The NCUA training conference in Jacksonville, Fla., cost $1.9 million, about $175,000 less than originally budgeted, the agency announced on May 21.

Travel was the most expensive category at $672,650 followed by lodging at $522,070. The agency said it paid $83 per night at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.

The total cost of the “Pathway to the Future” National Training Conference, held April 28 through May 9, was $1,911,267.

There were more than 1,200 participants at the event, which came in $176,133 below budget. The NCUA said the conference cost $512,945 less than the 2012 event.

“Providing the credit union system with well-prepared and knowledgeable examiners is essential to protecting safety and soundness,” NCUA Executive Director Mark Treichel said. “The kind of professional development that takes place at the National Training Conference makes the examination process operate more efficiently and provides greater consistency.”

The main sessions were focused on supervisory committee audits, administrative actions, ethics, technology tools and professional development. The breakout sessions touched upon topics such as liquidity, interest rate risk as well as lending and compliance with new mortgage rules.

During the conference, the NCUA provided upgraded the standard required government personal identification cards for staff. The agency said doing the upgrades onsite has cut costs since staff does not have to travel to General Services Administration regional offices for the updates.