3-Day Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Conference & Challenge

Tampa, FL

September 17-19, 2025

The 2025 Crisis Negotiator Seminar and Challenge will be a 3-day event hosted by the Bay Area Negotiator Group. This is a unique opportunity for hostage/crisis negotiation teams to attend a seminar and participate in a complex team negotiation competition.

Day 1 - Seminar / Training

A series of presentations and case studies relative to contemporary issues in crisis negotiation.

Day 2 - Crisis Negotiation Challenge

A full-scale scenario involving entire crisis negotiation teams with live role players, incident command, intelligence workflows, and trained judges. Judging criteria will be provided to each of the teams prior to the event.

Day 3 - Seminar / Training

A half-day of presentations, case studies and awards presentation. The afternoon will be a networking session encouraging teams to connect with each other in the Tampa Bay Area.

Agency leadership and tactical operators are encouraged to attend the seminar and challenge for training and observation. Individuals may register to be placed on an ad-hoc, multi-agency team. Early registration is encouraged as the competition will be limited to 10 teams.

Teams participating in the competition must provide at least one person to a judging pool. Judges must have attended at least a 40-hour basic course and have at least 2 years of negotiation experience. Trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. Although we are capping the competition entry to 10 teams, individuals are encouraged to sign up and come to the seminar and the competition as an observer, judge, or role player.

This is a regional qualifying event for the National Competition held by the National Tactical Officer’s Association (NTOA). Refer to NTOA.org for more information.