MikeMoore

Mark, the other blocks were open for Tuesday. If you have trouble, let me know and I’ll talk to the Staybridge. They’ve been incredibly easy to work with so far. Mike

Folks...We have now sold out THREE hotels near the convention center and just opened a block at a fourth. We have 25 rooms available at the Staybridge Suites, which is directly across the street from the convention center. In fact, other than having to go outside and cross the street, your room will be closer to the convention action than a room at the Marriott. The rates are a little higher than the other hotels, but you can cram more guys into a room there (each one has a queen sized pull out for instance) and breakfast is included. The rates are $154 for a "studio" and $164 for a "double suite", and parking is $9 per day. Check the convention website here: http://ipmsusanationals.com/Chattanooga/Accommodations.aspx Also, if you've already made a reservation at the Staybridge (or know someone who has) PLEASE contact me at mmoore1132@gmail.com. If you contact me before May 1st, I can get your reservation transferred into our block. If your room rate is higher than the convention rates, the hotel will honor the convention rate; and if your current rate is lower, the hotel will honor your current rate. But in either case, if I can get your reservation moved into our block by May 1st, the convention will get credit for the room nights, which is really important. I know many folks have made reservations there already, so please, please, please, let me know if you have so I can confirm it with the hotel! Thanks, and see you in August! Mike

Hi Doug, We can absolutely do that. To be honest the variety of restaurants within 3/4 of a mile of the convention center is so broad that we hadn't even thought of putting up a list, but it's not a bad idea at all. I really think that within a comfortable walk, drive, trip on the free shuttle or Uber/Lyft ride everyone will be able to find a place that fits their taste and budget. We have lots of things to work on in the near term, but look for some restaurant listings on the convention web site at some point. Mike

Should be all fixed now. Mike

Not sure what’s wrong there. I’ve got a message in to our web guru to see if we can’t get that sorted out. Thanks for the heads up! Mike

Like I said Duke, I really hope you'll be able to make it, so we'll start praying out here! Mike

Duke, I sure hope you're able to make it. I'll give you room for more display models than you had last year if you do! As for the banquet, while we may be forgoing the dinner, we think the desert reception makes a great opportunity to get together with everyone at the end of the convention, and since it doesn't cost a small fortune, we're hoping EVERYONE makes it and makes it a great party to wrap up on. Mike

All, While we've been quiet on the website front, we have been very busy behind the scenes. Registration is now live. We have a link to the IPMS store shopping cart for on-line registration, and we have a fillable PDF downloadable for those who prefer to register by mail. Model registration will follow later. We've announced two off site events. One is a tour to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville AL, the other is a BBQ dinner at the Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga. Both of these will be excellent activities. Check the site for more info on both. We've got a list of vendors who have reserved tables posted. It's a MONSTER list and it's turning into a historic vendor hall. The current record for vendor tables at a Nats is 424 in Atlanta in 2005. We currently have 431 tables reserved. With 5 months to go before the convention, even with some drop outs we really like our chances for setting a record for number of vendor tables. In a huge change from past conventions, we are going without a banquet. See the website for more details, but we're going to have a $5 desert reception to be followed by the awards. We should have seating for over 1000 for the reception and awards, and we're really hoping to have a huge party to wrap up this year's convention. We also have a rather extensive list of seminars that we're working on. Topics and presenters are currently listed on the website, and a schedule will follow soon. Finally, for now, we are really trying to emphasize display only models. We want to see as many as folks are willing to bring. Again, see the website for details. Any questions? Let me know. My email is on the Home page of the Convention Website! Thanks Mike Moore 2019 Convention Chairman

Mike, My apologies for the late response to your message. We spent some time late last year working on our local show held in January. But we are now back to full focus on the Nats! Expect registration to go live in the next week or so. We will also be getting vendor lists and seminar lists up soon. Mike

Mike, there are still plenty of rooms available at the Read House. It's a 1/2 block farther away then the Day's Inn, and $10 a night cheaper than the Marriott. And having just undergone a major renovation (as in they closed and gutted it, not just redid finishes) it will be VERY nice. Mike Moore

Another hotel update. The Marriott is pretty much sold out. There are king rooms available on Wednesday and Saturday nights, but nothing in between. Until and unless there are cancellations, the Marriott is sold out. The Day's Inn still has rooms for the whole convention, but for Friday night, they are down to Kings only, so if you don't want to share a bed, you'll need to bring an air mattress. The Read House still has lots of rooms. Mike

Marriott Updatae - There are still rooms available. However, due to the way the block was assigned, there are currently no double rooms left in the block for Saturday night the 10th, only King rooms. In talking with the National reservations desk, it appears that there are still double rooms in the hotel, but we can't get them added to the block until Monday when the sales folks come back to work. But it does sound like they are very limited. Check back on Monday to see if there are any doubles available on the 10th. There are still plenty of rooms at the Day's Inn and the Read House. Mike

Ok, here’s what I know. First, yes, parking is not included in the room rate at the Marriott. In the interests of full disclosure I’ll make note of that on our website. It also isn’t included in the rate for the Read House. Second, I don’t know where we stand exactly in regards to a sell out at the Marriott, but as of earlier this afternoon it was selling very quickly. I don’t know if I can get anyone in sales tomorrow, but I’ll check and see if they can tell me where we stand in regards to selling out. Mike Moore