Conference Connections

COMPLIMENTARY LUGGAGE CHECK

Attendees may check luggage in the Convention Center lobby near the Registration Center. The complimentary luggage check will be available only during the following time periods:

Saturday, 12 June   7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 13 June            7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday, 14 June     7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 15 June    7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 16 June        7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ( This time is incorrectly stated as 2:00 p.m. in the Final Conference program.)

SLA 2010 - ROOMS AT GREAT RATES ARE STILL AVAILABLE

The 2010 SLA Conference & INFO-EXPO is quickly approaching!

Rooms are still available at the Sheraton New Orleans, a co-headquarter hotel. Some of our evening unit receptions and open houses will be held at this location. The hotel is also giving attendees that stay there, FREE high speed internet. 

Make your reservations NOW!

Complimentary shuttle bus service between the Convention Center and the designated hotels will only be provided to guests booked within the official SLA Housing blocks.

Hotels will not accept direct reservations and any correspondence sent to hotels or SLA directly may result in substantial delays in processing your request.  All reservations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions, please contact the SLA Housing Office:
3141 Fairview Park Drive, #550
Falls Church, VA 22042
PHONE: +1.866.774.0486 or +1.703.770.3907
E-MAIL:   slahousing@expovision.com

Been there…done that

The past year was a tough year--that is one thing we can all agree on.  For the most part, 2010 is already shaping up to be just as challenging, with hints of good news sprinkled in.  

Many people are currently planning for 2010, and we have been getting e-mails about pricing for the 2010 conference in New Orleans.  Rates can be found on the conference Web site.  The early-bird rate is $445 until 2 April.  Hotel rates range from $102 to $194 per night.  This information should help most of you get an idea of what the costs will be this year.  

When I post or talk about our rates for conference, I often receive emails from members telling me they can’t afford our conference. I know some of you will say that the conference rate is too high, but for the same number of days, sessions, exhibitors and similar formats, my own professional conference cost $795 for registration in 2010.  I made the decision to pay my own way as I see the value and benefit of attending my professional association conference. Recently, Nancy Sansalone, SLA COO/CFO, added a posting about the rising cost of registration and why the association was forced to increase fees this year. 

In an effort to stretch dues even further for members, SLA suspended virtually all professional development and training opportunities for SLA staff in 2009 and 2010.  SLA does pay for a membership in ASAE, an organization for association professionals, and staff has access to some educational opportunities.  But for the most part, I’ve had to take my professional development into my own hands.  For example, in August 2009, I paid my own travel expenses to attend ASAE’s annual meeting, and in January 2010, I paid my own membership dues, conference registration, and travel expenses for PCMA, the Professional Convention Management Association.  I guess you could say that’s my SLA.  

Like you, I find the networking and educational sessions at an annual conference to be invaluable.  I go to PCMA to learn how I can make the SLA conference better each year.  I don’t feel like I can be away from conference industry events for  more than a year and still plan an  SLA conference that is of value to you, and that will keep you coming back.  So, I pay for professional development myself.

How do I do this? Obviously, it’s not cheap.  For the ASAE meeting, between airfare, hotel, food and incidentals, I spent around $1,000.  For PCMA, from which I just returned, I spent $1400 for registration, hotel, airfare and incidentals.  I also paid membership dues in PCMA for $360.00.

Based on the SLA Annual Salary Survey, I don’t make more than you do, nor do I have an unlimited amount of personal funds to fall back on.  I decided to make my professional development a priority, and must make some sacrifices to make that happen.  My husband and I set aside money each month for education (he’s in IT and has to maintain certifications), and know that it’s a good investment.

I also sometimes share a room at conferences, but I never stay outside the official conference hotels. Why is this important? As a meeting planner, I know that associations (like SLA) have to commit to filling a certain number of hotel rooms in order to get the best price for both those rooms and for the convention center facilities.  The larger the block committed to, the better the pricing overall.  If the rooms do not fill, the association loses in two ways:  it pays a penalty for the unfilled rooms, and it pays higher prices overall in the next conference site—meaning higher registration fees and higher hotel room costs.  Fortunately, we have some very reasonably priced hotel rooms in New Orleans. Find out more about the wide array of housing options here.

I eat at receptions, as we all do.  Sure, by the end of four days, I am tired of crudités and cheese.  But it does help with my budget.  If breakfast isn’t being served, I pack protein bars.  I set up alerts for airfares, and wait for the best prices.  (Check out Orbitz or Kayak for airfare alerts.)  It’s a game, for sure, but well worth it to me.  

Use Twitter to find colleagues traveling when you are, and share a cab from the airport.  Do a bit of research; cabs can be cheaper and easier than a shuttle service.  (And don’t forget to follow @sla2010 for conference updates!)

The registration fee for a conference is usually not negotiable.  But think about saving monthly to ease the burden a bit...and be sure to take advantage of the early-bird rates if you can.  And, the month you get back, start saving for the following year.  Most of us can find a few bucks each week to save, if we give up those few cups of coffee, that fast food lunch, or a few iPod downloads.  Feed the Pig offers tips for saving money.  

Professional development and growth are important to all of us.  And I wanted you to know that when I ask you to try to find a way to pay for it yourself if your employer can’t, it’s not just an idle directive.  I’ve been there, and done that, myself.  

BOOK NOW! The 2009 SLA Hotel cut-off date is 8 May

There are still hotel rooms available for SLA 2009!  Simply click here to book your Washington, D.C., hotel reservations today!

The SLA 2009 Conference rates are guaranteed through the cut-off date of Wednesday, 8 May. Please note that rates are subject to change after that date.

Hotels will not accept direct reservations, and any correspondence sent to hotels or SLA directly may result in substantial delays in processing your request. All reservations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Below are just a few of the hotels that offer convenience to the famous sites in Washington, D.C.:

The JW Marriott Washington DC is a luxury hotel located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., with easy access to several important monuments, the National Mall, museums and such cultural venues as the National Theatre, the Convention Center and the National Portrait Gallery. It is near the White House, one block from the Metro and 15 minutes from Reagan National Airport. All of the hotel's luxurious rooms have high-speed Internet access and 32" HD TVs with connections for your MP3 player and video camera. US$ 269 single/double.

The Renaissance Mayflower* is a proud member of Historic Hotels of America. Situated in the heart of the business district near the White House, this legendary hotel near Dupont Circle offers a timeless aura highlighted by an abundance of modern conveniences. Guests may dine at the hotel's stately Cafe Promenade, famous for an elegant Afternoon Tea. Unwind at the hotel's nationally recognized Town & Country Lounge, ranked one of the "Best Bars in America." The Mayflower is close to several national monuments, museums and the White House, as well as to three Metro subway lines. At the iconic Renaissance Mayflower, discover what a famous President coined "Washington's Second Best Address." US$ 249 single/double.

The newly renovated Washington Marriott Hotel* is ideally located steps away from historic Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and D.C.'s central business district. Convenient to George Washington University, Georgetown University, the Kennedy Center, and the Washington Convention Center, and two Metro stations. The Washington Marriott is also just 15 minutes from Reagan National Airport and a short commute to Dulles Airport. US$ 229 single/double.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us:

2009 SLA Housing Office
c/o EXPOVISION
3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 550 | Falls Church, VA 22042
Tel: +1.866.774.0486 or +1.703.770.3907 | FAX: +1.703.205.0235
E-mail: slahousing@expovision.com

We look forward to assisting you with your housing needs!

* Shuttle service provided from these hotels to the Washington Convention Center.

SLA 2009 Hotel Reservations - Rooms still available!

Housing for SLA 2009 has been open since January, but rooms are still available!  Simply go to the SLA Web site to book your Washington, D.C., hotel reservations TODAY!  Make your reservations as soon as possible to avoid sold out hotels.

Hotels will not accept direct reservations for the conference.  Any correspondence sent to hotels or to SLA directly may result in substantial delays in processing your request.  All reservations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

For your convenience, SLA will provide shuttle service between the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel and the Washington Marriott to the convention center.  

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us through Expovision:

SLA 2009 Housing Office
c/o EXPOVISION
3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 550
Falls Church, VA 22042
PHONE:  +1.866.774-0486 or +1.703.770.3907
FAX:  +1.703.205.0235
E-mail:  slahousing@expovision.com

Looking for a Roommate for SLA 2009?

A page has been added to the DC/SLA Chapter Conference Wiki to help those looking to share a hotel room at the SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO.

We hope that the wiki can facilitate roomsharing, but please note that attendees are responsible for verifying that the people you room with are SLA members/conference attendees.  SLA HQ and the D.C. Chapter are not responsible for the validity of the requests. 

Traveling with Kids to the 2009 Annual Conference?

Are you traveling to the 2009 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO with your family?  Do you need ideas for activities for children?  The Washington, D.C., Chapter has suggested visiting the Our Kids site to learn about events and activities in the D.C. metro area during your visit. You can view the public website or visit the Our Kids members area to view specific activities that you can do with your family while in the Washington, D.C., area.  

In order to access the members-only area, use the following login information:
Userid: sla@our-kids.com
Password: slaconference

You can also view the weekly newsletter or search the events database.

Questions?

Please contact Our Kids at info@our-kids.com for assistance. Let them know that you are an SLA member and are attending the 2009 SLA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

To find more suggestions for the Washington, D.C., area, make sure to check out the
Washington, D.C., Chapter Hospitality Wiki.

Amtrak Special - Lower Fares on Acela Express

Are you coming to the SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO?  Amtrak announced lower fares on the Acela Express through June 26, 2009, when you purchase your ticket at least 14 days in advance.

This promotion can not be used in conjuction with our Convention Fare Code X48W-959. 

For more information, go to the Amtrak Web site.

Airport Shuttle Service

Need shuttle service from the airport for SLA 2009?  SLA has negotiated a discount for Super Shuttle service to and from the D.C.-area airports.  Discounted service is available from 10 June through 25 June.  Be sure to take advantage of this great deal!  Click here for more information and the link to the Super Shuttle Web site with the discount code. 

Traveling by Train?

Amtrak is offering a 10% discount on the lowest available rail fare to Washington, D.C., between 9 June and 22 June. To book your reservation, call Amtrak at +1.800.872.7245 or contact your local travel agent.

Please note that reservations for convention specials cannot be booked via the Internet. When you call, be sure to refer to Convention Fare Code X48W-959.  Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class, or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges.  This offer is not valid on the Auto Train and Acela Service.