ABCON VI
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ABCON VI
Where: Chicago
When: June 22-25th, 2006
Why: To celebrate friends and ...
Handy Con Links
News of note
- 2/6 from Teep "Good news! We’ve got a hotel!
- Embassy Suites near O’Hare - $139 per night (for suites!). Free shuttle to/from O’Hare and the train station to downtown Chicago is 2 blocks from the hotel.
- More good news! They have banquet space available Friday night and they will cater it for us (including cash bar!).
- I’m negotiating the banquet contract now and I’ve already given the agent my credit card info to hold the rooms. Looks like we’re set.
- Those of you wishing to save a little money can split a suite – 2 beds plus a pull out!
- Good news for the couples – you’re getting king sized beds."
3/22 BOOK NOW!
To book your room, call Scott Justus at 1-888-447-6675 ext 7010. Please use Reference Code GP83EZ. Remember, only 1 person per room needs to call.
Reservation information:
- Scott takes a CC number to hold the room - you will pay at the hotel upon check-in.
- He doesn't give you a confirmation number - confirmation numbers will be sent to Teep on the 22nd of May, because that is when the list is sent to the hotel.
- I asked if the card would be charged on that date, and he says no -- its just to reserve the room. You need to cancel by May 22 to avoid any charges on the credit card.
- Dates are 6/22-6/25, he may ask if you want to change this.
- If folks in your room are arriving at different times, he can take the names to facilitate check in.
Transportation Coordination
Need a ride to/from the airport? Need a ride to/from Missoula? Coordinate here ☺
- Ophidian driving from Toronto. Willing to car pool
- DesolateAngel, Crymar & Mouse – caravan/carpool from the Detroit area
- Saffamer - if anyone between NEOhio/WPA and Chicago needs a ride THERE, let me know
- Chicago public transit will be easy. Hotel is one stop from O'Hare, two blocks from the stop. Visitor passes for transit available online ... http://www.transitchicago.com/welcome/index.html
About Embassy Suites
About Embassy Suites
- http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml;?ctyhocn=CHIRMES
- Internet. They all claim to have high speed internet in the rooms, and the newer facilities actually do, via wired Ethernet. Older facilities have wireless that often is slow, intermittent, and unreliable. Either way, it costs 9.95 per day ($12.95 at some locations). You simply plug in the Ethernet cable, or use a computer with wifi, and start it up. Open the browser and try to connect with any web site. A sign-up page will come up. Some Embassy Suites have wifi in the lobby and meeting rooms, too. If the wireless is too slow/intermittent, call tech support and insist that they increase the bandwidth to your room.
- Breakfast. It’s included and it’s good. Eat hearty. You can take a tray back to your room if you want. Breakfast in bed, mmmm. Note the hours, they vary day-to-day. Snooze you lose.
- Manager’s reception, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Free beer, wine, soft drinks and mixed drinks, plus light snacks; e.g., popcorn. Limit two drinks per trip to the bar. You can take them anywhere in the hotel except the restaurant.
- Happy hour, 4 to 7 pm. Some Embassies do $1 hors douvres at the restaurant’s bar. If they do, you can make a fine meal for about $9. But you cannot take drinks from the Manager’s reception into the bar. You’ll have to pay happy hour prices if you want a drink with your eats at the bar.
- Pool. Usually indoors at any facility, especially in northern climes. Typically has a nice exercise room adjoining: bikes and treadmills.
- They really mean suites. It’s a bedroom, living room, and wet bar with fridge and microwave. Living room couch pulls out into a double bed. Two TVs. Sometimes the TVs have input sockets on the front so you can play tapes from your video camera, especially in vacation spots such as Orlando. Most of the suites will have a connecting door to the one next door, if you want adjoining suites.
- HHonors. Sign up at www.hilton.com. You get 10 HHonors points per dollar charged to your room, plus your choice of 5 more points per dollar, 1 airline mile per dollar, or a fixed 500 airline miles per stay (at Hilton’s premium brands, 100 miles at low-end brands). On the web site, select your My Way option for either a snack at check in (two bottles of water and some crackers) or bonus HHonors points per stay. Points add up fast, and free nights are 20k to 60k, depending on which Hilton brand you choose. You also can convert HHonors points to airline miles, usually 10,000 points to 1,500 miles.