Great Lakes Islands Summit 2026
October 4-7, 2026 · Mackinac Island
Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) will host its seventh Great Lakes Islands Summit on Mackinac Island, Michigan, October 4–7, 2026. This periodic gathering brings together leaders and community members from island communities across the Great Lakes to share ideas, build relationships, and explore solutions to common challenges. The Summit will feature local perspectives from Mackinac Island residents including several days of structured discussions, networking, and collaborative learning.
Programming will include breakout sessions on topics such as tourism and marketing, island economics and advocacy, historic preservation, and local planning. A unique guided boat tour around the island will feature narration by a local expert discussing how the community protects its natural/cultural features and balances environment and economy. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in field-trip experiences focused on housing development, environmental stewardship, and essential infrastructure systems, offering practical, place-based insights.
Getting to Mackinac Island
- There are ferry docks in both Mackinaw City (in lower Michigan) and in St. Ignace (in the Upper Peninsula).
- Driving directions to Mackinaw City: click here
- Driving directions to St. Ignace: click here
- There are two ferry lines that serve Mackinac Island. It is up to you to decide which line you would like to book for your travel. Both ferry lines operate out of both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
- There are a variety of parking options at each of the ferry docks. Staff at the ferry company will inform you of options and direct you to parking upon arrival.
- Upon arrival to the island, guests of large resort hotels, including Mission Point Resort, can enjoy automatic luggage delivery to their hotel. Guests of smaller hotels and B&Bs can arrange with a dockporter on the dock to have your luggage delivered to your hotel. The ferry staff will provide guidance about this specific process.
- The Mission Point Conference Center is approx. 1km from the ferry dock and is easily walkable. Horse Drawn Carriages run continuously from the docks to Mission Point for a fee of $9.
- You may arrange for horse-drawn carriage transportation 24 hours a day to/from any two points on the island by calling Mackinac Island Carriage Tours at (906) 847-3323. Carriage fees vary from location to location from $9 to $11 per person. Cash is highly encouraged. All carriages have a two-fare minimum, and tipping the driver is expected/encouraged.
Weather
- October in Northern Michigan is variable. Bring a sweater or a warm rain jacket. It is occasionally warm in October, so bring a lighter option as well. The Summit will include an optional boat tour and may be cold and/or wet.
Event Overview
Host Hotel & Conference Center: Mission Point Resort
- Sunday, October 4: plan to arrive by 4:00pm.
- Event Check In: 4-5pm, followed by welcome, opportunities to meet locals, and a group dinner.
- Monday, October 5 (full day): official event kickoff; our traditional "parade of islands," breakout sessions on topics including economics, tourism, historic preservation, advocacy, and recreation. Monday will also include a field trip excursion boat tour aboard the Isle Royale Queen III.
- Tuesday, October 6 (full day): GLIA business session, concurrent breakout sessions, optional tours/field trips. The evening will conclude with Island Trivia.
- Wednesday, October 7 (half day): full group discussions, next steps, and summit closing before noon.
- For more info about Mackinac Island, visit mackinacisland.org
Meals
- Your registration covers reception and dinner on Sunday night, all three meals on Monday and Tuesday, and breakfast on Wednesday.
Questions?
For general GLIA questions, email Matt Preisser, GLIA Coordinator at preisserm@michigan.gov
For general Summit questions and logistical questions regarding Mackinac Island, please contact Philip Rice at price@stewardshipnetwork.org
For refunds, cancellations, and other transaction-related questions, contact Lizzy Courtois at finance@stewardshipnetwork.org
Accommodations
Please remember that accommodations are not included in your summit registration and must be arranged separately. GLIA has arranged for a room block at the Mission Point Resort Conference Center. As an attendee you may enjoy a discounted rate at Mission Point and convenient access to the conference locations. We strongly encourage all attendees to book their lodging as early as possible, especially since space can fill up quickly. For information on other lodging options on Mackinac Island, visit the link below.
Complimentary Room Policy
Mackinac Island offers a variety of lodging options. Most attendees will find their own lodging. GLIA offers one complimentary hotel room (double occupancy) for each participating island. These rooms are intended primarily to support individuals with financial need, though others may be considered depending on availability. The process for assigning these rooms is not first-come, first-served, but rather will be handled in August based on who is registered for each island by August 17. Access to a complimentary room is not guaranteed. If you are able, we strongly encourage you to book your own lodging at the time of registration to ensure availability. Mackinac Island remains busy well into October.
- Register by August 17 to be considered for a complimentary room (1 per island). Each island cohort will be contacted by GLIA to determine room assignments.
- Register by September 3 to enjoy the discounted room rate provided by the host hotel, Mission Point Resort. Note that the discounted room block is limited and is first-come first-served. You must book your room at Mission Point Resort by September 3 to access the GLIA rate, and the room block may fill up even earlier. We strongly encourage all attendees to book their accommodations as soon as possible.
- After September 3 you may still be able to reserve a room at Mission Point Resort, but we cannot guarantee rates or availability.
Note: participants are responsible for any additional travel and personal expenses, including but not limited to ferry tickets, parking fees, luggage handling fees, shuttle transportation, taxi services, bicycle rentals, carriage rides, gratuities, and other incidental expenses. These costs are not included in Summit registration even if you receive a complimentary room assignment. Participants should plan and budget accordingly for any optional services or activities they choose to utilize during their visit.
Tax Deductibility
Expenses of professional development—including travel and lodging—when incurred for the purpose of maintaining or improving your skills in your present profession may be tax- deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for details and guidance. Your registration fee is not a tax-deductible donation to The Stewardship Network; if you make an additional donation beyond your registration fee you will receive a tax receipt with your transaction receipt.
Health Protocol
For the safety and wellness of fellow attendees, please do not attend the event if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, influenza, or any other contagious ailment.
Transfer, Cancellation, Refund Policy
If your plans change and you are unable to attend the Summit, we are happy to transfer your registration to someone else, please send a note to finance@stewardshipnetwork.org. If you prefer to receive a refund, we will follow the schedule below:
- Before August 1, 2026: Full refund minus $25 processing fee.
- Before September 1, 2026: 50% refund.
- On or after September 1, 2026: Beginning in September we are unable to refund your registration fee, which goes directly to non-refundable expenses incurred by hosting the event. We appreciate your understanding.