2015 POH - Dates & Hotel Conference Room

[ffranceschi]

Kevin wrote:

"Kathy Simmons is investigating hotels and available dates for the 2015 Palladium Open House this week and next. We are probably staying with the same hotel and we’re looking at the dates of April 30, May 1, 2 & 3, 2015. We are also considering May 7-10, 2015 (if available). Our hesitation with May 7-10 being that May 10 is Mother’s Day.

PLEASE give us your input NOW if you prefer one of the above dates over the other. Also, how important is it for you to have a hotel conference room for open gaming after midnight when we close the Palladium warehouse and you have to head back to the hotel? The input of those of you who are likely to attend would be of great value, but we need input right away. Thank you."

Let's vote!

[Jorel]

Fist weekend is best. Conference room is a necessity.

[jaymz]

Being married with kids (as is likely why Jorel picked the same weekend) yeah the first weekend is the better option

[Jorel]

Your wrong, but for the right reason. My son was born on Mother's Day in 2009. Which just so happens to be the same date this year...May 10.

[jaymz]

Close enough. I', not home for Mother's day it would be a COLD COLD COLD few weeks afterward

[Soldier of Od]

Mother's Day isn't on the 10th of May. It's on the 15th of March! http://www.bankholidaydates.co.uk/Great ... /2015.aspx Silly people.

Anyway, first weekend please. And a conference room. Hendrik needs to fall asleep playing a Juicer again.

[auyl]

I said first weekend and no conference room. That's just my personal preference as I just don't see myself being up past midnight.

I'm old .... I know.

[Jorel]

I wonder if there isn't a better way to phase it as you may be against a room for yourself, but are you really against it for the others who do want that? I think it is a no brainer that it gets used. There was 2 and both got used last time. Granted 2 may have been unnecessary. 1 is a necessity. There are people who game nonstop and those rooms give a place to meet and keep hanging out. If that weren't an option you'd have to make all plans at the convention or online to meetup in someone's room or an alternate location. This would eliminate the possibility of someone at the hotel being able to find a convenient game after the con is done at the warehouse. Shame on anyone who actually votes no for that, Even if not for your own use, think about the others.

Let us hope enough people respond positively that it is not an issue. I know I'd be pissed if they took that aspect away.

[TagsPB]

As a convention organizer I would only vote yes for the conference room if the hotel is willing to give it at a reduced rate ( they can get expensive) and we wouldn't be using it during the day so they are likely to add costs to it.

As for dates....I am very busy at the end if May....so the earlier weekend is far better. (May 1-3)

[The Galactus Kid]

First weekend and with room.

[The Dark Elf]

1st with rooms.

[Grand Paladin]

First weekend, and conference room.

[ffranceschi]

First weekend and with room.

+1.

I am not an expert in polls but it appears that this is the prefered choice. Kevin, take note please!

[Alpha 11]

First weekend and with room.

+1.

I am not an expert in polls but it appears that this is the prefered choice. Kevin, take note please!

Well no gaming for me after midnight. Need my sleep so I can be awake for all the gaming goodness that will go one during the day. But 1st weekend also.

[Jorel]

I think you still want a game room, for other people, so they do not disturb your sleep with their late night gaming and antics.

[Razzinold]

May 1 - 3 + conference room. Even if I end up being too tired to use the conference room I know everybody else will make good use of it and keep all the noise there.

[jaymz]

You're planning to go Razz?

[Razzinold]

I would like to go, since it would be my first one, but lots of factors are in play. Need to get a passport before then, have to convince my dad to watch the kids and dog all weekend and to be able to actually afford to go lol

[Jorel]

Depending on how you are traveling, share expenses can make a huge difference.

[Razzinold]

Depending on how you are traveling, share expenses can make a huge difference.

I live 30-45 minutes east of Toronto so I figure I will just drive. As for expenses everything I have to pay out will be double. 2 passports (the wife and I), two tickets to open house, twice the amount of food, etc.

We have a small car so at least it shouldn't cost us too much fuel wise. According to mapquest.ca from my front door to their front door is 5 hours and 13 minutes if I take I-94W or 5 hours and 14 minutes if it take 196W. The I-94 route is 476.08 KM and the I-96 route is 458.43 but apparently is 1 minute slower, lol
I've driven to Montreal before and it's actually a little further from my place to there than my place to the Palladium offices.

Any suggestions on the route I should take ?

[Jorel]

I don't know about route, but I can relate as my wife will be there as well. What should have been a 6 hour drive in May took us 10 hours and a big part of that hassle was Chicago. We do take 94 for a good part of it as we are travelin from Wisconsin. Still you'll have the benefit of a room for the 2 of you and that in itself is kinda nice. Sure it is nice to save money, but when you want peace of mind it is great to have your own space.

[jaymz]

Razz - Basically it's about 25 minutes from the Ambassador bridge so actual routes are all going to be about the same. Be more important about the Hotel you are at etc.

[Jorel]

Here is the Hotel they used the past couple times and the one they suggested using again. The Comfort Inn in Plymouth, MI. I believe it is also called the Clocktower, could be wrong on that last part though.

[jaymz]

Yeah that would look about right.

And as I said about 25 minutes or so once you get off the bridge and onto the interstate etc.

Just have to watch though as the area can be a bit confusing if you've never been through there before. It's been a while for me and I'd have to watch it as well as I always crossed in a truck not a personal vehicle and I know there was a lot of work done over the last 5-6 years all around the bridge and what not.

[Prysus]

Greetings and Salutations. I already voted, but in the interest of being open/honest... I voted May 1-3, mainly because I think Mother's Day will mean more to my girl and her family. I also said I do NOT need the conference room, because the question was stated for personal preference. I'll be with my fiance (should be wife by then) and not sure she'll want to be up that late (though she can be an insomniac so who knows), and I can't stay up super late myself (I can do maybe 1 or 2am, but one or two hours isn't enough to warrant a conference room for the whole night... and again the poll question said "I").

I have no problem with their being a conference room for others though. In fact, I thought it was a pretty cool feature. However if having that conference room will cause problems for the actual Open House, I'd do without it in a heartbeat. So if the choice is Open House or conference room, I pick the Open House emphatically. I'm also struggling with money some. So if the conference room will result in paying more (and that does have to be paid for, even if we don't see it on our end), I'd again say no in favor of the Open House.

That's of course just my opinion. Farewell and safe journeys to all.

[jaymz]

Well being as I'll be coming from not much farther away and almost the exact same route as Razz....You can't avoid Detroit to get to Palladium unfortunately though you can, and I may very well do this to avoid the 20 minute, 3 mile drive through Windsor to teh bridge (must 18 traffic lights off the freeway to the bridge oye), take another freeway partway between Toronto and Windsor and cross from Sarnia to Pt Huron. The trip itself isn;t any longer reall (1km and 1 minute according to google maps) will likely be a smoother trip overall and you don;t have to deal with border agents at North America's busiest land crossing. From Pt Huron you just head down I-94 towards Detroit and then take a couple of dog legs when you get near the city and ban you;re there.

[Razzinold]

Well being as I'll be coming from not much farther away and almost the exact same route as Razz....You can't avoid Detroit to get to Palladium unfortunately though you can, and I may very well do this to avoid the 20 minute, 3 mile drive through Windsor to teh bridge (must 18 traffic lights off the freeway to the bridge oye), take another freeway partway between Toronto and Windsor and cross from Sarnia to Pt Huron. The trip itself isn;t any longer reall (1km and 1 minute according to google maps) will likely be a smoother trip overall and you don;t have to deal with border agents at North America's busiest land crossing. From Pt Huron you just head down I-94 towards Detroit and then take a couple of dog legs when you get near the city and ban you;re there.

Yeah those were pretty much the options I was taking about. I-96W meant crossing at Detroit and I-94W meant a bit of a detour. According to map quest it was longer (km/mi) wise but actually like 1 or 2 minutes faster. lol

[jaymz]

Yeah that is because you don't have to go through Windsor. You get off the 401 and drive through winsor and traffic lights etc. You take the 402 over to sarnia and you drive right up to the bridge and then right off the bridge back on to a freeway.

Either way i think you need to get on I-96 but that is the end game to get to palladium.....

If it ends up you are going, whether I go or not, I'll gladly help you plan the route.

[Grug]

Q. How far is the hotel from the airport?

Around 30 min. But it's Michigan and it could turn into an hour during rush hour...or more.

[FatherMorpheus]

Hotel closer to venue is better than closer to airport. The airport is in a scketchy section of Detroit, and that is saying something.

[The Galactus Kid]

Q. How far is the hotel from the airport?

Around 30 min. But it's Michigan and it could turn into an hour during rush hour...or more.

Cool. Thanks for the info. I ask because I'll probably have to take a cab to the hotel.

Depending on when you get in, there are a number of people that will either be going to the same place or if you ask nicely, might be able to come get you.

[mumah]

Yeah, you won't have to waste money on a cab. You'll have problem getting there.

[FatherMorpheus]

If you arrange it, there are people who might have rental cars so you could get a ride with them. That would go for to and from the hotel to the warehouse as well. Heck, depending on costs of cabs, getting a rental car for 3 days might be cheaper than a cab ride to and from.

[Alpha 11]

If you arrange it, there are people who might have rental cars so you could get a ride with them. That would go for to and from the hotel to the warehouse as well. Heck, depending on costs of cabs, getting a rental car for 3 days might be cheaper than a cab ride to and from.

Plus, if you have multi people using that car, you can split the cost, making it ever chipper.

[Razzinold]

If you arrange it, there are people who might have rental cars so you could get a ride with them. That would go for to and from the hotel to the warehouse as well. Heck, depending on costs of cabs, getting a rental car for 3 days might be cheaper than a cab ride to and from.

Plus, if you have multi people using that car, you can split the cost, making it ever chipper.

I could definitely see how having some like minded people along for the ride would make the atmosphere in the car a lot more positive/happy

[Scott Gibbons]

If you arrange it, there are people who might have rental cars so you could get a ride with them. That would go for to and from the hotel to the warehouse as well. Heck, depending on costs of cabs, getting a rental car for 3 days might be cheaper than a cab ride to and from.

The past two Open Houses I've given rides to other gamers back and forth between the hotel and Palladium's warehouse, and even to and from the airport and train station. It was a pleasure, as the awesome atmosphere of the OH carried right into the trips back and forth. And of course the people I gave rides to were awesome! I'd highly recommend anyone able to do so share a ride with others.

Looks like for this one coming up my wife and I (and possibly our son) will be flying up, which would mean a rental car when we got there, so I'd be willing to give rides again - time permitting. I'm currently working on an idea for a series of interconnected adventures that would run consecutively throughout the OH, so time might be a very real limiting factor.