The Drug Information Association attracted record attendance for its annual meeting in Boston, despite striking food service workers and union members picketing in front of the convention center during the meeting.

The meeting, held June 22–26 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, attracted 8,900 delegates, the most in the association’s 44-year history. However, it fell on a weekend when food service workers at the BCEC and Hynes Convention Center went on strike as a result of a labor dispute with Aramark Corp., which runs food service at both facilities.

Striking workers aside, the attendance soared on the strength of the program, said DIA officials. “This year we received the largest-ever number of abstracts for the annual meeting,” said Jeffrey Sherman, MD, FACP, the annual meeting program chairman, in a press release. The conference drew delegates from 56 countries and six continents, including Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and, Australia. Also, there were 850 exhibitors, 368 sessions, and 1,100 speakers.