1,300 Leaders, One Big City: Notes from IDA’s 72nd Annual Conference

By Mark Rowlands, Director of Contracts, Community Improvement Districts

Hi. I’m Mark Rowlands. I’m responsible for managing contracts with our partners and overseeing special projects related to Community Improvement Districts. Earlier this month, I joined a number of Downtown Council (DTC) and Community Improvement District (CID) staff on a trip to Toronto for the International Downtown Association’s (IDA) 72nd Annual Conference & Marketplace. It had been about 12 years since my first IDA conference, so this one felt brand new all over again – and it was an amazing, inspiring, and fulfilling experience.

Place Management

The annual conference brings together more than 1,300 leaders and staff from organizations like ours, representing cities across the United States and around the world, to discuss emerging trends in place management. Topics included downtown development strategies, clean and safe program initiatives, the quality-of-life challenges every city is grappling with, alleyway transformations, the growing role of AI tools in our industry, public art and public space activation, and a variety of walking, biking, and boat tours.

I have to say — Toronto is an incredible city. It’s massive. And diverse. People are on the move at all hours, whether on foot, on bikes (owned or rented), in cars and rideshares, or via buses, streetcars, trains, and even boats, thanks to its spot on the shores of Lake Ontario. One travel note: Torontonians do not jaywalk.

The sessions I attended were interesting and informative – after all, I was there for a conference – and I came home with plenty of fresh ideas for Kansas City. More importantly, I returned with a renewed drive to improve our organization and our city. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Relationships Matter

But honestly, my favorite part of the trip was getting to hang out with our colleagues from Midtown KC Now and Plaza District Council.

After the daily sessions wrapped up, we wandered the streets of Toronto together, admiring the architecture, public art, and public spaces – all while hunting down the next great meal, whether it was up the street or across town in Chinatown. It was a good reminder to make more of an effort to socialize with these amazing people who love our city as much as I do – more than just at meetings or once a year at IDA. Because I’m definitely going back next year. Houston, here I come!