LINK Connect Guidelines

LINK Connect - 1:1 Hosted Meetings Program is facilitating 1,500+ double opt-in meetings between Retailers & CPGs and Solution Providers and we’re excited that you’ll be part of it!

You’ll get:

• A complimentary ticket to attend LINK2026
• To meet with up to 8 participating Solution Providers who have products, solutions and services that can help your business achieve its goals. Each Hosted Meeting is 15 minutes and double opt-in (you both swiped right).
• Up to $1,000 travel and hotel reimbursement. Travel and hotel costs–they’re on us!

Here’s what you need to do, and when you need to do it. Don’t worry, we’ll help you each step of the way with reminders. If you don’t get an email, check spam (from donotreply.link2026@eventpt.com), then let us know at registration@rila.org.
 

You Must	Takes You	Well email you on	Your deadline is
Complete Your Profile (LINK Connect Registration Deadline)	10-15 mins	Mon, Dec 8 9am ET	Thu, Jan 8 5pm ET
Opt In to LINK Connect Meeting Requests & Request Meetings	30-90 mins	Thu, Jan 15 9am ET	Tue, Jan 20 5pm ET
Accept Your LINK Connect Meetings	<5 mins	Mon, Jan 26 9am ET	Thu, Jan 29 5pm ET
Accept Calendar Invites for LINK Connect Meetings	<10 mins	Fri, Jan 30 9am ET	Fri, Jan 30 5pm ET
Attend LINK2026 and Join Your LINK Connect Meetings	--	Sun, Feb 1	Wed, Feb 4
Provide Feedback and Claim Reimbursement	<15mins	Thu, Feb 5 9am ET	Tue, Feb 17 5pm ET

Timing of Hosted Meetings

All the action takes place on Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3 and you’ll be in the room where it happens! As a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG, you must be available for all 16 slots, however we’ll schedule you for only up to 8 Hosted Meetings. You won’t miss any agenda sessions for meetings. We’ll send you calendar holds for your time slots when you complete your Profile.
 

Start (ET)	End (ET)	Mins	Monday, February 2	Tue, February 3
1:15 PM	1:30 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #1	Meeting Slot #9
1:33 PM	1:48 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #2	Meeting Slot #10
1:51 PM	2:06 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #3	Meeting Slot #11
2:09 PM	2:24 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #4	Meeting Slot #12
4:00 PM	4:15 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #5	Meeting Slot #13
4:18 PM	4:33 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #6	Meeting Slot #14
4:36 PM	4:51 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #7	Meeting Slot #15
4:54 PM	5:09 PM	0:15	Meeting Slot #8	Meeting Slot #16

Immediate Next Steps

Book Your Travel & Hotel

1. Once you’re registered as a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG, get your travel and hotel booked ASAP! Prices only ever go up and our room block will sell out, so book now to lock in the best prices. 

• Flights:
  • If you are participating in the Golf Tournament, plan to arrive Saturday, February 15. Shuttles depart at 7 AM on Sunday, February 1.
  • If you are participating in a Sunday Committee Meeting (Transportation and Logistics 1:30 - 3:30 PM or Supply Chain Leaders Council 3:30 - 5 PM) please plan your travel accordingly.
  • LINK2026 kicks off at 5 PM on Sunday, February 1. We recommend you arrive to the hotel by 4 PM on Sunday, February 1.
  • Departures are recommended after 1 PM on Wednesday, February 4.
• Hotel: We’ve secured preferential rates at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

Dec 8 – Jan 8
Complete Your Profile (takes 10-15 minutes)

You can do this on: Desktop ✅  LINK2026 Mobile App ✅

1. Start Your Profile on Mon, Dec 8, and complete it by Thu, Jan 8 at 5 pm ET.

• Tell us about yourself--select from 100+ data points! This information will help participating Solution Providers determine if they want to meet with you.
• Confirm your availability and we’ll send you invites to block your calendar. As a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG, you must be available for all 16 slots, however we’ll schedule you for only up to 8 LINK Connect Meetings.
• Share the love! Click Post on Social to tell your X followers and LinkedIn contacts that you’re participating in LINK2026! While you’re there, add your profile photo!
• If you’re an Organization Admin you can edit and complete profiles on behalf of LINK Connect Retailers & CPGs from your organization (they can thank you later!).
  • Check out the Org Admin Pro Tips at the end of these guidelines for more info.

2. LINK Connect Retailer & CPG Registration Deadline! To qualify for the LINK Connect Meetings Program, Retailers & CPGs must register before Mon, Dec 8 at 5 pm ET. Make sure any of your colleagues who want to get a free LINK Connect ticket for LINK2026 register before the deadline.

Jan 15 – Jan 20
Opt In to LINK Connect Meeting Requests and Request Meetings! (takes 30-90 minutes)

You can do this on: Desktop ✅  LINK2026 Mobile App ✅

1. Start opting in to LINK Connect Meeting requests and requesting meetings on Thu, Jan 15 and complete by Tue, Jan 20 at 5 pm ET.

• You must opt in to LINK Connect Meeting requests from (or request meetings with) at least 24 organizations.
  • We'll schedule only 8 LINK Connect Meetings max.
• Opt In to LINK Connect Meeting Requests:
  • LINK Connect Meeting requests you’ve received from participating Solution Providers will be displayed at the top of the screen when you log in.
  • Just click ‘Very Interested’ or ‘Interested’ to opt in. Opt-ins are saved automatically as you go.
    • ‘Very Interested' opt-ins (and meeting requests) get scheduled first, before 'Interested' ones.
• Request Meetings with Solution Provider Organizations:
  • You should request to meet every organization you’re interested in meeting with. You won’t have >1 LINK Connect Meeting with the same organization.
  • Just click ‘Very Interested’ or ‘Interested’ to request a meeting. Meeting requests are saved automatically as you go.
    • You can provide a specific reason why you want to meet an organization.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to request meetings! Tools like Bookmarks allow you to start requesting meetings and come back if needed to finish them.

2. Org Admins: You can opt in to LINK Connect Meeting requests and request meetings on behalf of LINK Connect Retailers & CPGs from your organization.

Jan 26 – Jan 29
Accept Your LINK Connect Meetings (takes less than 10 minutes)

You can do this on: Desktop ✅  LINK2026 Mobile App ✅

1. On Mon, Jan 26 at 9am ET, you’ll receive an email to review and accept each of your LINK Connect Meetings. Please do this by Thu, Jan 29 at 5 pm ET. It won’t take more than 10 minutes (if that!).

• As a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG, you must accept all (no more than 8) your LINK Connect Meetings by Wed, Feb 12 at 5 pm ET (takes <10 minutes).
• Failure to do this by the deadline will mean you cannot participate in the LINK Connect Program and you won’t be eligible to attend LINK2026 as a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG.

Jan 30
Accept Calendar Invites for LINK Connect Meetings

1.  Accept Your LINK Connect Meetings Calendar Invites: On Fri, Jan 30, you’ll receive a calendar invite for each LINK Connect Meeting, including details of precisely who you’ll meet from each Solution Provider. YOU MUST ACCEPT all calendar invites THE SAME DAY by 5 pm ET. This is a quick turnaround, but it won’t take more than 5 minutes.

• We can’t change any meeting times (fun fact: the LINK Connect Program is enabling 1,500+ meetings!) and cannot reschedule LINK Connect Meetings.
• If a person you’re scheduled to meet is no longer available, we’ll let you know--people have emergencies, so this does happen once in a while!
• If you’re no longer planning on attending LINK2026, let us know at registration@rila.org

Feb 1 – Feb 4
LINK2026 TIME! Join Your Meetings!

1. Join Your LINK Connect Meetings: As a LINK Connect Retailer & CPG, you must join all your scheduled meetings (no more than 8). Here’s what you need to know:

• Where are the meetings? All meetings are held in a dedicated LINK Connect Program area and each meeting is assigned a table number.
• How do I know where to go? Check the LINK2026 mobile app or your calendar invites for the assigned table number for each meeting, and at the start of each scheduled meeting proceed directly to the assigned table.
• When should I arrive? You should arrive at the LINK Connect Program area a few minutes before your first scheduled meeting. There is no check-in required. If you have any questions, there will be a Q&A desk.
• What happens if the person I’m meeting doesn’t show up? Give them 5 minutes and if they’ve still not joined, click the “Mark as No Show” button in the LINK2026 mobile app.
• What else should I do?
  • Do join each meeting on time and don’t exceed the allotted 15 minutes for each scheduled meeting.
  • Do check the table number for each scheduled meeting--each of your meetings will be at a different table. There is a 3-minute transition time between each meeting.
  • Do download the LINK2026 mobile app ahead of your meetings (if you haven’t already). You can take notes and request follow-ups in the app. 

Feb 5
Provide Feedback and Claim Reimbursement

You can do this on: Desktop ✅ LINK2026 Mobile App ✅

1. Help us help you! On Thu, Feb 5, you will receive an email to provide feedback on your meetings, the program and the event to help us improve LINK--please share your thoughts!
   • Once you provide feedback, you can download a summary of your meetings, including your notes and contact details of who you met.
2. Show me the money! From Wed, Feb 18 - Fri, Apr 27, submit your expenses via the LINK2026 platform to claim up to $1,000 of travel and hotel reimbursement. We provide reimbursements on a rolling basis and no later than Fri, Mar 27.
   • You must have provided feedback to claim your reimbursement.

_{SOME FINE PRINT: Our participant list is confidential, and shouldn’t be (1) shared with anyone else, (2) downloaded, or (3) used other than as described by us. Based on information you receive as part of the LINK Connect Program, you can’t solicit participants (including individuals you’re scheduled to meet prior to your meetings) outside of the event other than as we permit. If you breach this provision, you may be eliminated from further participation and barred from future programs. Do not assume that requests (or opt-ins) to meet with you as part of the LINK Connect Program indicate any interest in meeting with you outside of the program.}