Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
NGPX 2026 is a premier event dedicated to patient experience and healthcare transformation. Taking place from December 2 to 4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California, this event gathers healthcare professionals to share insights and strategies for improving patient care.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and participate in interactive sessions designed to foster collaboration and innovation. NGPX 2026 takes place in Palm.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: NGPX 2026 takes place from December 2 to 4, 2026, at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, CA.
- 2Scale and Focus: This event focuses on patient experience and healthcare transformation, bringing together industry leaders.
- 3Organiser: NGPX is organized by WBR, a leader in healthcare events.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include healthcare executives, patient experience officers, and clinical directors.
- 5Entry / Access: Registration is available online, with various ticket options.
Why visit
Attending NGPX 2026 offers healthcare professionals the chance to learn from leading experts in patient experience. Participants will gain insights into best practices, network with peers, and discover innovative solutions to enhance patient care. The event features interactive sessions and wellness activities, making it a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Why exhibit
Exhibiting at NGPX 2026 provides organizations with direct access to key decision-makers in the healthcare sector. Exhibitors can showcase their solutions, engage with potential clients, and build valuable relationships. This event is an ideal platform for companies looking to enhance their visibility and demonstrate their commitment to improving patient experience.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Chief experience officers and patient experience directors at hospitals and health systems - own HCAHPS and CAHPS performance, service recovery programs and the overall experience strategy for their organisation.
Nursing and clinical leaders (CNOs, directors of nursing, unit managers) - translate experience data into bedside practice, nurse leader rounding and staff engagement.
Quality, safety and performance improvement teams - connect patient experience metrics to quality reporting, safety event follow-up and accreditation readiness.
Digital health and patient engagement leads - evaluate digital front door, care navigation, scheduling and messaging platforms that shape the patient journey before and after the visit.
Patient access, revenue cycle and contact centre leaders - own the first touchpoints (scheduling, registration, billing communication) that drive satisfaction scores.
Marketing, communications and patient relations teams - handle reputation, complaint resolution, service recovery scripts and patient storytelling.
Physician leaders and ambulatory/medical group administrators - align clinician communication and shared decision-making with experience targets.
Patient and family advisors, plus health plan and employer experience leads - bring the consumer voice and purchaser perspective into experience design.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Patient engagement and digital front door platforms - vendors selling portals, scheduling, wayfinding and pre-visit intake that reduce friction across the patient journey.
Survey, feedback and experience analytics providers - CAHPS/HCAHPS survey administration, real-time feedback, comment analysis and dashboarding for experience teams.
Care navigation and care coordination software - tools for rounding, discharge follow-up, referral tracking and longitudinal patient communication.
Clinical communication and rounding systems - secure messaging, nurse call integration and mobile rounding apps used at the bedside.
Workforce engagement and staff recognition platforms - products aimed at the employee experience side of the patient experience equation (burnout, recognition, coaching).
Patient education, translation and accessibility vendors - multilingual content, health literacy tools and accessible communication for diverse patient populations.
Healthcare CRM and consumer relationship management providers - marketing automation, reputation management and patient acquisition tools for health systems.
Consultancies, advisory firms and patient experience training providers - coaching, mystery shopping, service excellence programs and experience design studios serving provider organisations.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Patient engagement and digital front door: Portals, online scheduling, pre-visit digital intake, wayfinding and messaging tools that shape how patients find, book and prepare for care.
Experience measurement and CAHPS/HCAHPS analytics: Survey platforms, real-time feedback capture, comment coding and benchmarking dashboards used to track patient experience scores and act on them at unit level.
Care navigation and follow-up: Referral tracking, discharge follow-up, rounding and care coordination software that keeps patients connected between encounters.
Clinical communication and rounding tools: Secure messaging, mobile rounding apps and nurse call integration that support leader rounding and bedside communication.
Workforce engagement and recognition: Staff coaching, recognition, pulse survey and burnout-reduction platforms, reflecting the link between employee experience and patient experience.
Patient education, translation and accessibility: Multilingual and health-literate content, plain-language tools, interpreter services and accessible design for digital patient touchpoints.
Healthcare CRM, reputation and service recovery: Relationship management, complaint and grievance workflows, reputation monitoring and service recovery programs for provider organisations.
Advisory, training and experience design services: Consultancies, coaching, mystery shopping and human-centred design studios that help health systems redesign patient journeys.
Location & Facilities
Venue
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
74-855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260, United States
Facilities
Parking
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Palm Desert, United States
Why it matters
On 2026-12-02 to 2026-12-04, NGPX 2026 in Palm Desert gives medical buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (venue hotel)
upscale
Palm Desert - Country Club DriveUSD 219–359 / night
Upscale desert resorts - Palm Desert golf corridor (PGA West / Cook Street)
upscale
Palm Desert - Cook Street and PGA WestUSD 180–300 / night
Midscale chain hotels - Highway 111 corridor, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage
midscale
Palm Desert / Rancho Mirage - Highway 111USD 110–190 / night
Value and limited-service hotels - Indio, La Quinta and Palm Springs
value
Indio / La Quinta / Palm SpringsUSD 75–140 / night
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Bus (SunLine Transit)
Estimated costUSD 2.50-6 single metro/light-rail journey (contactless)
Rideshare / taxi
Estimated costUSD 35-75 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Airport transfer (PSP to resort)
Estimated costUSD 35-75 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from PSP to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forPalm Springs International Airport (PSP) to JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from ONT to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forOntario International Airport (ONT) to JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from LAX to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forLos Angeles International Airport (LAX) to JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Weather
Palm Desert in early December is dry, sunny desert weather with a wide day-night swing. Expect afternoon highs around 20-23 C (68-74 F) and overnight lows around 6-10 C (42-50 F), with very low rainfall and bright skies most days. The conference runs indoors, but the resort is spread across outdoor walkways and evening receptions are often held outside, so bring a light jacket and layers. Dry air and strong sun mean hydration and sunscreen matter even in winter.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Confirm mobile roaming or a local SIM for business visitors to the United States.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Dress and tone
Business casual is the standard for sessions, with resort casual for evening receptions by the pools and lawns. Healthcare conference audiences tend to be collegial rather than formal, but blazers are common for speakers and vendor meetings.
Desert resort rhythm
The JW Marriott Desert Springs is a large spread-out property with outdoor walkways, waterways and multiple buildings. Build 10-15 minutes into your day for moving between the lobby, meeting rooms and the exhibit area, and keep a layer handy for the temperature drop after sunset.
Getting around
Palm Desert is car-oriented outside the resort. Rideshare is available but waits can stretch at peak conference times, so pre-book airport transfers and share rides with colleagues for off-site dinners along El Paseo.
Tipping and payments
US tipping norms apply: 15-20 percent at restaurants, a dollar or two per bag for hotel staff, and card payment is accepted almost everywhere. The local currency is the US dollar, so no exchange is needed for visitors from the United States.
Health system context
Attendees come from US hospitals, health systems and medical groups, so conversation references HCAHPS, CAHPS, CMS reporting and payer contracts. If you are visiting from outside the United States, expect acronym-heavy sessions and ask peers to unpack the reporting terms.
Time and connectivity
Palm Desert observes Pacific Time (UTC-8 in December, no daylight saving). Mobile coverage is good across the Coachella Valley; resort wifi is typically available but conference venues can throttle bandwidth, so download agendas and demos in advance.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Palm Springs International (PSP) is the closest airport, about 22 km and 20-30 minutes from the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, with connections typically routed through Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles. Ontario International (ONT) is roughly a 1 hour 15 minute to 1 hour 30 minute drive and offers more domestic frequencies, while LAX is the best option for international arrivals at about 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours by car. Early December is high season in the Coachella Valley, so book both flights and the resort room early; observed fare rows in our captures were US domestic references only, so confirm live fares and connection times on the airline or Google Flights before purchasing.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Palm Desert; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort: Palm Desert - Country Club Drive: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (venue hotel); Palm Desert - Cook Street and PGA West: Upscale desert resorts - Palm Desert golf corridor (PGA West / Cook Street); Palm Desert / Rancho Mirage - Highway 111: Midscale chain hotels - Highway 111 corridor, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing apps are commonly used in Palm Desert; confirm local availability before travel.
Public transit: SunLine Transit runs the Coachella Valley bus network serving Palm Desert; use its routes and schedules page to plan a trip toward the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, or take a short rideshare/taxi transfer (about 20 min from Palm Springs).
Parking: On-site parking is available at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort; confirm daily rates and hall access on the organiser or venue site.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: December 2026
Temperature: Daytime highs approx. 20-23 C (68-74 F); overnight lows approx. 6-10 C (42-50 F) in early December, with a sharp drop after sunset.
Seasonality: Early December is one of the driest windows of the year in the Coachella Valley, with rain rare and sunshine most days. It is also the start of the desert high season, so hotel rates and weekend availability tighten - book accommodation early and pack layers for cool evenings.
Packing: Daytime highs approx. 20-23 C (68-74 F); overnight lows approx. 6-10 C (42-50 F) in early December, with a sharp drop after sunset. Early December is one of the driest windows of the year in the Coachella Valley, with rain rare and sunshine most days. It is also the start of the desert high season,
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at NGPX 2026 usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
14 days out
Confirm your registration category and pass for the 2-4 December 2026 conference, and check whether the organiser requires a provider or vendor delegate type.
12 days out
Book flights into Palm Springs International (PSP) rather than leaving it late; early December is high season in the Coachella Valley and connections through Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Seattle or San Francisco fill up.
10 days out
Reserve your room at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa or a Palm Desert alternative, and ask whether the event room block rate applies to your dates.
9 days out
Read the published agenda and shortlist sessions by track - HCAHPS and CAHPS performance, digital front door, service recovery, workforce engagement or health equity - so you are not choosing rooms on the day.
7 days out
Prepare two or three concrete questions from your own organisation, for example how peers structure leader rounding or which metrics they use to prove a service recovery program worked.
6 days out
Arrange ground transport: rideshare or taxi from PSP to Palm Desert takes roughly 20-30 minutes, and SunLine Transit buses serve the Highway 111 corridor if you prefer public transport.
5 days out
Check whether you need a rental car for off-site dinners on El Paseo or a Joshua Tree side trip, and reserve it early if so.
3 days out
Pack for dry desert December: daytime highs near 20-23 C, overnight lows near 6-10 C, a jacket for evening receptions and comfortable shoes for a large resort property.
2 days out
Check in online for your flights, save your hotel confirmation and download the event app or agenda PDF to your phone for offline access.
1 day out
Charge devices and a power bank, pack business cards for networking receptions, and confirm your first morning transfer time so you reach the resort ahead of the opening session.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2NGPX 2026 registration concourse
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$230.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$380.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether NGPX 2026 fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For NGPX 2026, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Trade show solutions and benchmarking suppliers at NGPX 2026 in Palm Desert.
Min. budget
$868.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Trade show products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$3,906.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Palm Desert show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
Where is the event held and how do I get there?
The conference takes place at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the closest gateway, roughly 22 km (about 14 miles) and 20-30 minutes by car from the resort. SunLine Transit runs the Coachella Valley bus network along the Highway 111 corridor, and rideshare or taxi transfers from PSP are the most direct option with luggage.
What are the event dates?
The event runs from 2 to 4 December 2026 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California. Plan arrival on 1 December if you want to be settled before the opening morning.
Is parking available at the venue?
The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa has on-site self-parking and valet; the resort sits on Country Club Drive with a dedicated car entrance. Rates are set by the hotel and were not published in our sources, so confirm current daily parking charges with the hotel or the event registration page before you travel.
Who attends this patient experience conference?
The audience is provider-side healthcare leadership: chief experience officers, patient experience and patient relations directors, nursing and clinical leaders, quality and performance improvement teams, patient access and contact centre managers, digital health and patient engagement leads, plus marketing and communications staff responsible for reputation and complaint handling. Patient and family advisors and health plan experience leads also attend.
Is the event open only to healthcare providers, or do vendors attend too?
Both sides of the market are present: provider organisations send delegates, and solution providers - patient engagement platforms, survey and CAHPS analytics vendors, care navigation software, healthcare CRM and advisory firms - exhibit and sponsor. Registration categories and eligibility are set by the organiser, so check the registration page on patientexperience.wbresearch.com for the delegate type that fits you.
What topics does the programme cover?
Content centres on patient experience strategy and measurement: HCAHPS and CAHPS performance, service recovery, leader and nurse rounding, digital front door and patient engagement technology, care navigation and follow-up, workforce engagement and burnout, health equity in experience, and communication training. Confirm the specific tracks and session times on the schedule page, since the agenda is published by the organiser.
Will there be an exhibition or solution showcase?
Yes - patient experience vendors and service providers participate as exhibitors and sponsors alongside the conference programme, which is typical for this format. The exhibitor count and floor plan were not available in our sources, so check the sponsor and exhibitor pages on the organiser site for the current list.
What is the dress code?
Business casual is the norm: collared shirts, blazers or smart knits with trousers or dresses. Desert evenings in December drop sharply after sunset, so bring a light jacket or wrap for outdoor receptions, and comfortable shoes for walking between meeting rooms at the resort.
How should I book accommodation?
Start with the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, the venue hotel, which removes daily transfers. Ask the organiser whether an event room block or negotiated rate applies to the 2-4 December 2026 dates. Alternatives within a 10-20 minute drive include upscale resorts along the Palm Desert golf corridor and midscale chains on Highway 111 in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage; early December is high season in the Coachella Valley, so book early.
What is the weather like in Palm Desert in early December?
Expect dry, sunny desert days with highs around 20-23 C (68-74 F) and overnight lows around 6-10 C (42-50 F). Rain is rare in December, but the day-to-night temperature swing is large and the air is very dry, so pack layers and a refillable water bottle.
Do I need a rental car in Palm Desert?
Not strictly. The conference runs inside the resort, so once you are on property you can walk between sessions, restaurants and the pool deck. A car or rideshare is useful if you stay off-property, want to reach El Paseo shopping or Palm Springs, or plan side trips into Joshua Tree National Park.
How far is the venue from Los Angeles or Ontario airports?
Ontario International (ONT) is roughly 120 km (75 miles) and about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car; Los Angeles International (LAX) is roughly 210 km (130 miles) and typically 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours depending on traffic. Both are viable if PSP connections do not suit your routing.
Glossary
- Patient Experience (PX)
- The sum of all interactions a patient has with a healthcare organisation, from access and scheduling through treatment, discharge and billing. At this conference PX is treated as an operational discipline tied to measured scores, staff behaviour and journey design.
- HCAHPS
- The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, the standardised US survey of hospitalised patients used for public reporting and, for many hospitals, a component of payment. Experience teams at the event typically work directly against HCAHPS domain results.
- CAHPS
- The broader family of Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys covering ambulatory surgery, clinician and group practices, health plans and home health. HCAHPS is the hospital member of that family.
- Voice of the Patient
- Structured methods for capturing patient and family input - surveys, interviews, advisory councils, comment analysis - and feeding it back into service design and improvement decisions.
- Patient Journey Mapping
- A workshop technique that charts every step a patient takes across access, arrival, care delivery, discharge and follow-up, marking friction points and emotional highs and lows so teams can prioritise fixes.
- Shared Decision-Making
- A conversation model in which clinicians and patients choose care together using evidence and patient preferences. It appears in experience programs as a lever for both satisfaction and clinical appropriateness.
- Digital Front Door
- The digital entry points patients use before reaching a clinician - search, website, scheduling, portals, virtual visits and intake. Vendors and health systems at this event treat it as the highest-volume experience channel.
- Service Recovery
- The structured response when an experience fails: real-time complaint handling, apology and remedy protocols, and follow-up loops that turn a bad encounter into a retained patient relationship.
- Leader and Nurse Rounding
- Scheduled proactive visits by leaders or nurses to patient rooms or staff areas to surface concerns before they escalate. Rounding is one of the most commonly deployed, low-cost PX interventions discussed at provider conferences.
- Experience Officer / CXO
- The executive role accountable for patient experience strategy, usually pairing survey performance with culture, training and cross-department process change.
- CPXP
- Certified Patient Experience Professional, a credential offered by the Beryl Institute for practitioners working in patient experience roles. Many attendees hold or pursue it as a career marker.
- Care Navigation
- Guiding patients through complex systems - referrals, prior authorisation, scheduling, post-discharge follow-up - usually supported by software and navigator roles to prevent drop-off between encounters.
- Health Equity in Experience
- The practice of segmenting experience data by race, language, disability and payer to find gaps in communication, access and respect, then targeting improvement where scores lag.
- Employee Experience (EX) / Engagement
- Staff burnout, recognition and engagement measures that research and provider programs link to patient satisfaction. Many exhibitors at PX events sell into this adjacent budget line.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- patient experience conference 2026
- WBR patient experience 2026
- patient experience summit Palm Desert
- PX conference December 2026
- healthcare patient experience event
- NGPX 2026 Palm Desert
- patient experience leaders conference
- HCAHPS patient experience conference
- digital front door healthcare conference
- Palm Desert healthcare conference 2026
4 more alternate names hidden
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.