My wife is a professional meeting planner. She suggests that a college campus may have some advantages. Also, the religious group I tend to hang with has their annual gathering on a college campus every summer. I have attended a number of them. This summer it is (it is going on this week!) at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinios, a few miles or so south of Chicago. They have them all over the U.S. I have always enjoyed it. There have even been other groups there at the same time. My group usually has about 2,000 attendies. You get all your meals in the cafeteria (great food - in fact, TOO good!), and stay in the dorms. The bottom line for my religious thingee: 1) duration - 8 days and 7 nights; 2) cost - room & board (3 meals per day) per person, share room = $315 (private room = $390); program fee $200. So for this 8-day gathering, if you share a room, the total cost would be $515. For the PTG, assuming room & board was porportionally lower for the shorter duration, cost might be closer to perhaps $380! Other good points - Lots of free parking for those that drive. Lots of classroom space. Lots of audio-visual equipment already installed in classrooms. Many universities actively try to attact convention business. Labor costs are much lower for hired help (students!). They are set up to handle BIG groups. Hotels are not set up for education - colleges are - you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just my 2 cents worth. Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clair Dunn" <cadunn@vt2000.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 7:10 AM Subject: Re: convention sites (campuses) > Susan K. and all convention organizers out there-- > > Wow - a great idea -- college campuses. Cut down on expenses, and if > we choose universities noted for music programs, lots of pianos on > the spot. Cheaper lodgings. Bookstores within easy reach. > My first vote goes to Banff -- can anyone think of a more > spectacular place for a PTG convention?!!!! > I'll trade a ritzy, overpriced hotel for breakfast in the Rockies > any day. And we can get there by train! > Cheers, > Clair > > > Clair's Piano Service > http://www.vt2000.com/cps/ > >
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