National Conference More Questions...

[chefsteph07]

Registration usually opens up sometime in April I believe.

 

[nldavis321]

Thanks Ann. I recall reading that, but I wasnt sure where the actual Conference was held. raebates ~ Thank you as well for your answer!I was checking out the hotels and I just remembered....MILITARY ID GETS A DISCOUNT!I just cant wait to get there! I have never been to conference and never been to Chicago!

 

[gaddischef]

conference is absolutely the best!!!! Chicago is awesome -- just the networking with other people who love PC too!! Totally worth every $$, plus some! GO GO GO!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Thanks Ann. I recall reading that, but I wasnt sure where the actual Conference was held.

raebates ~ Thank you as well for your answer!

I was checking out the hotels and I just remembered....MILITARY ID GETS A DISCOUNT!

I just cant wait to get there! I have never been to conference and never been to Chicago!

We also get a conference discount, so you might want to compare the two and see which one is better.

 

[pamperedlinda]

dang!!! I will really miss conference this year (and seeing all of my buddies)

 

[DonnaYork]

Hello! Newbie here!

Does anyone know which airport would be the best to fly into???

Thanks!

 

[nldavis321]

Pittsburgh!!!!Then you can drive over with my mom and me! heehee hee!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[colegrovet]

I will be going again this year!!!!

part of wave 2...

 

[jcsmilez]

I'm curious, I've heard some of you mention that there are less expensive hotels in walking distance to the traditional "conference" hotels. Can you give some examples? I've looked into this possibility but didn't find anything that offered much difference... Of course I'm checking out the possibilities for my cluster and my team because I won't be able to go this year...

I'll be 8.5 months prego and I don't think they'll let me fly...

 

[chefann]

I know some people have used Priceline. My former upline found rooms at the Essex Inn one year. They were a lot less expensive than the Conference hotels (which usually run about $150-170 per night before taxes, and that's with the conference rate), but it was not a pleasant experience. Some people in our group got sick from mold in the air conditioners, and one of my roommates was beaned when the showerhead fell off and hit her while she was showering.

 

[jcsmilez]

I know some people have used Priceline. My former upline found rooms at the Essex Inn one year. They were a lot less expensive than the Conference hotels (which usually run about $150-170 per night before taxes, and that's with the conference rate), but it was not a pleasant experience. Some people in our group got sick from mold in the air conditioners, and one of my roommates was beaned when the showerhead fell off and hit her while she was showering.

Oh my! Not a pleasant experience indeed! I did see that hotel when I was looking last year but the prices were comparable to the Hilton so I didn't bother. I somehow had naive hopes that some of us could stay at the Best Western down the road, only to find there really is no such thing. I really really despise expensive hotels that charge for every little thing. I love the nice middle class hotels that offer you a room at a decent price and often times even throw in internet and a continental breakfast for free!

 

[etteluap70PC]

My Hosp Director and I were just discussing today how to do NC on a budget. I have previously looked into non Conf hotels. Hotels.com is good for this then when you find one you can go to priceline to try and get a better deal. We were even talking about bringing food such as lunch meat and PB&J to save $. We do what we have to do especially in these uncertain times!

 

[chefann]

I love the nice middle class hotels that offer you a room at a decent price and often times even throw in internet and a continental breakfast for free!

Good luck finding those in a central business district! Although, if you start now, you have time to plot things out on a map and find rooms.

 

[caraighan]

I will be going again this year!!!!

part of wave 2...

Hi,
how do you find out which wave you're in?
thanks!

 

[BlessedWifeMommy]

Hi,
how do you find out which wave you're in?
thanks!

Ask your director, they should be able to tell you. If you know who your NED is, then there is a chart you can find on CC, but usually you have to ask you director.

 

[legacypc46]

I was checking out the hotels and I just remembered....MILITARY ID GETS A DISCOUNT!

Just double check their policies. Many hotels now only give the discount if you are on TDY orders.

 

[jbdowd0798]

Actually with the recession a lot of them (i.e. look at Disney) are giving us a discount and reminding us about it! We always use military discount when we can at hotels.

On the flip side, I shared a room at conference with 3 other great gals and only paid $153 for the three nights and was at a conference hotel, just had to walk out the door to the shuttle, my NED's dinner was at our hotel so I just had to take the elevator down.....it was a blast!

 

[raebates]

The Furry Guy knows how to pinch a penny. We've discussed the cost of the hotel. With sharing the cost of the room and the security of not having to travel from the shuttle area to another hotel at night (sometimes late) in Chicago, even he feels the conference hotel is the best option.Of course, as they say, your mileage may vary.

 

[caraighan]

Ask your director, they should be able to tell you. If you know who your NED is, then there is a chart you can find on CC, but usually you have to ask you director.

Thanks! I figured it out! We're in Wave 3! July 16-18, 2009! That means we have the longest wait!!!! :cry:

 

[pampered1224]

I love conference!!! My director always says - look out - there's a stick of dynamite coming this way when I walk into the next meeting afterwards. And Rae is right! The words have not changed much I am sure in over 25 years. But what you hear is different each time you go. We all have selective hearing. One year you may pick out of the booking seminars that you need to ask everyone every where. The following year, the script may be exactly the same but you might hear that it is important to talk about it at your parties. You yourself, will hear the thing that you need most to hear and use at the time you are sitting there. As each of us do our businesses, things change with us, our perceptions of our businesses, our perceptions of what we think our guests want and need. Therefore we hear something different each time we attend conference. And Rae is right too that this is NOT a get rich quick scheme. It takes work. (one brick or conference at a time.) How I look at it is this, each time I go, I get something different out of it. Whether it is a business tip or two or maybe just the personal push I need to do something I was either afraid to do or thought I could not do. By hearing other people talk about their experiences always tells me nothing is beyond the limits of woman or man kind. But there are A LOT of things that ARE beyond my own self limits and I ALWAYS need to change that. Because that is the only thing keeping me from doing something. Fear is it's own worst enemy. The problem with that is that you become it's victim. But only when you let it! Conference turns on the "nightlight" in my mind and makes me look at those fears. Then I can stick my tongue out them and give them - sorry ladies - the finger!

 

[raebates]

The only workshop that I ever attended that I didn't learn from was at my first NC. The presenter was clearly nervous. She spoke so quickly that I couldn't understand half of what she said. She kept scolding us for not laughing at her jokes, so I'm guessing that very few of the other people could understand her either. Add to that the facts that it was just after lunch and the room was really, really warm--all I wanted to do was take a nap. Unfortunately I was sitting in the front row so there was no way I could graciously escape the room. Even then, I'm sure she would have taught me something if I'd been able to understand her. Well, I guess I did learn something. Intentionally slow yourself when you're nervous.

 

[gaddischef]

I'd recommend staying at conference hotels as well -- for the convenience and time, it's worth it.....Plus, they are all nice hotels ....
As far as airports, we always fly into Midway.

 

[pampchefsarah]

I'd recommend staying at conference hotels as well -- for the convenience and time, it's worth it.....Plus, they are all nice hotels ....
As far as airports, we always fly into Midway.

Thank you! I was just about to ask about it myself, since the last response, though very sweet, didn't really answer the question about Chicago airports.

 

[babywings76]

Is Midway cheaper or just an easier airport than O'Hare? I'm wondering if we will drive or fly. I can't stand flying anymore. I need to get on mapquest and see how long it'll take us to drive.ETA: Just checked and it says it's 11 hours to drive there from where I am in PA. My cluster mates were all going to drive together, but since my DH is coming (probably) I'm guessing we'll drive separately or fly.

 

[nldavis321]

Whereabouts in PA are you?

 

[babywings76]

Lancaster county

 

[nldavis321]

ahhh ok. If you were closer you could ride along with me! Even with the hubby! lol OHHHH and you would have to be in wave 3....geezzzzz in that case....I would have also bought all your meals and paid in full for the hotel. lol

 

[DebbieJ]

Hello! Newbie here!

Does anyone know which airport would be the best to fly into???

Thanks!

You can fly into either airport. Both have public transportation into the city. You can also pay for a shuttle as well.

Midway is smaller and a bit easier to navigate. Southwest Airlines flies into Midway only, so that might be the cheapest.

But really, O'Hare isn't unbearable.

 

[krafty119]

I have been reading everything - but can't really figure out when conference is... something about waves, I know that much! Help!! I just started a month or so ago, and could use some guidance! My director is such a great lady - but I feel I need more help when it comes to building a business!!!

 

[chefann]

HO splits the US consultants into 3 waves since there are so many of us. Canadian conference is different.But that brings up a good point - we need a Canadian Conference sub-forum in the Conference area.