Omaha—More Than You Can Imagine!

I recently attended a Planning Committee meeting in Omaha for the 2023 AJA Conference & Jail Expo. What an eye-opening experience that was! If you have never been to Omaha, you will be pleasantly surprised when you arrive there for our conference in May.

The convention center is clean, modern,, and easily accessible from all of the hotel we have contracted with for the conference. The area around the convention center is also clean, vibrant and inviting. All of the hotels are a short walk away. The Hilton Omaha, which will be the main hotel, is a short walk across the sky bridge from the convention center.

The Hilton will have newly renovated rooms just in time for our conference. The first floor is optimally designed for networking. It’s a very large area with a bar in the middle, plenty of plush seating all around, large screen TVs, and a large patio if you prefer to sit outside. If you order food, you will notice that it is brought out from the kitchen to the servers by a robot—again indicative of the modern vibe of the downtown area. We also have rooms available for attendees up the street at the Marriott Downtown. It’s one of the nicest Marriotts I have ever seen. The lobby looks better suited for a Ritz Carlton.

The area also features countless restaurants, brew pubs and speakeasies, including one called the Wicked Rabbit. The name brings to mind a popular dining option in Omaha—the carrot dog. It’s a roasted and seasoned carrot served up like a hotdog. It falls under the category of don’t knock it until you try it. If it’s not your thing, you can always be assured of getting a great steak in Omaha.

The downtown area also features a scenic riverfront park, which spans 72 acres. The park is a new and recently completed development with many events and attractions. Another 130 acres nearby is dedicated to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which ranks among the top 5 zoos in the world. I also recommend that you tour both if you have any downtime.

Another must-see is the Squirrel Cage Jail across the river in Council Bluffs. It was the world’s only three-story rotary jail, and it is now a museum that you can tour.

Of course, you can rely on some things never changing about the AJA Conference & Jail Expo. You have come to expect exceptional workshops on a variety of hot topics, and that will be the case in Omaha. Every year, our Jail Expo is by far one of the largest exhibit halls in the nation dedicated to solutions for local corrections. The AJA Jail Expo is where you go to discover solutions that will make your job easier and safer, while improving the effectiveness of your operations.

This will be one AJA Conference & Jail Expo that you won’t want to miss, so get registered and book your hotel today! See you in Omaha!

Stay safe.

CHRIS D. DANIELS, MPA, CAE Executive Director American Jail Association