leading U.S. legal education publisher.  

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Brendan M. Daly

Brendan M. Daly

Deputy Director and Chief Information Security Officer, City of San Diego 

With 25 years of experience delivering IT services in the Public Sector, Brendan Daly is a Deputy Director and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the City of San Diego, CA where he develops and implements security architecture, risk management, security policy and leads cross-functional teams in support of the City’s Strategic Plan.

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Nicole Darling

Nicole Darling

Director of Communications, City of San Diego

As Communications Director for the nation’s 8th largest city, Nicole Darling oversees a talented team of communications professionals to provide strategic public messaging, media relations, digital content development and publishing services. This team manages communications and outreach for more than 20 departments, coordinating efforts that support a diverse population of 1.4 million residents.
Nicole joined the City of San Diego in 2015 and, over the past decade, has helped modernize the City of San Diego’s communications platforms and dramatically improve engagement through accessible and creative storytelling. In addition to ensuring brand consistency across all channels, Nicole’s team also manages crisis communications and internal messaging to more than 12,000 employees throughout the organization.

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William D.

William D. "Bill" Eggers

Executive Director, Center for Government Insights, Deloitte

Bill is the Executive Director of Deloitte's Center for Government Insights and one of the foremost authorities on government innovation and digital transformation in the public sector. With over two decades of experience in government reform, he has advised governments at all levels and is the author of nine books, including the Washington Post bestseller If We Can Put a Man on the Moon, The Solution Revolution (named to ten best-book-of-the-year lists), Delivering on Digital, and his most recent work, Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023). He is also a fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration and a governance futures council member at the World Economic Forum.

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Alexander Hempton

Alexander Hempton

Chief Innovation Officer, City of San Diego

Alex Hempton is the Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Performance & Analytics Department for the City of San Diego, where he leads initiatives focused on improving government services through technology, data, AI, process improvement, and customer-centered innovation. Since joining the Performance & Analytics Department in 2015, Alex has led the development and expansion of the award-winning Get It Done platform, transforming how residents interact with City services and helping modernize operations across departments through digital tools, analytics, and continuous improvement strategies.
Alex’s work focuses on leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, Salesforce, GIS, and data platforms, to improve operational efficiency and resident experience. Prior to his current role, he contributed to civic innovation, neighborhood revitalization, and operational modernization efforts in both the public and private sectors. He holds a degree in Urban Studies & Planning from UC San Diego and maintains certifications including PMP, AICP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Salesforce Administrator, and Professional Scrum Master.

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Todd Hood

Todd Hood

Chief Privacy Officer, Ethics, Compliance, and Labor Standards, County of San Diego

Todd Hood joined the County of San Diego in August 2019 as Chief Privacy Officer reporting to the Director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance in the Chief Administrative Office. He also serves as the Countywide ADA Title II Coordinator and staff liaison to the County’s Board of Supervisors-appointed Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Mr. Hood received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and his MBA in International Finance from the University of Southern California.
Hood worked in privacy and data protection beginning in 2005 for a worldwide print, mail and data management company, a leading southern California financial institution, and an industry-leading managed health care company.

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Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson

Visiting Professor, Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

Erik Johnson is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management, where he specializes in urban economics and AI. Erik’s work focuses on developing and using AI algorithms to assess the built environment of cities, including properties, infrastructure and roadways. His research explores how code violations and beautification programs affect property values, and the role of neighborhood spillovers on real estate valuation. At Rady, Erik teaches courses in AI and entrepreneurship. Erik received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Erik is also the founder of Placemetry, a startup that seeks to provide street-level imagery and AI analysis to cities and counties for the purpose of improving our built environment. Erik’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Government Technology.

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Rob Lloyd

Rob Lloyd

Executive Director, Center for Digital Government and Center for Public Sector AI

Prior to joining e.Republic and the Center for Digital Government, Rob served as Chief Technology Officer for the City of Seattle, where he led a 600-person organization with a $310 million technology budget serving 816,000 residents and a 14,000-person workforce. The department's mission: "We put powerful information and tools in the hands of people to unleash brilliance in service to our community."
Rob brings 20 years of C-suite experience across government, utilities, and technology in Washington, California, Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado. He previously served as Deputy City Manager for Transportation, Aviation, and Technology for San José, the nation's 12th largest city and the center of Silicon Valley. His work has advanced AI adoption, public-private partnerships, procurement modernization, and pioneered omnichannel 311. Teams under his leadership have earned more than 50 national honors. He has been recognized as an Governing Magazine Public Official of the Year, GovTech Doers Dreamers & Drivers (twice), ORBIE CIO of the Year (twice), and LocalSmart City Executive of the Year (four times).

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Amir Sabet, PhD

Amir Sabet, PhD

Partner, AI Practice Leader, IBM Consulting

Amir is a Partner in IBM Consulting, where he leads the Public Market AWS Practice and the Analytics & AI @ Scale initiative. He specializes in helping government clients harness the power of cloud, data, and AI to drive transformation. His leadership spans strategy, delivery, and innovation across large-scale AI engagements.
Previously, Sabet served as Chief Data & Analytics Officer for the State of Rhode Island, where he designed and implemented the state’s vision for an Analytics and AI Center of Excellence. He led the data and analytics unit supporting the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery, reporting directly to the governor.
As an AI/ML practice leader, Sabet has helped state and local agencies—including the New York Department of Health, New York Power Authority, and Los Angeles Department of Water—envision, strategize, and build their data and AI capabilities. His work has consistently delivered measurable impact across public sector operations. His key skills include scaling data, analytics and AI operating models, and developing creative ways to reduce risk of AI in public sector.

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Professor Anya Samek

Professor Anya Samek

Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

Anya Samek is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management. Anya’s work focuses on using behavioral economics to improve decision-making, including in the areas of health and wellbeing, parental investment and charitable giving. At Rady, Anya teaches courses in Strategy and Behavioral Economics. Anya also serves as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Placemetry, where she provides expertise in strategy and behavioral economics. Anya received her Ph.D. from Purdue University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago.

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Joe Schiffman

Joe Schiffman

Security Manager, City of San Diego 

Joe has been working in the government and higher education space for the bulk of his cybersecurity career.  He has worked for the City of San Diego for about 3 years and helped launch the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab.

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Dr. James Short

Dr. James Short

Lead Scientist, San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego

James Short is Lead Scientist and Director of the SPARK AI Industry Consortium at the University of California San Diego. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, specifically the strategic and technical assessment of AI, workforce productivity, and AI governance. Current projects include agentic AI governance, and AI productivity as a special case of IT productivity. Before joining UCSD and the San Diego Supercomputer Center, Short taught IT strategy and management information systems at the London Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Management. Short holds undergraduate, master's and PhD degrees from MIT.

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Ron Vazquez

Web Services Manager, City of San Diego

As the Web Services Manager since 2014, Ron Vazquez has directed the team responsible for supporting and maintaining the City of San Diego’s public website, sandiego.gov, which attracts almost 30 million visits each year. In addition, they led the development and continue to oversee InsideSanDiego.org, offering timely local government news directly from the City’s Communications Department. Ron also provides UX guidance to City departments for custom web applications and ensures consistent branding across the City’s digital directory.

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Marc Webb

Marc Webb

Deputy Director, Office of the City Clerk, City of San Diego 

Marc Webb is a seasoned information management professional. His career spans 15 years in Public Libraries and 10 years in Clinical Records Management for global pharmaceutical trials. He currently works in San Diego's Office of the City Clerk as the Deputy Director of Records Management and Research. He serves on the City's Data Governance Committee and strives to fulfill the City Clerk's mission to provide accurate information and maximize access to municipal government.

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Agenda

Wednesday, June 10

8:00 am Pacific

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Kona Coast Ballroom

9:00 am Pacific

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

Jonathan Behnke, Chief Information Officer, City of San Diego

9:15 am Pacific

Keynote – AI & the Octopus Organization™: Adapt or Fail

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

In an era defined by rapid technological change, organizations that fully embrace AI will pull decisively ahead of those that treat it as a side experiment. This keynote explores how leading organizations are moving beyond traditional hierarchies toward more agile, “Octopus Organization™” models - where centralized strategy is paired with empowered, decentralized teams that can think, decide, and act in real time. Drawing on extensive research and real-world transformations, this session will highlight how AI can be used not just to automate tasks, but to fundamentally redesign how work gets done - enabling faster decision-making, greater adaptability, and more innovative, high-performing teams. Attendees will leave with practical insights on building AI-driven organizations that are designed to evolve, compete, and thrive.

Jonathan Brill, Futurist, AI Inventor, Bestselling Author

10:15 am Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Kona Coast Ballroom

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Apptio, an IBM Company

10:45 am Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

Agentic AI and the Future of Work: Identifying High-Value Use Cases

Tropic Surf, Floor 2

Are AI agents the new tool for automating the manual and repetitive tasks we've learned to tolerate? This session focuses on practical, low risk use cases where agents can realistically step in today and potentially deliver measurable value. Panelists will discuss what that means for how work gets done and how leaders can rethink roles, training, and accountability without weakening the workforce they depend on. Hear how agencies are evaluating opportunities and building momentum without overcommitting too early.

Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

Jonathan Behnke, Chief Information Officer, City of San Diego

Brendan Daly, Chief Information Security Officer, Deputy Director, IT Architecture and Engineering, City of San Diego

William D. "Bill" Eggers, Executive Director, Center for Government Insights, Deloitte

Amir Sabet, PhD, Partner, AI Practice Leader, IBM Consulting

Data Enrichment for Government: Pulling Context from Chaos

Bay

As data volumes grow, so does the challenge of knowing what information is accurate, relevant and usable. This session explores how data enrichment can help bring clarity and context to information across the organization. Panelists will discuss practical steps to improve data quality and enable better decision making, positioning their teams for more advanced analytics and AI uses.

Moderator: Andrell Bower, Chief Data Officer, City of San Diego

Mazen Abugharbieh, Program Manager: Business Intelligence Manager, City of San Diego

Serena Blanks, Assistant Deputy Director, Department of IT – Architecture & Engineering, City of San Diego

David van Gilluwe, Chief Data Officer, City of Carlsbad

Marc Webb, Deputy Director, Office of the City Clerk, City of San Diego

Building Digital Access: Connecting San Diegans to Opportunity

Pacific, Floor 2

San Diego’s Broadband Master Plan outlines the path forward, and implementation is already underway. This session explores how digital navigators, public Wi-Fi, and community partnerships are expanding access and building digital skills that open doors for San Diegans. Hear directly from the people delivering these services and what it takes to connect residents to critical resources and opportunities.

Moderator: Ian Brazill, Assistant Deputy Director of Compliance and Digital Equity, City of San Diego

Jed Layson, Lead Digital Navigator, City of San Diego

Quentin Peterson, Skillbridge Intern, City of San Diego

Stephanie Swift, Lead Digital Navigator, Computers2Kids in partnership with City of San Diego

11:45 am Pacific

Lunch

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

12:45 pm Pacific

Bits and Bytes – No Free Lunch: Understanding Your Digital Privacy Tradeoffs

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

Free tools and online services are part of everyday life, but they often come with tradeoffs that we don’t fully understand. Your digital footprint doesn’t stop at work, and it can create real risk for government employees and the organizations they support. This session explores how data is tracked, aggregated, and shared, and what steps you can take to better manage your exposure.

Moderator: Brendan Daly, Chief Information Security Officer, Deputy Director, IT Architecture and Engineering, City of San Diego

Todd Hood, Chief Privacy Officer, Ethics, Compliance, and Labor Standards, County of San Diego

Joe Schiffman, Security Manager, City of San Diego

1:05 pm Pacific

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:15 pm Pacific

Concurrent Sessions

In AI We Trust? Civic and Public Acceptance of AI in Use

Tropic Surf, Floor 2

Cities deploying AI across service delivery, enforcement, and civic engagement face immediate risks alongside opportunities for transformation. This panel examines three urgent policy challenges: First, AI is reshaping complaint systems, legal filings, and regulatory participation while enabling potential misuse that distorts democratic processes and regulatory backlash. Second, realizing AI’s value requires moving beyond tool adoption toward operational transformation and proactive infrastructure management using real-time data. Third, one-time surveys to measure public trust are insufficient, failing to capture how acceptance evolves after deployment. Drawing on technical and policy research, this panel emphasizes longitudinal evaluation, organizational innovation and adaptive regulation, providing a framework to manage legal risk, guide innovation and measure public acceptance.

Moderator: Erik Johnson, Visiting Professor, Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

Professor James Cooper, California Western School of Law

Professor Anya Samek, Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

Dr. James Short, Lead Scientist, San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego

Building Trust in Real Time: Government Comms in the Digital Era

Bay

Traditional approaches are no longer enough in a world shaped by social media, video and real-time information. As communication habits shift, agencies are taking a closer look at how they reach and engage the public. This session examines how organizations are beginning to adapt to more timely, accessible and effective approaches.

Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

Nicole Darling, Director of Communications, City of San Diego

Alexander Hempton, Chief Innovation Officer, City of San Diego

Ron Vazquez, Web Services Manager, City of San Diego

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

Hosted by: Jonathan Behnke, Chief Information Officer, City of San Diego

2:15 pm Pacific

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Kona Coast Ballroom

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Apptio, an IBM Company

2:35 pm Pacific

General Session – AI in San Diego: Use Cases at Work

Coral Reef Harbor Ballroom

Across San Diego, agencies are beginning to test where AI can make a difference. This session brings those efforts together, showcasing practical use cases and early lessons learned. From reducing manual work to improving decision-making, hear what is being explored today and what it takes to move from idea to implementation in a government setting.

Moderator: Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

Serena Blanks, Assistant Deputy Director, Department of IT – Architecture & Engineering, City of San Diego

Stefan Grundmann, Interim ERP Development Manager, City of San Diego

3:35 pm Pacific

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Kona Coast Ballroom

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

4:05 pm Pacific

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

Crowne Plaza San Diego

2270 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
619-217-1101

Get Directions To
Crowne Plaza San Diego

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Jonathan Behnke
Chief Information Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of San Diego

Christopher Bennett
Deputy Director
Public Utilities
City of San Diego

Serena Blanks
Assistant Deputy Director
Architecture & Engineering
City of San Diego

Kirby Brady
Director
Environmental Services Department
City of San Diego

Ian Brazill
Assistant Deputy Director of Compliance & Digital Equity
Department of Information Technology
City of San Diego

Steve Chen
Information Services Program Manager
Police Department
City of San Diego

Jessica Contreras
IT Director
Office of the Mayor
City of Encinitas

Brendan Daly
Chief Information Security Officer
Department of Information Technology
City of San Diego

Alex Hempton
Chief Information Officer / Director
Performance and Analytics Department (P&A)
City of San Diego

Ashish Kakkad
Chief Information Officer
Sheriff's Department
County of San Diego

Arlo Magpantay
Deputy Director
Enterprise Applications
City of San Diego

Maureen Medvedyev
Deputy Director Digital Governance and Strategic Operations
Department of Information Technology
City of San Diego

Tracey Sandberg
Chief Technology Officer
IT
Port of San Diego

Nathan Short
Director
IT
Encinitas Union School District

Chad Vargason
Chief Information Security Officer
County of San Diego

Industry Representatives

Sheila Bayati
Client Partner
IBM Consulting

Arun Ganesan
Senior Manager
Deloitte

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: June 10, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

Contact Information

Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:

Raquel Figueira
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1341
E-mail: rfigueira@erepublic.com

Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!

Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

Crowne Plaza San Diego

2270 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
619-217-1101

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Room Block

Room Rate: $237 per night, single or double
Rate Cut-Off Date: May 25, 2026
To Make a Reservation:
   Phone: 1-866-257-7930 and reference “CDG room rate” or the San Diego Digital Government Summit.
   Online: Group Reservation Link
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel.

Map and Directions

https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/san-diego/sancp/hoteldetail/directions

Event Parking

Self-parking: $15 per day; $25 overnight 
Note: No trailers or RVs allowed. 

Enter the parking lot on Hotel Circle North, at which the parking gate will dispense a parking pass. We have secured a discounted parking rate of $15. There are two options to pay. First, guests can pay upon entry at the discounted rate and will receive a receipt, which they will need to show as they depart. Or, guests can pay upon departure by grabbing a discounted parking voucher from the registration table, and show as they depart to receive the discounted rate. 

Parking fees subject to change without notice.