Conrad: I think that your (and others') expressed heartfelt gratitude
might have made us more tolerable to the staff. We'll see next year
from the underlying tone of our reception. Outwardly, it will be
polite enough, but will they be willing to accommodate us to the
degree of this time? Perhaps preordering the conference room might
give us the best of all worlds.

Restaurants: Prepay may sound odious, but other Dos have relied
on the procedure to forestall no-show and similar issues. I'd suggest
a two-tier system (eaters vs. noneaters), but that might be too
difficult to administer and enforce. I've seen too many gatherings
where noneaters eat.

Thanks for the health wishes. I share the sentiment.