Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lotusphere 2009 is under 150 days away

Seems like an eternity, but no, it will pass faster than your kids summer break.

As we get closer to the ever popular hotel stake outs for space, submissions for sessions and BOFs(who doeesn't like 7am BOFs) and the extremely popular yet oddly registered hands on sessions lest us not forget there will be new people who may not want to go and you should encourage and help them best way you can so they see the light.

A la Visa....

Full conf pass: Under $2,000 (at most)
Swan/Dolphin Hotel: $1,500 (at least)
Airfare: EXPENSIVE
Car Rental: Never mind take a taxi you drunken mortals and save on Parking too
Food, er Beverages: $250
Week away from the office, kids, wife, inlaws, cats, dogs, fish, snow, help desk, trouble tickets and spending it with your friends and new PlanetLotus Blog friends you haven't met yet:

PRICELESS

But seriously, keep in mind everyone sometimes needs some help, maybe you have a spare pass, or your room has a pull out couch or you fly in the same place as someone, collaboration is your personal life and your professional life.
Not sure where we can post these things, maybe the Gonzo Lotusphere site or some place else.

Now when do session submissions start and will they tell us if we are in before the price raises this year?

Me? I get to drive up from Boca, about 2.5 hours with the top down :-) Might have a passenger this year too as I figured he might like a ride.

9 comments:

  1. I fly in from Dallas/Ft Worth, and the air fare have been between 180 and 250 dollar. Not very expensive.
    My food/drink bill have been around 100 dollar for the whole week, but I go to a bunch of free dinners in the evenings. So 250 dollar if you go out and eat every night is probably a good number.

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  2. Airfare for most people is going ot be at least $500 I hear in the US or $1,000 if overseas.
    I estimated drinks as about $30/nt, plus misc. food($10/day) and a dinner or 2 if you are not at some event or maybe if you went bar hopping all night in downtown Disney.
    I figure $50/day + or - on food.
    Last Year I spent barely $20 all week. I owe a few people this year :-)

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  3. Airfare for most people is going ot be at least $500 I hear in the US or $1,000 if overseas.
    I estimated drinks as about $30/nt, plus misc. food($10/day) and a dinner or 2 if you are not at some event or maybe if you went bar hopping all night in downtown Disney.
    I figure $50/day + or - on food.
    Last Year I spent barely $20 all week. I owe a few people this year :-)

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  4. Keith, you have me beat by 30 minutes. Perhaps my rental will be a convertible this year who knows.

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  5. T drop me an email and we can discuss it.

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  6. expenses at lotusphere are minimal.

    A flight from Buffalo, NY was $200 round trip.
    Limo to the hotel was $250 (ripoff, but i didn't feel like driving to the airport)

    spent under $150 during the week for food.

    I stayed at the beach club...so it was $900 for the room.

    Total cost was ~3500

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  7. Expenses are random, one year I spent not even $25 another year I spent over $200 on food/drjinks, it's all relative but if you are a small BP it get sexpensive usually.
    Plus you lose a week of billing time.
    But you get so much in return and even some new business usually.

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  8. How time fly!! Another one coming up. Just got my registration done and ... I have the weird feeling we will beat last year attendance... Got my reg a little before last year and I have 300 plus number higher.... Is it just that people register faster or will we have more?

    In any case, yes, lost of billing time and lots of expenses but generally, those are covered off by who you meet and the new Ideas to sell...

    I have no regret (especially considering I might leave behind the snow and the -40!

    See you all there.

    Jacques

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  9. I have a full conference pass to Lotusphere 2009 but unfortunately I have change in plans and would not be able to attend.If you know anyone who might be interested in attending and save some money, I plan to sell it at $1000 ( actual value is $2100), please email me and we could connect

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