Midstream Matters: Attendees say Convention delivers value through connection, learning, and continuous improvement

Thank you to all who joined us in San Antonio for the 2026 GPA Midstream Convention. Results from our Convention survey have been tabulated, and responses are overwhelmingly positive and underscore shared optimism about midstream's future. Staff also studied and is implementing your recommendations for improvement.

Final tallies from Convention show success:

• 1,813 attendees - about the same as 2025 despite continued industry consolidation
• 98 speakers
• 54 sessions
• 556 companies represented
• 95 sponsors - a third consecutive record for Convention

For a second straight year, 99% of attendees said they received good or excellent value considering the time and money spent to attend. More than three in five selected excellent. This measure is important to the GPA Midstream team because it tells us the Convention continues to be an essential event on the midstream calendar.

Survey results tell us that connection is one of Convention's most important functions - 62% ranked networking and connecting with colleagues as their top reason for attending. Another 19% ranked it second. Overall, 97% of survey respondents said Convention met or exceeded their expectations for making connections, networking and socializing with new and existing contacts.

These connections facilitate the relationships that are vital to midstream. Our industry depends on coordination among operators, engineers, manufacturers, service providers, safety professionals, regulators and many others. These relationships enable the exchange of experience, wisdom, best practices, innovations, and problem-solving.

Befitting an industry and an organization built around technical expertise and innovation, learning was fundamental to the Convention experience. Survey results show that most attendees appreciated the offerings:

• 94% said Convention met or exceeded expectations for learning or training
• 96% said relevance to their jobs met or exceeded expectations

Written comments in the survey connected technical content with the opportunity to compare notes with peers. That combination - formal instruction and practical conversation - cannot be reproduced in a webinar or email exchange.

The survey also shows continuity and renewal. More than a third of registrants were first-time attendees. At the same time, almost half have been coming to Convention since before 2023.

We were grateful to see that 86% of attendees say they definitely or probably will attend next year when Convention moves to Arlington, Texas.

Responses also point to ways we can continue to improve. While we appreciate the positive feedback, the GPA Midstream team takes the critiques seriously. We spend more time analyzing pain points and suggestions for improvement than anything else related to the Convention survey.

We've already met as a team to address overlapping sessions, consider ways to reconfigure the app to better serve attendees, and continue improving the experience for newcomers. GPA Midstream is a member-driven organization, so staff listens carefully and strives to implement practical solutions and enhance value for registrants.

Safely gathering, processing, transporting, storing and exporting energy requires technical competence, sound standards, trusted relationships and continuous learning. GPA Midstream provides the places - like Convention - and processes - like our committee structure - where that work can happen across company lines.

The survey tells us the underlying model for GPA Midstream and the Convention is sound. We bring the industry together, make room for both experienced professionals and new participants, provide opportunities for people to learn from each other, and support the industry's drive for continuous improvement.