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Michael B wrote: Of course I want Orlando, but Atlanta, Ga would be a good spot.
Atlanta flights are some of the most expensive. ATL ( along with Phoenix where I live) have the highest "landing" fees inposed into the prices of their tickets. Last time I flew back home it was cheeper to fly to Birmingham Al and get a rental car to get to South Ga and that was last fall!
My suggestions having worked within BIG events at several convention centers in the past. In These events I had to traffic around 300+ shows cars in and around these complexes over 4 day events , so I got to know them pretty well! Since I undertstand the rental of Vendor booth space is what covers the majority of the expenses, I know CS is shopping to keep expenses down. It Also depends on the availablity and openings for the centers. I have seen many that are booked years in advance! Greenville SC is one one of them. Every 3 years there used to be textile convention that tied it up for 3 months in the Fall (1 week of show, the rest is setup and tear down)!
Oklahoma City! One of the nicesest reasonable sized CC's I have been in. The halls are good sized. City is Easy to get around. and has one of the nicest memorials (Mirah Building) I have ever seen is just a few blocks form the CC, just hop on the trolley! and it is pretty centrally located in the US!
Louisville KY, The convention Center is right across the highway from the Airport! Not the most snazzy CC, but still nice.
Birmingham Al , Nice Airport, Nice CC. Worked a smaller regional event there.
I have never worked a show in Orlando, but the flights are reasonable due to Disney and Universal being there.
Just my .06 ( due to the price of fuel, a price increase was needed)
Im sure everything will be taken into consideration when a location is chosen. Everything is expensive now a days. Most people will have to rent a car and drive around if they choose to fly in. Thats expensive period with gas prices and car rental fees. That doesnt even include the plus fee and hotel or food. So the city has to be able to handle the traffic, the people, transportation issues, vendor space, be family friendly, and reasonably affordable....Its gonna be tough finding something that makes everyone happy and thats to be expected. If we cant afford it or dont like the location, we just wont go. Im sure most if you feel the same.
As much as i wanna see Las Vegas someday, i dont think its a realistic location for a PLUS because of the affordability and the expense to stay there.
Last edited on Friday April 11th, 2008 07:37 pm by snowlovergeorgia
I agree with Michelle and the others - Vegas won't work. We know that based on past history.
Jeff Womack and Dan Hall (I think) tried it in 2004, and although quite a few of us registered to attend, it never came to pass due to the costs associated with holding it in that city.
People are cost conscious these days more than ever, so wherever it will be held, it will have to be in a less expensive location (or the registration fees will go up beyond what most will be willing to pay!)
Greg
Last edited on Friday April 11th, 2008 11:05 pm by Greg Young
jen grissett wrote: ChuckHutchings wrote: snowlovergeorgia wrote: Vegas? For a PLUS? Thats funny....Maybe the showgirls could wear a red shoe and a green shoe?
and pasties to match...?
I was going to say that but was afraid to post it. The items you refer to would each have a C7 bulb.
You've posted seven times so far with your opinions.
Does this mean you're actually going to attend PLUS in 2009? Sure missed you and all my fellow Texans at PLUS 2007.
Post eight!
We all missed you at the first two. Couldn't come in 2007 for financial reasons, too rich for my blood. If it is when and where I can attend I will probably attend my third PLUS in 2009, that of course is if my finances allow it. Right now my financial priority is sod and not lights or conventions.
I guess you never went in the vendor room at PLUS to see Dan and Marilyn, that's a shame. I know they were they and I think there were others. PLUS 2005 was the big contengient from Texas with D-Light's Dick and Darryl, and a whole host of others form Texas that year. Too bad you weren't able to attend that year or even 2003 when there where at least a dozen from Texas.
Now as far as I know, posting anything doesn't mean you are actually committed. I know you check my posts carefully and all I have posted is my EXPERIENCES not my opinions. My opinion would go something like Tim Fischer's post and say San Antonio! However that is not necessarily best for the group as a whole.
MrsD wrote: Jeff_Womack wrote: I was actually meaning to bring up the example of the vendors not being able to use handcarts themselves. Thanks for bringing that up. The mafia is still alive and well in Vegas!
If you think Vegas is bad, try Chicago! For my husbands business (http://www.larucorp.com/ ) we have been to many states/cities and Chicago is hands down the most nit-picky for making vendors pay for EVERY little thing.
I checked out various Chicagoland locations when we were narrowing down for PLUS2007. This is a big convention town, always has been..but it is way too expensive as MrsD wrote. I found only one venue on the South side of the City that seemed possible..out of hundreds of available facilities. We have two airports here, O'Hare International (one of the busiest airports in the world) and Midway, there are a million things to do for visitors..no one would be bored in Chicago in the summer, but the cost to hold an event like PLUS which requires a lot of space, any where in Cook County, were just astronomical.
Having attended several meetings/conventions in major and not so major cities, I can tell you that you'll pay for the priviledge of meeting in most of the big cities, like Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, NY, Vegas, Boston, New Orleans and probably Dallas.
Going to the second tier cities, like Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, Little Rock, AR, Louisville, KY, Greenville, SC, (even Greensboro, NC) will be much cheaper, both in meeting space costs and travel. Places that have discount carriers, like Southwest will lower travel costs. I'm sure there are several similar size cities, maybe even Phoenix, in the west that would work as well.
I attended PLUS 2005. Couldn't make it to PLUS 2007 because of major life changes. I haven't made any plans for '09 - I'm doing all I can to make it thru '08.
____________________ Mark Schell
Kernersville, NC
20,000 lights and counting...
Proud user of Animated Lighting
mschell wrote: ... I'm sure there are several similar size cities, maybe even Phoenix, in the west that would work as well.
How about Sacramento, CA?
For family members who will not be attending PLUS it is within driving distance of San Francisco, Magic Mountain and Great America (just to mention the big ones), the wine country, Lake Tahoe, Fort Bragg, a train museum in Old Sacramento, water slides, and about 1,001 other things to do as either full day trips or partial day trips. And with the breeze from the delta, it wouldn't even be that hot in July.
Oh and South West Air is a major carrier here, so other carriers’ have to compete
Last edited on Monday April 14th, 2008 02:55 am by MrsD
Nashville...If I've had one city that I enjoy going back to again and again, this would be it. However, before I state why, I've listed below several cities and my opinions of each.
New Orleans: I was here last year for a few days, and driving in, it was quite shocking to see so many homes with blue tarps, the Six Flags closed for 2 years, and a city just so struggling. Driving down Canal Street to our hotel, I was questioning my decision to go to this city. We stayed at the JW Marriott on Canal Street, around the corner from Bourbon St., and had an incredible rate of something like $109 plus tax including breakfast. Parking was another $25 a day or so. When I checked in, I asked the gal at the front desk how safe it was to get to Bourbon Street, and she said it was perfectly fine. And you know what - it was! After my initial fears were relaxed, we walked all around the French Quarter without a problem. We went onto Bourbon Street around 9pm on a Saturday night, and my wife at first was kinda bored. Then she had a few beers. To make a long story short, we didn't head back to our hotel until about 3am, and still wasn't worried about a thing. NOLA is hurting for business, and I wouldn't pass up at least inquiring about this location. Families do travel down here, and I'm sure Family Friendly events can be found without a problem.
Memphis was another stop on this trip. It was a nice city, but maybe a little expensive. Also, my Jaycees organization had their annual meeting here in March, and I found out that airfares can be kinda pricey, due to the lack of airlines serving Memphis Int'l.
Nashville...Yee-haw! Out of the cities I can mention, this may be my favorite. Fairly inexpensive flights, a whole wide range of hotel room prices, kinda a central location, and a lot of various activities make Nashville enjoyable. Don't like country music? I'm sure there's plenty to do like, um, shopping! My last trip here included a very memorable night at the Opry where Charlie Daniels played a few songs, including his signature "Devil went down to Georgia" (and yes, it was the 'family friendly' version!). Near the Opry & the Opry Hotel (which, btw, is about 7 miles outside downtown Nashville), there's little fun things to see and do such as a Wax Museum and a small Dukes of Hazard Museum, amongst other things. For anyone into Country Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame is not to be missed.
Washington DC - While the city itself may be pricey, the excellent Metro subway system can get you very close to suburban convention locations that may be quite a bit cheaper.
Orlando - Obviously plenty to do there.
Vegas - I will have to agree with Mr. Planet Christmas on this one. It's a great city with plenty to do, but it's not the cheap 3 night stay it used to be. And living outside of Philly with our convention center and union problems, I'm almost glad to hear that other cities have their own problems with the unions! (and as a state worker I am in a union myself, just to clarify).
Cleveland - this is a nice city that always seems to be struggling. The Rock and Roll hall of fame would please those of any age.
And I live in Jersey, so I would vote for New Jersey. We have everything anyone would want, such as A) Full Serve Gas. Need I say more??? ;-)
So, at any rate, these are the places I've been to recently and my personal opinions of each.
BTW...I'm traveling to Hawaii later this year. If I see anything worthwhile out there for a convention, I'll be sure to write back! ;-)
____________________ Jeff Taylor
West Deptford, NJ
Glad to hear you had a great trip to Nashville. Having grown up there, I do love the city. For anyone else visiting Nashville, be sure to visit Christmas Done Bright's factory in Springfiled, about 40 miles north of the city. A former Coca-Cola bottling plant that has been converted into wireframe heaven!
plistumi wrote: What about San Francisco Bay Area? There is a lot to do in the area for the family inside and outside.
I was going to mention the same. While San Francisco might be too expensive there's a lot of other places nearby that host conventions. Santa Clara has a big convention center and it's walking distance from Great America. The San Jose convention center is downtown, close to parks and restaurants. Both are about 45 minutes driving (on weekends) from San Francisco if participants want to see San Francisco.
Then there's the Oakland conven... well maybe not.
Oh yes, it's also not 110 degF and 97% humidity here during the summer. Mark Twain said that the coldest winter he's ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.
Last edited on Monday April 14th, 2008 07:49 pm by Entropy
____________________ Officially designated one of "Those People". Cashier at Fremont CA Wal*Mart, 12/1/07.
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." Attributed to Dave Barry
