Easton as Conference Location for 2009-your thoughts
More conference 2009 thoughts! We are exploring the idea of moving to a hotel & the Hilton @ Easton in Columbus seemed to be a logical place. The Ohio Middle School Conference and the Gifted Conference have both been there in the past. If Hilton is booked, of course, we have to have a block of rooms. Is $179 too much to spend on a room? Will folks eat @ Easton restaurants instead of supporting our food events? Would shopping be too much of a lure & we’d loose folks to that instead of attending sessions?? Tell us what you think!
I think the room costs are steep for those who have to pay for the rooms out of their own pocket, so you might lose a few people there. I’m not much of a shopper myself, but I do think that would be a concern. Has anyone contacted the conference chairs of the OMS or Gifted Conferences to find out whether it affected their attendance?
Having said that, I’m all for saving money, so if the impact will not be too great on attendance, I’d say go for it!
I agree with Emily that the cost per night is steep. As of today, I have to pay a portion of my hotel. Who knows if the district will support any of the cost next year.
I am not so concerned that participants would be called to breakfast or lunch at Easton, because of the time factor. It might provide a nice place for dinner–with lots of options.
As for the shopping, I would hope that professionals would leave shopping for their owne time, not that of the district. (Does that sound preachy?!)
Jan
Have you considered the Marriott-Columbus Northwest in Dublin? The Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators have their conferences at this location. The rooms at the Marriott are expensive but the Drury, La Quinta, and several other hotels are right near the Marriott and offer rooms at a much lower rate for those that are looking for a better value. Free parking is another cost saver for those that attend. There are restaurants and shopping areas near this location.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cmhnw-columbus-marriott-northwest/
I was at a conference at the Easton Hilton when it first opened. It was a good experience. $175 is high though. It would help to have more than one person in a room.
I think the room cost is too high. I can usually get the district to pay the registration and I pay the rest. At that price I would probably only go for one day.
I too think the cost is pretty steep. I have often wondered if it would be better to look at moving the conference to a smaller venue. I’m sure there has to be a hotel or something around Columbus that could hold us. It would save us a lot of money I would think. I would think that hotels would also have free wireless too.
I would hope that people attending the conference would be professional enough to keep the shopping during their own time.
I think $179 a night is high. So far our district pays if two share a room but we had been staying at the Drury for a lot less. I would not pay $179 out of my own pocket.