One Badge Covers a Day With No Exhibit Floor Open
HPBExpo27 runs March 3-6, 2027 at Music City Center in Nashville. One badge covers indoor and outdoor exhibits, education sessions and events for all four days. Wednesday, March 3 carries the most classroom hours on that badge and no exhibit floor at all.
Onsite registration and badge pick-up run 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM that Wednesday, so a badge collected on arrival is in hand before the first class. Education Day runs 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Manufacturer training runs 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Certification review courses and exams run 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Retailer Roundtables sit at 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM for HPBA members. The HPBA Affiliate and HPBAC receptions close the night from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM, and coat check stays open to 5:30 PM.
The organiser marks the schedule tentative, with all times Central.
Buy the Exam Before You Book the Flight
Two certification routes run at the show. Both require buying the course and the exam from the provider in advance. HPBExpo registration does not sell them.
The National Fireplace Institute reviews Wednesday and Thursday and runs exams Wednesday through Friday. Wednesday carries the Core Exam Review Course at 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, the Hearth Design Specialist Review Course at 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the Gas Exam Review Course at 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Thursday carries the Wood Review Course at 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM and the Pellet Review Course at 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Exam hours run 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday and Friday, and 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Thursday. NFI asks candidates to select HPBExpo27 as the review location when they purchase.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America runs the Certified Chimney Sweep review course and exam on Wednesday only, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Candidates bring the Chimney and Venting Essentials Manual (2019), the International Residential Code 2024, and a laptop or tablet for the exam. The exam splits into 100 multiple-choice questions on chimney and venting in one hour, then 30 open-book questions on the IRC in 90 minutes. CSIA awards six CEUs across four categories.
Thursday Opens at 10:00 AM
The Opening Session runs 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 4. Exhibits open at 10:00 AM and close at 5:00 PM. Show-floor education runs 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, manufacturer training 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the Industry Party 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Friday repeats the floor at 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with education to 4:15 PM and the Ultimate Awards Show and cocktail reception at 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
A day-use room fits that shape. A morning window holds the bag and the laptop while the Opening Session runs, and the same room serves a shower between the 5:00 PM floor close and the 7:00 PM party.
Saturday Closes at 1:00 PM
Saturday, March 6 runs 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the floor, with the organiser noting that the closing time is subject to change. Registration runs 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, coat check 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, manufacturer training 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and show-floor education 10:15 AM to 12:50 PM.
Three hours of floor time leaves the afternoon open. A day-use window carries the gap between the 1:00 PM close and a later departure, and Nashville International Airport sits 6.3 miles from Music City Center.
What the Day-Use Windows Cover
hotelSlots sells four slots across the day: morning, afternoon, evening and overnight. The platform puts its network at 103,857 hotels in 46 states and advertises rates up to 75 percent below the nightly rate with no booking fee. The Nashville directory lists 222 properties.
A read of the Nashville day-use shelf on 25 October 2026 returned 20 priced properties from $66 to $170, at a mean of $98.00. Those prices cover October stays, so treat them as market context for March 2027. Six of the 20 open a window at 7:00 AM, the hour Education Day starts: Best Western Plus Executive Residency Nashville sells 07:00 to 14:00, Sonesta Select Nashville Airport Suites and GLo Best Western Nashville Airport sell 07:00 to 13:00, Quality Inn Nashville - Opryland Area sells 07:00 to 15:00, and Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Green Hills and Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville open at the same hour. The downtown cards start later. Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown-Broadway sells 10:00 to 17:00 at 0.35 straight-line miles from Music City Center, which matches the Thursday and Friday floor hours to the minute.
The Property on Both Lists
AC Hotel Nashville Downtown, at 410 5th Avenue South, appears in the official HPBExpo27 room block and in the Nashville day-use directory. The directory prints no rate for it.
Every property in the official block sits within walking distance of Music City Center, per the show FAQ. Maritz is the only official housing provider, and the organiser warns that outside room offers are not endorsed.
Dates That Carry a Price
Badge rates step up. Early registration through December 7, 2026 costs $159 per non-member badge and $49 for member badges beyond the first four. Standard registration from December 8, 2026 through March 2, 2027 costs $189 and $69. On-site registration from March 3 in Nashville costs $239 and $89. HPBA members register their first four attendee badges free with a current six-digit member ID.
Negotiated room block rates end February 1, 2027. The Omni Nashville is the headquarters hotel, with AC Hotel Nashville Downtown, Cambria Suites, Embassy Suites Nashville Downtown, Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center, Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown, Residence Inn Nashville Downtown and SpringHill Suites Nashville Downtown completing the block.
HPBExpo is trade only and closed to the public. Retailers and dealers, service professionals, distributors, independent sales representatives, and design and build professionals register as attendees. Manufacturers and business service providers register through exhibitor badges.
