William, please put me down as interested. April is a loooong time away so making a firm commitment at this time is going to be difficult. Once You get the venue and the group rates organized will be the time to decide eh?

Yes, of course...but some folks need a longer lead in time than others and this thread was started now to give them that and to simply put it on the calendars of those who don't.

We'll know who wants to come when they register and pay for any pre-paid events they select to attend.

This Fairfield Inn is right in front of the Domain in Austin.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...tin-northwest/

There are a total of 6 Marriott properties within 2 miles of the Domain.

Yes, we should petition the legislature to rename Austin as Marriottville. And, we could move the capitol complex to near the fly-by at IH35 and the 290/71 West interchange where there seem to be no less than 8 Marriott properties within a four-block area.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

LOL. Thanks for the Marriott info. Only having been to Austin one time many moons ago, I'm not really familiar with the area.

In looking ahead at flights, evidently I'm going to have to connect from LAS & won't arrive until Thurs eve after people are done w/ dinner (but presumably still out for drinks). Getting back in time post-lunch to catch flight to LAS on Sunday to get my return back to Midwest is looking ugly. Might have to price out an open jaw. Obviously plenty of time between now & then. But figuring AUS was in CO, er, UA, land I was hoping for better timing.

I'm now hungry for ribs & trying to figure out where I can get them locally :D

Cheers.

Oh yes. I can certainly envision Pa Kettle arranging for the bus to stop at Marriottville. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

That would be the day.... :D

Blasphemy. Utter and complete blasphemy. :)

But, yeah, the bus picks up and drops off where I tell them to and that will probably be somewhere between the Westin and the Aloft at The Domain.

That would be the parking garage... or the Texas Culinary Academy. :)

put me down as very interested, but of course can't commit yet. But thanks very much for posting the dates so far in advance.

Under the theory that it's easier to cancel than get a room at the last minute, I've booked the FFI mentioned above since bradj says it's in front of The Domain, and I'm assuming not that far walking distance from the Westin or Aloft.

Cheers.

Farther than you'd think since it's on the other side of the railroad tracks, which are fenced off from the Domain... and there's no service road to walk up since it loops under. I'd suggest a look at Google Maps satellite view.

Also, poor form to book a Marriott property for a Starwood-sponsored do...

But, totally forgiveable since this Do is not really sponsored by Starwood. ;)

SPG might sponsor an event or two, but that is really "yet to be determined". Otherwise, it's just Pa Kettle and a few of his local Austinites inviting everyone to town for the extended weekend.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Thanks for the info re: the tracks!

And poor form to chastise another FTer for their choices when one doesn't know all the parameters. ;)

FWIW - I said up front that neither Pa Kettle nor Starwood Lurker would be thrilled about my possibly being at a Marriott, but PK/SL responded gently & mockingly re: 'Marriottville' :D.

I'm starting my diet now because reports from the last one said that Pa Kettle was responsible for multiple FTers joining Weight Watchers post first Austin Do :D :D

Cheers.

Saturday is looking VERY good ! ^
(...Snow's and a party barge...).

Just FYI, while the FFI is only about 1/4 miles away from the Westin as the crow flies, there is a railroad track in the way that you can't easily cross. So you have to go around, which is more like 1.2 miles (partially along a highway frontage). You may want to find out if the hotel (or one of the other properties) runs a shuttle.

See here.

Note to everyone: the Domain is quite large. The main shopping/food/hotel area is near the Westin (and slightly NW) on the above map, but the entire area bordered by Mopac/Loop 1 (W), Burnet (E) and Braker (S) is considered the Domain and AFAIK there are no other hotels in there aside from the two aforementioned Starwood properties. There are plenty of other hotels around the Domain, but I don't think you can get under 1.2 miles distance.