61st Convention Facts to Know

We are pleased to offer an online registration for the ATU’s 61st Convention taking place from August 18-22, 2025, in New York City, NY at the New York Hilton Midtown located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019. Please note that registration for the ATU’s 61st Convention is online only and no longer available by paper form and mail.

To complete your registration online, go to www.atu.org/convention. Select the button Register Today for the 61st Convention. Once you have completed the online registration and it has been submitted successfully, you will receive an immediate notification by email stating it has been received. The next step is to send the registration fees ($195 per person except that the fees are $50 for 12 and under) to the International President’s office by check or money order. When the ATU receives the payment for your registration fees, this complete your registration, and you will be emailed your final confirmation.

Once the International has processed your local union’s monthly membership report for May 2025, we will mail credentials to your Local’s financial secretary. Included will be the original version of the credentials as well as a duplicate copy. Both the original credential and duplicate credential must be completed, ensuring that each contains the local union’s seal, the signature of the president, and the signature of the recording secretary. The original credentials must then be returned to the International. You must retain the duplicate copies, and you must bring those duplicate copies to the Convention.

Upon arrival, if you are a delegate, you must first check-in at the Credentials counter located on the 2nd floor Promenade of the Hilton Midtown hotel to complete your credentials and receive your badge. Once that has been completed, you should proceed to the registration counter also located on the 2nd floor Promenade of the Hilton Midtown.

If you are a guest or speaker of the ATU Convention, you must check-in at the ATU registration counter located on the 2nd floor Promenade of the Hilton Midtown to collect your badge and all materials necessary to attend and participate at the Convention.

There will be signs directing you to the ATU Convention credentials and registration counters, both of which are located on the 2nd floor Promenade of the Hilton Midtown.

Convention credentials and registration check-in counters will be on the 2nd floor Promenade of the Hilton Midtown during the following days and times:

• Friday, August 15, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
• Saturday, August 16, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Sunday, August 17, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Monday, August 18, from 7:00 to 9:00 AM

Please reserve your hotel room in one of the two following ways:

1. Call the Hilton Midtown hotel at 1-800-445-8667 and use the group code ATU25; or
2. You may also book your hotel using the following link: https://book.passkey.com/go/ATU25Attendees

The deadline to reserve your hotel room at the Hilton Midtown is midnight ET on July 11, 2025.

Please note you will be responsible for room charges, taxes, and incidentals. Upon checking in at the hotel front desk, you will be required to present identification and a credit card for all charges. There will be an incidental hold on your credit card in the amount of $25.00 per night. This is to cover any incidental and possible damage during the stay. Provided no funds are used, the hold will be released at check-out, which depending on the guest's financial institution’s procedures, can take up to 30 days to release.

If you are a DELEGATE to the ATU’s 61st Convention and have any issues with making your overnight hotel reservations at the Hilton Midtown using the link or phone number described above, please email convention2025@atu.org. In your email, state your full name, Local Union #, and departure and arrival dates, and we will complete your room reservations. Delegates are responsible for hotel fees and charges associated with your overnight room reservations. The ATU has reserved sufficient rooms for all DELEGATES to the 61st Convention.

You may contact the hotel directly at 1-800-445-8667 to inquire about paying in advance by check.

The ATU guest room rate in our Convention room block at the Hilton Midtown is $269 plus applicable taxes per night for lodging accommodations starting Saturday, August 16, night through Friday, August 22, night. Please note that there is a certain number of rooms available under the ATU Convention room block, and reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hotel check-in time is 3:00 pm and check-out time is 12:00 pm.

Parking: Valet parking is available at the Hilton Midtown and the hotel’s valet rates will apply (PDF). Parking apps such as ParkWhiz or SpotHero are encouraged if you need alternate parking.

Wear your badge at all times! Delegates and guests are required to show their badge to gain admittance to the Convention Hall (Grand Ballroom located on the 3rd floor at the Hilton Midtown).

The 61st Convention welcome reception will be held at Rockefeller Center on Sunday evening, August 17, from 6:00-10:00 pm. Rockefeller Center is a short walk (5-7 minutes and .3 miles) from the Convention at the Hilton Midtown hotel. Casual attire is recommended.

Delegates and guests are invited to assemble in the Convention Hall (Grand Ballroom located on the 3rd floor at the Hilton Midtown) for the opening Convention ceremony which will begin promptly Monday, August 18, at 8:30 am.  The Convention doors will be open at 7:30 am.

On Monday, August 18, the ATU is hosting an evening featuring Mama Foundation Harlem Gospel Choir and The Midtown Men (the original Jersey Boys cast) at Radio City Music Hall. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the show will start at 7:00 pm and last until approximately 10:00 pm. Radio City is a short walk (5-7 minutes and .3 miles) from the Convention at the Hilton Midtown hotel. Casual attire is recommended.

On Tuesday, August 19, delegates and guests will have the opportunity to be transported from the Hilton Midtown to one excursion of their choice from the options below for an afternoon of entertainment and sightseeing.

Please note that you must RSVP for one of these excursions in advance during your registration; there will be no tickets available “on-site” during the week of the Convention.

Your event tickets will be distributed to you at a special “Destination and Events” counter across from the check-in registration counter on the 2nd floor of the Hilton Midtown hotel. Excursion departure times will be staggered.

1. New York Orientation Tour: "New York, New York, it's a wonderful town. The Bronx is up, but the Battery is"… always running! See all the sights that make the "Big Apple" so special - Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Macy's, Chinatown, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Little Italy - and much, much more. You will see all this on a bus tour designed to introduce you to the history, the sights, the cultural attractions and the ethnic diversity and contributions of the many minorities who call New York their home. Approximate duration is 4 hours.
2. Harlem Tour: Upper Manhattan / Harlem is graced with parks, wide boulevards, and rows of fine brownstones, handsome churches, flourishing artistic and educational institutions. Experience the diversity and richness of these communities on a bus tour and learn about the history, revitalization, art, and future of these neighborhoods. Approximate duration is 4 hours.
3. Statue of Liberty Tour: With its combination of breathtaking views and living history, the Statue of Liberty Museum stands as an inspiring and dynamic part of the Liberty Island experience, inviting visitors to dive into the story behind the sculpture and immerse themselves in unique artifacts. Opened in 2019, the 26,000 square-foot museum is a destination unto itself. Beautifully designed, universally accessible, and housing an extraordinary and engaging collection of American heirlooms, the Museum enhances visits to the Island with interactive exhibits that enable visitors to explore the Statue’s grandeur without the need for additional advanced reservations or tickets. Transportation to/from Liberty Island includes ferry and bus. Approximate duration is 5 hours.

Please note there are limited tickets for the Harlem and Statue of Liberty tours and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

A reception will be held on Wednesday, August 20, beginning at 7:00 pm and ending at 11:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom located on the 3rd floor at the Hilton Midtown. Passed heavy hors d'oeuvres, food stations, and entertainment will be included. Business/Cocktail attire is recommended.

Please be sure to visit the ATU History Room located in the Beekman Ballroom, which will be open during the following dates and times:

• Friday, August 15 - 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday, August 16 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday, August 17 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Monday, August 18 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Tuesday, August 19 - 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Wednesday, August 20 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The exhibit will showcase the collaborative program between ATU International, ATU Local 113, the Toronto Transit Commission, and Centennial College focusing on making buses safer for workers and riders through the implementation and evaluation of innovative technologies and design concepts. There will information shared on shaker table seat testing, data from fully enclosed workstation barrier pilots, and discussion of blind spot evaluation and mitigation. Please stop by to hear more about this vital work and to tell us what vehicle safety improvements you want to see.

The ATU Bus Design and Innovation Exhibit located in the Regent Ballroom will be open during the following dates and times:

• Friday, August 15 - 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday, August 16 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday, August 17 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Monday, August 18 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Tuesday, August 19 - 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Wednesday, August 20 - 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Convention proceedings will be available to all attendees on the day following the sessions on the ATU Convention website at https://www.atu.org/convention and on the ATU Convention app.

To travel to and from NYC, you can use planes (flying into JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark), trains (Amtrak, NJ Transit, Long Island Railroad, Metro-North Railroad), bus (Greyhound), or cars, and utilize public transportation within the city.

Please note that the ATU is not arranging for shuttle service for delegates and guests to/from airports, train stations, bus stations, etc. and the Convention at the Hilton Midtown.

FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS FLYING BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES TO ATTEND THE ATU 61st CONVENTION: You Must Have a Valid Passport. Please consult https://travel.gc.ca/ for updated information on travel restrictions, provincial regulations, and related items.

FOR DOMESTIC TRAVELERS IN THE UNITED STATES: Beginning May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now enforces the REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel. Travelers must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid U.S. passport, to board domestic flights.

If you do not yet have a REAL ID, we strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid any potential disruptions to your travel plans.

To learn more about REAL ID requirements, acceptable forms of identification, and how to apply by visiting www.dhs.gov/real-id.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THIS GUIDE TO TRAVELING TO/FROM NEW YORK CITY: Please click here for our guide to traveling to/from New York City.

We ask that those who wish to discuss some matter or to socialize, do so well away from the Convention hall area so as not to distract those working inside.  Please silence all cell phones during Convention proceedings.

Please send your questions to Convention2025@atu.org.