2026 SAMA Annual Conference

Name: 2026 SAMA Annual Conference
Start: 2026-05-18T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-05-20T23:59:59-05:00

May 18–20, 2026
Arizona Biltmore | Phoenix, Arizona

Join us in Phoenix for the 2026 SAMA Annual Conference — the premier event for forward-thinking strategic account management professionals. This is where high-impact learning meets real-world relevance. Whether you’re leading a global SAM initiative or building a program from the ground up, you’ll find the insights, tools, and community to help you deliver tangible results.

Held at the Arizona Biltmore — a luxurious desert oasis — SAMA’s flagship event will explore the frontiers of what’s possible, as you engage with a curated network of experts, practitioners, and peers who understand the urgency of strategic growth and customer value creation. Through dynamic keynotes, in-depth case studies, and highly interactive sessions, you’ll explore what’s next in strategic account management — from digital enablement and ecosystem partnerships to innovative collaboration models and customer co-creation.

The 2026 SAMA Annual Conference is your launchpad for transformation and execution, so you can lead with confidence, adapt with agility, and scale what works.

Don’t just attend. Come ready to challenge assumptions, rethink your approach, and return with a roadmap to guide your path to success.

Past attendees have included organizations such as:

Conference Keynote Speakers

Monday Keynote

Who should attend?

– Strategic/Global/Key Account Managers
– SAM Program Directors
– Account Team Members
– Field Sales Supporting Strategic Customers
– Sales & Marketing Executives
– Senior Management (Business Units & Geographies)
– Sales Support & Operations
– Sales Training & Development
– Human Resources
– Chief Sales Officers

Conference

Tracks

– SAM Program Design, Structure, and Management

This track is designed for senior leaders responsible for the strategy, governance, and performance of strategic account management programs, including Executives, SAM Program Leaders, Managers of SAMs, and Learning & Development. Sessions focus on how to design, scale, and continuously evolve SAM programs that deliver measurable business impact — for customers and for the enterprise.

Program leaders will explore best practices and real-world lessons across the full SAM lifecycle, including program architecture, account selection and segmentation, executive sponsorship models, talent and role design, enablement and certification, metrics and ROI, and cross-functional alignment. Emphasis is placed on moving beyond theory to execution — what works, what doesn’t, and how to course-correct as programs mature.

This track also addresses today’s most pressing challenges for SAM leaders: aligning SAM with corporate strategy, gaining and sustaining executive support, proving value through outcomes and results, integrating digital and AI-enabled tools, and building future-ready capabilities across global and complex organizations.

– Critical Skills for Strategic Account Managers

This track is designed for Strategic/Global/Key Account Managers responsible for driving growth, value creation, and long-term partnerships with an organization’s most critical customers. Sessions focus on the skills, tools, and approaches SAMs need to succeed in complex, multi-stakeholder enterprise environments.

Sessions in this track address financial skills, executive presence, leveraging AI, collaborating cross-functionally, engaging C-suite stakeholders, navigating customer organizations, uncovering growth opportunities, co-creating value, and shifting from seller to trusted advisor and business partner. Attendees will leave equipped to strengthen relationships, accelerate growth, protect revenue, and elevate their strategic impact within customer organizations.

– Trends in Strategic Account Management

This track is designed for all audiences interested in the emerging trends shaping the future of strategic account management. With the advances in AI, strategic account management is changing fast, and today’s most successful teams are adapting with smarter tools, stronger customer alignment, and more intentional account strategies. Attendees will leave with practical ideas and proven methods to strengthen key account relationships and drive long-term growth.

Agenda at a Glance

Sunday, May 17
4:00pm – 7:30pm	Registration Open
5:00pm – 6:00pm	Bonus Session
6:00pm – 7:30pm	SAMA Happy Hour

Monday, May 18
7:30am – 8:30am	Breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am	Keynote
9:30am – 10:00am	Break
10:00am – 11:15am	Concurrent Sessions
11:15am – 11:45am	Break
11:45am – 1:00pm	Concurrent Sessions
1:00pm – 2:15pm	Lunch
2:15pm – 3:30pm	Concurrent Sessions
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Break
4:00pm – 5:15pm	Concurrent Sessions
6:30pm – 9:30pm	Reception & Dinner

Tuesday, May 19
7:30am – 8:30am	Breakfast
8:30am – 9:45am	Keynote and Excellence Awards
9:45am – 10:15am	Break
10:15am – 11:30am	Concurrent Sessions
11:30am – 12:00pm	Break
12:00pm – 1:15pm	Concurrent Sessions
1:15pm – 2:30pm	Lunch
2:30pm – 3:45pm	Concurrent Sessions
3:45pm – 4:15pm	Break
4:15pm – 5:30pm	Concurrent Sessions
6:30pm – 7:30pm	Reception
Wednesday, May 20
7:30am – 8:30am	Breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am	Keynote
9:30am – 10:00am	Break
10:00am – 11:15am	Concurrent Sessions
11:15am – 11:45am	Break
11:45am – 1:00pm	Concurrent Sessions
1:00pm	Conference Adjourns

“Attending the SAMA Annual Conference was a meaningful and educational experience that elevated our strategic account management approach. The sessions offered actionable best practices that we’ve applied across our team, and the opportunity to connect with other account managers was invaluable. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow professionally and strengthen their strategic partnerships.”

“I've been working with SAMA since the mid 2000s. I got answers at my first annual conference. The rush, the fire, the adrenaline that you get from your first SAMA conference — I want my team to have that same experience. If you want your sales team to be viewed as the trusted advisor for your customers, join us at the conference. See you there.”

“Some of the sessions really blew me off my feet…interesting and disruptive ideas you can only find here.”

“For me the value lies in the ability to spend a few days sharpening my skills so that I am able to take new ideas back to my company so we can all as a team become better at managing our relationships with our key strategic accounts.”

Conference Venue

Arizona Biltmore

Rooted in the visionary design principles of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Arizona Biltmore blends timeless architecture with contemporary sophistication. Thoughtfully reimagined, the resort offers refined experiences for those who value elevated comfort, distinctive style, and exceptional, personalized service — all delivered with care and attention to detail.

SAMA Rate: $325.00 + 13.07% tax + $36.00 (Historical Preservation and Resort Fee) = $403.48 per night

Reservation Link: SAMA / Arizona Biltmore Reservation Link, OR call Central Reservations at +1 (800) 950-0086.

Venue Address: 2400 E. Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016
www.arizonabiltmore.com

Conference Dates: Monday, May 18 to Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Resort Fee/ Historical Preservation: A discounted daily Resort Fee of $25, Historical Preservation Fee $11 – will apply to your reservation.

Reservation Cut-off: The cut-off for reservations is Sunday, April 26, 2026, OR when the SAMA room block is FULL.

Hotel Cancellation Policy: To confirm a sleeping room within the room block, the sleeping room must be secured with a valid credit card. Cancellations made within 2 days prior to arrival will forfeit one night’s room and tax.

Any Questions please contact: registration@strategicaccounts.org