"Chicago Seminars 2011" October 29 and 30 Registration Open
Feb 25, 2011, 8:53 am
#46
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
In addition to simplicity and not giving extra work to our overworked organizers, I think it also only fair that if Mr XYZ backs out of attending, a person who placed himself on the proper waiting list should have priority over another who merely knows Mr XYZ.
Also, in the spirit of discouraging thoughtless behavior, should there be a small nonrefundable fee like $10 for being placed on the waiting list?
(I am not an organizer and I am not saying there will be a formal waiting list, but I hope you get the spirit of my argument.)
Also, in the spirit of discouraging thoughtless behavior, should there be a small nonrefundable fee like $10 for being placed on the waiting list?
(I am not an organizer and I am not saying there will be a formal waiting list, but I hope you get the spirit of my argument.)
Feb 25, 2011, 11:13 pm
#47
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MCI
Programs: Mega Bus Plaid; Southwest Airlines Ruby and Bates Motel Platinum
Posts: 246
Thanks guys for organizing this again this year. Last year it was fantastic.
I have marked my calendar and will look forward to seeing everyone again.
I have marked my calendar and will look forward to seeing everyone again.
Feb 27, 2011, 8:56 am
#48
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
Wow... I am really bummed that the dates changed. I have a big trip that I scheduled around the earlier dates (that sounded pretty solid when first posted!).
Feb 27, 2011, 7:01 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
Last year was probably the most informative time I've ever spent, at least since I learned as a child that a dark stove burner isn't always cold.
Feb 28, 2011, 8:17 am
#54
formerly known as Frugal Travel Guy
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: UA Gold, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,925
Captain Denny Flanagan will be Speaking as Well
I just got word that Captain Flanagan will be giving his take on the industry and customer service.
Capt Denny will be sharing a two hour seminar with Luckycoins on Saturday
Capt Denny will be sharing a two hour seminar with Luckycoins on Saturday
Feb 28, 2011, 9:03 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
This is just a suggestion (if you already have determined it to be impractical, feel free to ignore it):
Is it possible to make the hotel reservation first night refundable up to 30 or 45 days before (or whatever time figure the hotel would be comfortable with)?
I'm not sure how the dynamics of this are going to play out with registration (will almost everybody sign up again within the first day?) since the total nonrefundable financial outlay this far in advance is going to be around $160.
Is it possible to make the hotel reservation first night refundable up to 30 or 45 days before (or whatever time figure the hotel would be comfortable with)?
I'm not sure how the dynamics of this are going to play out with registration (will almost everybody sign up again within the first day?) since the total nonrefundable financial outlay this far in advance is going to be around $160.
Feb 28, 2011, 5:32 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
This is just a suggestion (if you already have determined it to be impractical, feel free to ignore it):
Is it possible to make the hotel reservation first night refundable up to 30 or 45 days before (or whatever time figure the hotel would be comfortable with)?
I'm not sure how the dynamics of this are going to play out with registration (will almost everybody sign up again within the first day?) since the total nonrefundable financial outlay this far in advance is going to be around $160.
Is it possible to make the hotel reservation first night refundable up to 30 or 45 days before (or whatever time figure the hotel would be comfortable with)?
I'm not sure how the dynamics of this are going to play out with registration (will almost everybody sign up again within the first day?) since the total nonrefundable financial outlay this far in advance is going to be around $160.
I think with the +-$160 initial non-refundable outlay, more people will be serious when they sign up, which is not a bad thing IMHO.
Feb 28, 2011, 5:35 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
Reserved for comments from toomanybooks to be added as we go along.
When considering a repeat of last year's DO, of course we looked at other hotels in the ORD area. To forestall numerous comments I know are coming, we know about the Rosemont hotels and others along the Blue Line (such as the ORD Marriott) and we evaluated them for the DO. I visited the suitable ones that would give me an appointment.
They ALL required ingy and/or me to sign a personal guarantee on the order of 70-80% of the room block cost plus anticipated food and beverage. Since we are looking at something like $65,000+ for this weekend, and we aren't making any money on this, we decided we would not take the risk.
Furthermore, these other hotels:
1. Failed to return repeated phone calls.
2. Changed terms and conditions after we had negotiated things.
3. Changed weekend dates on us unilaterally when a better offer came along, then lied about it (a real pi$$er)
4. Wanted IMMENSE amounts of money for microphones, projectors, wi-fi, etc.
5. Switched sales reps on us so we had to explain everything all over again
6. Were going to cost 50% more
7. etc.
The only hotel that would not make us sign a personal guarantee was the EGV Holiday Inn, because they know for certain we will completely fill their hotel in a few hours the way we did last time. Furthermore, they were very responsive to some of the improvements we wanted and willing to work with us. I'm confident the changes ingy negotiated with them will make this event better than last year's.
When considering a repeat of last year's DO, of course we looked at other hotels in the ORD area. To forestall numerous comments I know are coming, we know about the Rosemont hotels and others along the Blue Line (such as the ORD Marriott) and we evaluated them for the DO. I visited the suitable ones that would give me an appointment.
They ALL required ingy and/or me to sign a personal guarantee on the order of 70-80% of the room block cost plus anticipated food and beverage. Since we are looking at something like $65,000+ for this weekend, and we aren't making any money on this, we decided we would not take the risk.
Furthermore, these other hotels:
1. Failed to return repeated phone calls.
2. Changed terms and conditions after we had negotiated things.
3. Changed weekend dates on us unilaterally when a better offer came along, then lied about it (a real pi$$er)
4. Wanted IMMENSE amounts of money for microphones, projectors, wi-fi, etc.
5. Switched sales reps on us so we had to explain everything all over again
6. Were going to cost 50% more
7. etc.
The only hotel that would not make us sign a personal guarantee was the EGV Holiday Inn, because they know for certain we will completely fill their hotel in a few hours the way we did last time. Furthermore, they were very responsive to some of the improvements we wanted and willing to work with us. I'm confident the changes ingy negotiated with them will make this event better than last year's.
Mar 1, 2011, 12:55 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Purgatory
Programs: Too many to list. Status is a half dozen.
Posts: 9,235
Premature and wasn't ready for primetime / not released in this thread. That blog entry was deleted shortly after it was posted. Hopefully those who may have gotten in won't cause a serious problem. Mistakes happen, Lucky's human.