National Conference Expenses and Budget Tips for Attendees

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

This thread explores the various expenses and budgeting considerations for attendees planning to go to the national conference. Participants share their personal experiences regarding registration fees, accommodation, transportation, meals, and additional spending during the event.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in understanding the total costs beyond the registration fee, mentioning they have already booked their flight.
  • Another participant provides a detailed breakdown of potential expenses, including transportation, hotel costs, meals, snacks, and spending money for booths.
  • One participant shares their experience of budgeting around $500-$600 for the conference, including transportation, hotel, meals, and purchases from vendors.
  • Another participant mentions signing up for a conference club to manage expenses over time, noting the monthly deduction from their check.
  • Several participants inquire about potential incentives for earning conference attendance at a reduced cost, reflecting on past promotions.
  • One participant discusses the mechanics of using Conference Cash, expressing uncertainty about its application for expenses incurred during the conference.
  • Another participant notes that Conference Cash can be used for hotel payments and meals, providing clarity on its usage.
  • One participant suggests considering non-conference hotels to save on accommodation costs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the specifics of budgeting for the conference, with no clear consensus on the total amount needed or the effectiveness of various strategies discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal budgeting experiences and insights based on their attendance at previous conferences, reflecting a range of financial strategies and considerations.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants planning to attend the national conference may find the shared experiences and budgeting tips relevant as they prepare for the event.

28sal
28sal
Messages
34
hello i really want to go to national conference and i want to know besides the fee for registering (is it $545.00?) what other expenses or amount of money will i need. i already have my flight ticket reserved for my date to attend. but just wanted to know how much more money past consultants and current consultants take to spend. i defintly want to do a little spending. thanks for your help!:)
 
Registration is usually $200-250, depending on whether you make the early bird deadline. That's for one person. Spouses can attend conference, so double the registration if your spouse wants to go and wants to attend everything (guests have an a la carte registration in which they can select meals, general sessions, and workshops).Other expenses:
- transportation to get to Chicago
- transportation to get around IN Chicago (from airport to hotel, for example). Also includes transportation if you do any sightseeing. And if you drove to Chicago, allow about $20 a day to park at your hotel.
- hotel. Conference hotels are usually about $200 a night after taxes. Your costs will depend on how many people you put in the room and how many nights you stay.
- meals. There are some meals included in conference registration, but you will need to purchase a couple. How many is dependent on how long you're in Chicago. With registration we get: no meals on day 1 (unless you're an upper level director, then you get dinner), all 3 meals on day 2, and breakfast on day 3. Your budget will also depend on where you eat for those missing meals.
- snacks/beverages. HO usually arranges to have water (not bottled) available outside workshop rooms, but there are no other snacks included. Take your own or plan to spend some money at the convention center (there's a Starbucks and some vending machines)
- spending money for the booths. If there's a guest speaker, they'll have a booth with recordings and materials, and Merrill will be there. HO also makes some materials available for purchase (mini catalogs, postcards, recipe cards). In the past HO has had surprise boxes for sale at various price points. These were filled with retired products. FedEx is usually there to ship them home (and shipping can be paid with commission adjustment).
- home office tour. This will be part of your registration if you decide to take the tour. It's extra money, but includes transportation to HO and a box lunch.
- tips for cabbies and housekeeping at the hotel.It is possible to do conference on the cheap, but you must be disciplined about not shopping at the booths and getting caught up in the buying frenzy. You can also take water and snacks (or purchase them from a store in Chicago), so you aren't paying outrageous convention center prices for them.
 
Ann has everything covered!

I know that a "sandwich" through one of their vendors was about $9!!! Yikes! I always pack a bottle of water, granola bars, and cheese sticks. That way, if you get hungry (and you will...there is a lot of walking) you don't have to pay a stupid amount of $$ to eat something there at the conference, like Ann mentioned!

I think I did conference on about $500-$600 total. That included transportation, hotel, meals (splurging on at least one "big" night out) and going nuts buying stuff from Merrill. Since you can try on the products there, it is super. You can order your FOR SURE size, and see the quality. That way you can pass on things that look overpriced for the way they are made. Conference is really the only time I will buy from Merrill...and even that is because I have no choice if I want some PC clothing items!
 
Sign up now for conference club so it doesn't feel like 1 big chunk out of your check. PC will automatically take out what you request from your check so you never even see it. I signed up last August and it was about $25 a month. I took about $300 extra with me. We drove so we had to pay for tolls and gas. Otherwise it all went to hotel, food, souveniers (we went to Navy pier), a couple taxis since we stayed at a non-conference hotel and some stuff from Merrill.
 
Conference club for National is only a couple more months (Feb and March, I think), so it won't be as helpful as signing up for it in August. But definitely keep it in mind for Conference 2009! :)
 
chefann said:
Conference club for National is only a couple more months (Feb and March, I think), so it won't be as helpful as signing up for it in August. But definitely keep it in mind for Conference 2009! :)
Click to expand...

I signed up last year at this time and it was still to have.
 
Does anyone think we will have an incentive to earn Conference free or half-price? I know last January that was a consultant promotion. Any thoughts?

Tammy
 
That would be nice! I don't remember what the incentive was though, I had just started and wasn't even sure I wanted to go to conference.
 
I hope so, but who knows!!

This year is the first year that I paid the Leadership fee in full and I was very sad!! I am not sure why they didn't offer it ....we could win it free...but the chances of that weren't very good!!:cry:

I don't know if they are pinching pennies or what, but I think it hurt the attendance at Leadership along with expensive flights for quite a few of us!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
thank you the people who replied about conference!Thanks for the info!
 
Does anyone know how the Conference Cash will work? I earned level 1 and chose that as my prize. It said in the letter I got that a booth will be set up when we get there, and we can pick it up then. (After we have paid to register, got our airline ticket, booked our hotel room, etc.) I was hoping that when I was trying to earn the 300.00 conference cash, that it would go
towards helping to pay for those big items.

Is it just used to buy things there, Merrill etc.? I am just not sure how it
works. Didn't know if anyone else knew something more.

Thanks,
Tracy

Wave 3
 
Conference Cash will be a Visa Check Card that you pick up at Conference and can use for your expenses.
 
pamperedtracy said:
Does anyone know how the Conference Cash will work? I earned level 1 and chose that as my prize. It said in the letter I got that a booth will be set up when we get there, and we can pick it up then. (After we have paid to register, got our airline ticket, booked our hotel room, etc.) I was hoping that when I was trying to earn the 300.00 conference cash, that it would go
towards helping to pay for those big items.

Is it just used to buy things there, Merrill etc.? I am just not sure how it
works. Didn't know if anyone else knew something more.

Thanks,
Tracy

Wave 3
Click to expand...

Last year when I went we didn't pay for our hotel room until after we checked out. The best part about it, you can use it when you get home too.
 
pamperedtracy said:
Does anyone know how the Conference Cash will work? I earned level 1 and chose that as my prize. It said in the letter I got that a booth will be set up when we get there, and we can pick it up then. (After we have paid to register, got our airline ticket, booked our hotel room, etc.) I was hoping that when I was trying to earn the 300.00 conference cash, that it would go
towards helping to pay for those big items.

Is it just used to buy things there, Merrill etc.? I am just not sure how it
works. Didn't know if anyone else knew something more.

Thanks,
Tracy

Wave 3
Click to expand...

You can still use it to pay for your hotel room.....you give them a CC #, but your card doesn't get charged until you check out, so you can always give them a different card to actually pay. There are usually meals you will need to pay for to, and the prepaid card can be used for those too....
 
Thanks that help answered my question.
 
Excellent! Thanks for your help!

Tracy
 
If you want to save on the hotel and if you don't mind staying at a non-conference hotel, you can check out the travel websites. One of the girls in my cluster did this and we ended up at the Swissotel (right across the river from the Sheraton) for about $130 a night including taxes. With four of us in the room, spending 3 nights and even parking at the hotel (we drove to Chicago), my portion of the hotel bill was only about $100!!! I ended up doing all of conference - registration, meals, travel expenses, hotel, incidentals - for less than $500. I was really happy with that.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical expenses I should budget for when attending the National Conference?

When attending the National Conference, you should budget for several key expenses including registration fees, travel costs (airfare or gas), accommodation (hotel stay), meals, and any additional costs for workshops or materials. It's also wise to set aside some funds for shopping at the event, as there may be exclusive products or supplies available.

How can I save money on travel expenses for the conference?

To save on travel expenses, consider booking your flights or driving arrangements well in advance to take advantage of lower rates. Look for group discounts or carpooling options with other attendees. Additionally, using travel rewards points or miles can significantly reduce costs. If possible, choose a hotel that offers a shuttle service to the conference venue to save on transportation costs.

Are there any tips for finding affordable accommodations near the conference venue?

To find affordable accommodations, start by researching hotels that offer discounted rates for conference attendees. Websites like Airbnb or VRBO can provide alternative lodging options that may be more economical. Consider sharing a room with fellow attendees to split costs. Additionally, look for hotels that offer complimentary breakfast or other amenities that can help reduce your overall expenses.

What should I include in my meal budget for the conference?

When budgeting for meals, consider the number of days you will be attending and the meals that will not be provided by the conference. Estimate costs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and factor in snacks and beverages. Look for restaurants or cafes near the venue that offer affordable options. You might also want to bring snacks or a refillable water bottle to save on costs during the event.

How can I maximize my budget while still enjoying the conference experience?

To maximize your budget, prioritize your spending by identifying which events, workshops, or activities are most important to you. Take advantage of early bird registration discounts and group rates. Consider creating a daily budget to track your spending and stick to it. Networking with other attendees can also lead to shared resources, such as transportation and accommodations, helping you enjoy the conference without overspending.

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