Florida Society of Rheumatology 2026 Annual Meeting

The Florida Society of Rheumatology 2026 Annual Meeting will be held at Loews Sapphire Falls Universal. The four-day meeting will host practicing rheumatologists and practice managers.

Sponsors are invited to participate in one of four levels of support, plus additional sponsorship opportunities to help raise brand awareness. Please use the enclosed application form to share your sponsorship interest with FSR staff. Sponsorship Manager Joe Daraskevich is happy to answer specific questions. Interested sponsors can reach him by sending an email to joe@fsrmd.org.

Representatives

Names and emails for all representatives must be submitted by July 1. All rules and regulations will be emailed to each individual representative. However, it is still the responsibility of the person completing the exhibit application to ensure each one of their representatives has received all rules and regulations, including the exhibit schedule.

Only three representatives per company (apart from those in Levels I-IV) are permitted each day. Extra representative badges must be purchased directly from FSR by July 1. Each level has a maximum number of representatives that may attend each day (see chart on page 2). You may change the reps each day but NO morning and afternoon rotating is permitted.

Every representative from your company MUST have a badge no matter their title or the amount of time they will be in the exhibit hall. All solicitation must be done in the exhibit hall. Representatives are not permitted in any of the meeting areas, near classrooms, in foyer or registration area, etc. unless they are registered for that day.

Badges will be printed at the registration table so representatives can confirm the correct spelling and credentials. You may NOT wear your company badge at any time per ACCME rules.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be made in writing, no later than June 19. Companies that alert FSR by that deadline will still be charged a $500 cancellation fee. Cancellations after that time will not be refunded.

If the FSR Annual Meeting has to be canceled due to a natural disaster or other reasons outside the organization’s control, refund options will be determined at that point.

Please Note: All sponsors will receive additional information about hotel reservations, shipping, electricity, badges and more in the months leading up to the conference. Please direct any specific questions to FSR Corporate Relations Manager Joe Daraskevich at joe@fsrmd.org.

Sponsored Events

Companies exhibiting at the Florida Society of Rheumatology Annual Meeting are prohibited from planning any events or dinners until an event application is approved by FSR leadership.

No other functions (i.e. meetings at dinner, bar, foyer, etc.) are permitted. Attendees are only instructed to attend events that are approved by FSR.

Space is limited for sponsored events and those events are restricted to Level IV–Platinum and Level III–Gold supporters. FSR is accepting applications from sponsors at those levels and will assign dates on a first come, first served basis.

FSR will advertise all product theaters multiple times via emails and printed programs. It is the responsibility of the exhibiting company to provide FSR with the title of the talk, speaker name, venue, time, how to RSVP and who is invited to attend.

If we do not have this info, all advertisements will go out as TBA. However, it is your company’s responsibility to solicit attendees for your event. It is the sponsoring company’s responsibility to turn in event information as quickly as possible to receive maximum exposure.

Hotel Accommodations

Sponsors can make your reservations directly with Loews. The exhibit application must be approved by FSR prior to making hotel reservations for representatives. Reservations in the FSR room block must be made by June 19.

Sponsorship Recognition

Companies giving $17,500 and above will be recognized during the Sponsor Reception on Friday evening.

This is a time for registrants to show their appreciation to those that support FSR in a big way. Sponsor lapel pins will be given to each company signifying their level of sponsorship.

We will also have a Sponsor & Fellow Awards Buffet Brunch on Sunday for any representatives connected to companies higher than Exhibit Space Only.

Shipping

Booth materials should be shipped to the advance warehouse no more than 30 days before the conference. Exhibitors will receive their booth number prior to the meeting so they can include that information when shipping.

ESI/JM Freight
7580 Exchange Drive
Orlando, Florida 32809
Hold for: FSR
Guest Name/Booth #

Exhibit Set Up/Teardown Hours

Set up will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 16 and tear down will be from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18.

No company or representative will be allowed in the exhibit hall prior to the dedicated set up time because the floorplan needs to be finalized with hotel staff.

Space Allocation and Assignment

Booth assignments are provided by FSR three weeks ahead of the conference and no sooner. Please understand space is limited and FSR staff will do its best to accommodate legitimate requests.

Exhibits cannot project beyond the space allotted. No interference with the light or space of other exhibitors will be permitted. All banners or posters of any kind must be set on top or behind your exhibit table and must fit in your designated space.

Exhibitors are responsible for damage to property (see “Responsibility Agreement”). No signs or other articles shall be posted, nailed, or otherwise attached to any of the pillars, walls, doors, etc. in such manner as to deface or destroy them. No attachments shall be made to the floors by nails, screws or any other device.

Registrant Prize Drawing Card

Each registrant receives an Exhibit Hall Passport that needs to be marked by various exhibitors. Attendees will spend breaks collecting proper notation from sponsors until their passports are full.

Attendees who complete their passports will be entered in prize drawings including electronics, medical supplies and more. Sponsors are welcome to donate prizes to create brand awareness and drum up excitement.

Registrant List

A list of attendees will be emailed to each exhibiting company three times:

• One month prior to the meeting
• Two weeks prior
• One week following the meeting

The list will include the attendee’s name and city only.

Electricity

Sponsors will need to request electricity in advance for any needs related to an exhibit. Basic electricity requests will include one normal outlet.

Any additional electricity needs can be purchased directly through the hotel. All electricity orders are provided at an additional cost on top of the sponsorship price.

Display Requirements and Restrictions

The Florida Society of Rheumatology retains the right to deny the exhibition of inappropriate items and products. Please contact FSR staff if you have any questions.

Drugs, chemicals or other therapeutic agents listed in AMA’s New and Non-Official Remedies, National Formulary or U.S. Pharmacopeia, may be displayed.

Proprietary drugs, mixtures and special formulas may be displayed if documentary evidence of their acceptance by ethical medical organizations is on file with the Convention Manager.

New, unlisted and/or initial display items must be submitted for clearance prior to opening of the convention. Clinical and laboratory tests and evaluation on such items must be submitted at least three months prior to opening date of convention.

The same restrictions apply to books, advertisements in medical journals or other publications on display and to all promotional literature.

Irregular Canvassing and Distribution of Advertising Matter

Solicitation of business or conferences in the interest of business except by exhibiting firms is prohibited. No solicitation for conferences/meetings other than FSR will be permitted.

Exhibits of Electrical and Radiographic Equipment

Machines and apparatus operated by electricity must be shown as “still” exhibits. Practical demonstrations of x-ray apparatus and accessories or any noisy apparatus of any kind will not be permitted.

No objection will be made to the utilization of electricity for illuminating purposes or for operating smaller diagnostic instruments and electrotherapeutic apparatus which do not distract or annoy other exhibitors.

Subletting of Space

No subletting of space is permitted. Each firm represented in the Exhibit Hall must sign the regular Exhibit Application and Agreement.

Any person or firm subletting space, as well as the one purchasing space, will be subject to eviction with no refund.

Uncontrollable Eventualities

The Florida Society of Rheumatology will take all reasonable precautions against damage or loss by fire, water, storm, theft, strike or any other emergencies of that character but does not guarantee or insure the exhibitor against loss by reason thereof (see Responsibility Agreement).

Responsibility Agreement

The exhibitor assumes the entire responsibility and hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, and defend the Florida Society of Rheumatology (FSR), Loews, the affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees and partners of each (“Indemnified Parties”) harmless against all claims, losses and damages, including negligence, to persons or property, governmental charges or fines and attorney’s fees arising out of or caused by Exhibitor’s installation, removal, maintenance, occupancy or use of the exhibit premises or a part thereof.

In addition, the exhibitor acknowledges that the Indemnified Parties do not maintain insurance covering exhibitor property and that it is the sole responsibility of the Exhibitor to obtain business interruption, property damage and comprehensive general liability insurance.

Corporate Partnership

The Florida Society of Rheumatology is proud to extend a hand of partnership between our membership and any eligible organization through a Corporate Partnership.

This is a yearly partnership that links FSR and like-minded organizations.

We would appreciate your assistance in helping the FSR fulfill our mission as follows:

Our Functions, Aims and Goals

• Represent the physicians practicing Rheumatology in the State of Florida, and fulfill the role of the professional society for rheumatologists in Florida.
• Further the goals of the American College of Rheumatology.
• Provide education for the practicing rheumatologist, the practicing physician in other specialties, paramedical personnel, the patients themselves and the community.
• Take an active interest in the economic side of medicine to ensure quality care of patients with chronic diseases by helping third party payors better understand that in most instances, there are various treatments for chronic diseases, and that these treatments involve considerable time and effort.
• Represent the specialty of Rheumatology in negotiations with governmental and private third party payors.
• Facilitate recognition of the role of the rheumatologist as the provider of choice for patients with arthritis, chronic pain, osteoporosis, and musculoskeletal disease.

Listed in this prospectus are the Levels of Partnership, outlining various benefits you will receive when you agree to partner with the FSR. The larger the support, the more benefits offered.

For explanation purposes:
CAC stands for Contractor Advisory Committee
CSRO stands for Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations.