Toastmasters International -2025 International Convention FAQ Page

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Event

When and where will the in-person 2025 International Convention take place?

Toastmasters is excited to host the 2025 International Convention at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and the Pennsylvania Convention Center in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, from Wednesday, August 20 through Saturday, August 23, 2025. Please note, both venues are connected by an indoor skybridge for a short and convenient commute to sessions.

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (Host Hotel and Event Venue)
1201 Market Street, (guest entrance at 1200 Filbert Street).
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19107

Pennsylvania Convention Center (Event Venue)
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19107

What are the registration costs for the Toastmasters 2025 International Convention?

See these registration and pricing options for the Toastmasters 2025 International Convention.

How will the 2025 International Convention be held?

The 2025 International Convention will be an in-person event. Online attendees will have the option to stream the event live or On Demand. On Demand viewing will be available after the conclusion of the event.

Which time zone will all convention events be listed in?

The convention will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and all events and activities will be in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)/Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -4, which is the local time in Philadelphia. For your convenience, a time zone converter is listed at the top of each agenda page.

Is there an age restriction for in-person convention attendees?

At this time, all convention attendees must be at least 18 years of age to attend the 2025 International Convention. Due to the nature of the event, Toastmasters International does not prohibit any speech topic, content, or language, as we recognize attendees may learn much about the world around them from listening to others speaking on a variety of subjects. For these reasons, Toastmasters International requires attendees to be adults at least 18 years of age.

I am accustomed to purchasing special souvenirs each year at the convention; is merchandise available this year?

Attendees will be able to purchase exclusive convention souvenirs onsite. Please note that you must use a major credit card for purchase; no cash will be accepted.

In-person attendees can also preorder the #Toastmasters2025 Souvenir Bag. Please note, pre-ordered souvenir bags must be picked up onsite at the Registration Desk and cannot be shipped.

Travel

What airport should I fly to?

View travel information by visiting the Hotel & Travel page.

How do I get to the hotel from the airport?

There are many options for travel into and around Philadelphia, including train, ride share, and taxi. View a list of transportation options to find what best fits your needs.

I am coming to the convention from outside of the United States. Where can I find visa information?

United States Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Please refer to this website to determine if you are from a Visa Waiver Program participating country.

Travelers under the Visa Waiver Program must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and have the correct type of passport prior to boarding a U.S.-bound air or sea carrier. You may apply for a valid ESTA at this website and confirm if you have the appropriate type of passport.

Applying for a United States Visa
If your country of citizenship does not fall under the Visa Waiver Program, you will need to apply for a United States Visa. You may refer to this website for more general information about United States Visas.

Generally, applying for a United States Visa consists of three (3) main steps:

Completing the necessary paperwork for your visa application
Making an appointment at your local United States Embassy or Consulate
Attending your visa application appointment

The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The main visa application form that you will need to complete to begin your visa application process is called a DS-160. Please refer to this website for more information about this form and how to appropriately complete it.

Electronically submitting your DS-160 online application is only the first step in the visa application process. Once you have electronically submitted your DS-160 online application, you must contact the embassy or consulate at which you wish to apply to confirm whether you need to be interviewed by a consular officer, and to schedule an interview. You can find a list of U.S. embassies and consulates here, with links to their websites where you can find information about scheduling a visa interview appointment.

Visa Appointment Wait Times
Advance travel planning and early visa application are important. Please refer to this site for more information on how long the expected wait time is at your local United States Embassy or Consulate.

Where can I request a Letter of Invitation?

A Letter of Invitation may help to support your visa application. Please click Request Letter to submit your request.

Is there a discounted hotel rate available?

Toastmasters International has negotiated a discounted room rate of $209, plus taxes and fees, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the host hotel of the 2025 International Convention. This special rate is available to Toastmasters convention attendees through July 23, 2025, on a first-come, first-served basis, while supply lasts. For all available information on the event hotel, please click here.

Is the discounted room rate available if I extend my stay outside of the convention dates?

The Toastmasters discounted room rate is reserved for the nights of convention events. Outside of the event dates, cost and reservations are subject to the hotel’s availability and rates.

Do you recommend making airfare and hotel reservations prior to registering for the convention?

No. Registration for the 2025 International Convention is on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, it is recommended that you make airfare or hotel reservations after receiving confirmation on your convention registration.

What is the cost for parking at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown?

The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown offers valet parking at the daily rate of $69.50 USD. There are additional parking lots in the vicinity with posted rates, and availability is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

Does the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown have in-room Wi-Fi?

Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to Marriott Bonvoy members who provide their rewards number upon check-in. Create a free Marriott Bonvoy account to enjoy free wi-fi in your room when making your reservation.

What is the hotel reservation cancellation policy?

Room reservation cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to the arrival date; failure to cancel 72 hours prior to arrival will result in the hotel retaining the full amount of your reservation. No refunds will be provided.

Why should I book a room at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown?

Booking a room in the Toastmasters room block is an important way to support the organization and keep overall meeting costs as low as possible. Toastmasters commits to a block of rooms at the hotel on behalf of conference attendees and has a financial obligation to fill the block. Please help us avoid potential penalties and control costs for future events by staying at the official hotel. Staying within the block is also more convenient and helps you stay connected with the informal activities and networking opportunities that occur at the hotel during the convention.

I am looking for a roommate at the convention, is this something you can assist me with?

Unfortunately, we can’t assist you in searching for a roommate, but we can recommend utilizing social media to help. Post a status on the Facebook event page and get the conversation started.

Registration

How do I view all registration options and register for the online convention?

Registration options for the in-person event are explained here: Toastmasters International 2025 Convention Registration.

How do I purchase an additional ticket to the President’s Celebration or other special event tickets?

To assist in tracking meal and seating selection, as well as dietary needs, special event tickets must be purchased individually. Register the attendee using the registration link below to purchase their ticket(s). All special event tickets can be purchased in this manner without purchasing a convention registration.

Register here

How do I purchase an additional ticket to the President’s Celebration at the same table?

President’s Celebration tickets, which includes dinner and dancing, must be purchased individually to assist in tracking meal and seating selection, as well as dietary needs. Communicate with your guest prior to purchasing your tickets so that you can both select the same table. If one of you finds that additional seats are not available at the same table, you can modify your registration to select a different table that will allow you to sit together.

Will there be a separate registration fee for the online and in-person 2025 International Convention experiences?

Yes, there will be a registration fee to attend the in-person experience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and a separate fee to attend the online experience.

How do I request a registration receipt/invoice for the in-person convention?

Upon registering, your confirmation email will include payment information for your records. Please check your confirmation email. Those unable to locate their confirmation email can request a receipt/invoice by emailing: conventionregistration@toastmasters.org. Please allow up to two (2) business days for a response.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation requests for onsite and online convention registration must be submitted no later than July 16, 2025 at 11:59 pm MDT (UTC -6). Cancellations will not be accepted after this date. Please note, onsite cancellations cannot be transferred to online registration as they are two separate systems. All onsite cancellations will be subject to a $25 USD administrative fee.

If you have questions or need assistance in updating your onsite registration category (i.e. Past International President, District Director, Member), please email conventionregistration@toastmasters.org.

Special Groups

How do I become a Helping Hand convention volunteer?

Interested in becoming a Helping Hand convention volunteer? Learn more and express interest through this form. This step does not automatically secure your position as a volunteer. Once the unique Helping Hands volunteer registration opens, those chosen will receive a special invitation to register as a Helping Hand and will then be able to register. Volunteer opportunities are limited and based on a first-come, first-served basis.

I completed the Helping Hand’s volunteer interest form but have not received any communications, what do I do?

This may occur if you registered for the in-person convention as a general member, attendee, or other group. If you are already registered, the registration system cannot send you communications on the Helping Hand’s program. Email conventionregistration@toastmasters.org for assistance in updating your registration while volunteer spaces are available.

How do I express my interest in becoming a sponsor?

Toastmasters International invites you and your company to take part in a growing global showcase experience! Learn more about presenting your products or services in front of thousands of communication enthusiasts from around the world.

I would like to speak or present at this or a future Toastmasters International event. How do I submit myself for future consideration?

Do you have an amazing talent for capturing a crowd? We welcome dynamic moderators, panelists, education speakers, keynotes, comedians, and more, who have experience addressing large international audiences, either in person or online (or both). Join the speaking elite of Toastmasters presenters; apply today!

On Demand Viewing

How will I be able to participate in the 2025 International Convention from home?

The On Demand convention experience can be accessed from any internet-connected device, including your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. Stay tuned for more information about the On Demand experience.

What is included in the on demand convention experience?

When you purchase the online convention experience, you gain access to livestreamed events happening in real time, allowing you to immerse yourself in the excitement of the convention as it unfolds.

Can't catch a session live? No worries! By the end of August, On Demand replay will be available to you as an online attendee, giving you the flexibility to rewatch the recorded events at your convenience. Once On Demand, these recorded events will be accessible with unlimited viewing, so you can revisit favorite moments or catch up on missed sessions. So, whether you're tuning in live or catching up later, the online convention experience provides you with a comprehensive and flexible way to engage with convention highlights.

Why is there a charge for the 2025 online convention experience?

Toastmasters International must use a variety of vendors to provide key services to ensure that the convention is available to online attendees. The registration fee allows Toastmasters International to cover the incurred vendor costs.

The online and On Demand digital event platform asked me to create a profile. What does this mean and what is visible to others?

The attendee profile is considered your convention badge. Fellow convention attendees will only be able to view your name should you choose to chat within the event sessions.

Who do I contact for assistance with my online convention access?

For technical assistance, please contact support@blueskylearn.com. Please note that support assistance is available Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)/ Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -5. If you contact support during business hours, the average response time is under one hour. If you contact support after hours, you can expect a response the following business day.

Which web browsers are recommended to participate in the online convention experience?

For the best experience, use Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer. If you don’t already have Chrome, you can download it for free at: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/.

How do I access the convention online once it begins on August 20, 2025?

Registered attendees can log into the online convention on August 20, 2025 at: https://www.pathlms.com/toastmasters

How do I receive a confirmation email after registering for the online convention?

Attendees will receive an Order Confirmation email once they have purchased the online convention experience.

We recommend "whitelisting," or adding the event email address to your address book, to ensures that all correspondence is delivered straight to your inbox and is not intercepted by a spam or junk mail filter.

Please add the following email addresses to your ‘allow’ list, i.e., put it on your safe list, so it does not go to spam/junk.

Does the online and On Demand digital event platform take into consideration the Americans with Disabilities Act; is it ADA-compliant?

Toastmasters International, in partnership with our third-party event platform vendor, is making every effort to develop and keep the convention platform available for all users, regardless of ability or disability. Please contact us if you find pages that are difficult to read or access via screen reader or other assistive devices. We will make every effort to solve difficulties you are having accessing any information included in the online experience. All concerns should be sent to conventionregistration@toastmasters.org.

I have an additional question that is not listed here. How can I get an answer?

As further details are finalized for the 2025 International Convention, additional FAQs will be added to this page. If you have any questions, please email conventionregistration@toastmasters.org.