Seminar Registration is NOW OPEN http://chicagoseminars2011.eventbrite.com/ Here is our first post about the Chicago Seminars 2011. This post #1 will again be our most effective way of communicating news and updates. Here is what I can tell you now with registration for the hotel and seminars soon to follow: Our dates are October 29th and 30th with two evening sessions on the 28th. You will only be able to register for the hotel through the links we will provide shortly. All other reservations or award nights will be cancelled. The host hotel again is the Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village, and our one and only overflow hotel is the Holiday Inn and Suites O’Hare/ Rosemont. We have approximately 250 rooms available to start. Rates are comparable to last year and will include one or two breakfast coupons per day. The first night’s rate is NON refundable. Hotel registrants will have first priority for registration. I anticipate putting up the hotel registration link before the seminar registration link. Seminar registration this year will be $75. Why the increase? We added for online registration (hooray), money to fly in our speakers, and lunch and coffee breaks for both days are included in your registration. This event again is 100% non profit and an all volunteer effort. Any excess proceeds will be given to charity. Seminar Registration will also be NON refundable. There will be no waiting list and you will only be able to register through the online links we will provide. The areas of concern last year have been addressed to the best of our ability. 1. With the closer overflow hotel and the promise of more frequent and larger shuttles, transportation issues will be minimized. 2. The reception will be a cash bar and costume party (it is Halloween weekend) so there is no first occupant only issue. 3. The menu has been upgraded to include fresh fruit and oatmeal at breakfast and Aaron will enjoy his fresh Michigan or Wisconsin apple with lunch. 4. The hotel has upgraded their entire internet system. We are still not sure if it will handle all of us, but they have promised enhanced performance. And now the Seminar Program as we have it so far: Bikeguy will again do Rookie Bootcamp and we are adding Dlouise37 with another rookie session on Friday night and fti and friends discussing turning Skypesos into successful awards with open jaws and stopovers. Gleff will handle Award Booking, and I’ll catch Credit Cards. We have a session on Priceline, Expedia Best Price Guarantee and how to really take advantage of the timeshare market by GoMike. Lucky9876Coins is doing a two hour Mileage Run Seminar with a follow up evening “hands on” technology session. We have Pudding and Pickles in another two hour blockbuster and Cherry Picking with Beaubo. Our special guest this year is Mr. Randy Petersen. We’ll give Randy “run of the house” for whatever he’d like to do. We will also be joined by Captain Denny Flanagan of United Airlines who'll share a seminar with Lucky9876coins. See you in Chicago Ingy
Hotel Reservations are OPEN The Host Hotel Holiday Inn Elk Grove is SOLD OUT When registering for your hotel room remember the first night is NON refundable and please use the same name and email address on your registration as you will be using for seminar registration. OverFlow Hotel Links Holiday Day Inn Rosemont/O'Hare Accepting Reservations Without Breakfast Enter Group Code FYN http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/...&execute=basic With Breakfast Enter Group code FY1 http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/...&execute=basic Thanks for all your cooperation.
Volunteers: We need registration help, Friday afternoon,, evening and Sat Morning Friday Afternoon: gsmart??? Friday Evening:?? natebaumgart, jefftf1, sagy Saturday Morning:??? Aktchi, Braynes, fti The infamous "gopher position" must have car, cellphone and be a local Friday afternoon setup: zippyonthego and Sunday breakdown Our Charity Raffle will be handled again by the fantastic: SkiAdcock Projector donations and operators: dlouise37 and fti T-Shirt Committee:?? And New this Year: Moderators for the Sunday Breakout Sessions. If you consider yourself an expert in any one program and want to lead a discussion group, send me your interest by PM Break Session Moderators: SPG: Basil K 15 year member Hilton ??? Marriott SkiAdcock Hyatt??? Other Hotel Programs??? United: Lucky9876coins US Airways and others: DCPatti American ???? Delta geoffco And We Need Apples Not anymore; to and fro will be bringing Wisconsin apples for your lunchtime enjoyment. It is amazing how working together we can solve last years issues. You go: to and fro
Schedule: Friday October 28th Early Bird Specials 7-8PM "Maximizing Delta miles and Delta award tickets – from SkyPesos to SkyGold" with Fti and ffi or "Technology Skills You Need To Know" with Dlouise37 Saturday October 29th Breakfast 8-9AM 9AM to 9:45 "Rookie Bootcamp" with Bikeguy 9:45 AM to 10 AM Coffee Break 10AM to 11:45 "Award Bookings" with Gleff or "Hyatt and PC" with Lucky 11:45 to 1:00Pm Lunch 1PM to 2:45 Priceline Bidding, Expedia BRG and Timeshare tips with GoMike or Lucky, SPG and UA Captain Denny Flanagan 2:45PM to 3PM Coffee Break 3PM to 5PM "Mileage Runs" with Lucky9876Coins or "Credit Cards and Membership Rewards with Ingy and Brian the PointsGuy 5PM to 6PM Breakout Session for "Mileage Runs with Hands on Workshop" or "Meet the Speakers" 8:30PM to 10PM "Costumes and Cocktails" Sunday October 30th 8AM to 9 AM Breakfast 9AM to 10:45 Sponsors Workshop 10:45 to 11AM Coffee Break 11AM to 12:45 "Pudding and Pickles or Moderated Breakout Sessions on AA, DL, CO/UA, US, SPG, Hilton, Marriott, Priority Club 12:45PM to 2PM Lunch 2PM to 4PM "Cherry Pickin' with Beaubo and the BOSS" __________________
Speaker Topics Gary Leff Award Booking: “How to identify the best value uses of your points, find award seats, and navigate the call with your mileage program to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes!’” Lucky Hyatt and PC:"Forget Priceline, I'll show you how hotel loyalty programs can be just as lucrative, if not more lucrative, than airline loyalty programs." Mike Goff: Advanced priceline bidding techniques and how to take advantage of the timeshare market. Ben Lucky9876Coins :How to identify mileage run fares of interest, how to construct and book a mileage run, how to maximize miles earned while minimizing costs, and comfort/efficiency of mileage runs considerations. Rick Ingersoll The latest on the highest source of free miles around and how to keep your scores from suffering. Pudding Guy:A coach-class perspective on how to maximize the value of miles & points. Beaubo (Steve Belkin): The Mileage Game Value Proposition: Is It Still Worth It To Play? * The Thresholds Of When To Purchase Ticket Or Redeem Miles/Upgrades * Mileage Outsourcing: When Over-The-Pond Programs Offer Under-The-Radar Advantages Brian the PointsGuy: Will give us all the update and latest techniques on using and transferring American Express Membership Rewards Points
Much like college, last years seminar was fantastic as much for meeting other FTers as for the seminar content itself. We will likely attend this year for the same reason. I highly encourage "experienced" FTers to attend. It will be fun I guarantee. Even if you think know all the tricks: (1) You don't, and (2) Meeting others who are as crazy (and normal) as you is always great.
Looks great, I hope to attend this year. Does this mean that local residents who don't need a hotel have to wait to register for a set period after you open the registration?
Thank you for organizing this event again. I will be in the country this year and I am looking forward to attending. As we discussed I am available to help as a volunteer, please let me know when you would like me to arrive to help with the setup.
+1 Wasn't able to make it last year, so I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone this year. Thanks Rick et al.
Thanks to Rick and everyone for organizing all of this, I'm sure it's quite a job! I'm in, too - this will be my first time at this or any other DO so I'm really looking forward to it!
How did you manage to snag the first post (after Ingy) on this thread? Nice job. I completely agree with you. Last year's session was great. I'll definitely be headed back this year.
