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Potential BriForum 2009 Chicago dates: Does July 22-24 work?

Written on Sep 03 2008 4,323 views, 28 comments

by Brian Madden

We're trying to nail down the dates for BriForum 2009. As we've written in the past, finding a venue / date combination is much more complex than we'd like it to be. Most feedback we received was that Chicago and The Navy Pier were great locations this year, so we're going to plan on sticking with the same venue for next year.

As for timing, the only dates they have that do NOT conflict with other major events in our industry are Wed-Fri, July 22-24, 2009. How do those dates sound for everyone? (Please don't respond with "that's my wife's birthday, so I can't come.") We're looking for feedback as to whether these dates conflict with anything major. Here's a list of all the conferences we can think of that we're trying to work around:

VMworld Europe: February 24-26, 2009
MVP meeting: March, 2009
Citrix Synergy: May 4-7, 2009
TechEd: May 19-22, 2009
iForum Edinburgh: June 9-11, 2009
VMworld: September 1-4, 2009
Citrix Summit: October 26-29, 2009

So what do you think? Can we sign the contract for those dates? (BTW, these are the only dates that we can have the event in Chicago. So if there is a major conflict that we're not aware of, we'll have to start from stratch in a new city.)

 
 



Comments

Guest wrote venue
on Wed, Sep 3 2008 6:21 PM Link To This Comment
thanks for sticking to chicago. It is close to the midwest and ill actually have a better chance of getting ot go next year.
Guest wrote Fred Sanford
on Wed, Sep 3 2008 8:25 PM Link To This Comment
ATLANTA has a couple of nice conference centers.... we would love to have it here!
Tony wrote Gleason?
on Wed, Sep 3 2008 10:11 PM Link To This Comment

Personally, I liked the Gleason Center much better then the Navy Pier...I wasn't to crazy about the venue in general and mile and a half walk each day, we were fortunate the weather cooperated.  I still enjoyed the conference though!!!

Is there something going on in April?   July is just a "vacation" month in general and its tough to get office coverage to attend conferences, at least for me anyway.

Alan Osborne wrote Alternative city
on Wed, Sep 3 2008 11:26 PM Link To This Comment

How about Vancouver, Canada :-)

Ya, I know, it'll never happen...

Things That Make You Go Boom wrote Re: Gleason?
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 6:24 AM Link To This Comment
I liked it at Navy Pier, it was nice refreshing morning walk every morning that woke me up before any sessions.  Gleacher was nice too because it was close to everything, but if I had to choose I would stick to Navy Pier.
Robert Murray wrote BF09
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 6:27 AM Link To This Comment

Those dates work. That walk was a pain though. My favorite location was DC in 06 but I understand that Chicago is more central.

BTW, I think you should raise the price to take some of the pressure off your internal operations. I have gone the past three years and have had three different companies pay for it. They all would have paid more...

Emily Monaco wrote Re: Gleason?
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 7:32 AM Link To This Comment
The Gleacher Center was awesome, but unfortunately only accommodates 250 people--obviously it's too small! As for the walk...I was 6 months pregnant and had no problems with it :) You should have taken advantage of the free trolleys!
Guest wrote Re: Gleason?
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 8:20 AM Link To This Comment
Trolly in the morning didn't start until 10am....
Guest wrote Re: BF09
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 9:03 AM Link To This Comment
I would be down with that, this by far the most important conference I go to each year, and I wouldn't mind paying a little more if it meant a better conference.
Guest wrote Location & Cost $$$$
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 11:38 AM Link To This Comment

Like I said last year.. Downtown Chicago is too expensive. How about near O'Hare - still Chicago, closer to the airport and less expensive hotels. Plus, a few nice conference centers.

I just can't justify the ~$400/night hotel anymore.

Brian Madden wrote Re: Location & Cost $$$$
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 11:47 AM Link To This Comment
How did you end up with a $400 per night hotel? We had group rates at two hotels that were like $189 or $219 or something like that... Did those blocks fill up?
Casey Piegzik wrote Re: Location & Cost $$$$
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 12:36 PM Link To This Comment

No, there were plenty of rooms at the Inn of Chicago this year. I actually got in at a rate of $139 a night.  Great location! Can't wait for next year, lock it in Brian.

Guest wrote Re: Location & Cost $$$$
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 4:26 PM Link To This Comment
Exactly...the Inn of Chicago was a dump...Hyatt was way better last year.
Niek Boevink wrote Navy Pier and date
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 4:47 PM Link To This Comment
The Navi pier was a nice location and Chicago a fine city so that works for me.
 
I think that the date will be a problem for the people from Europe.
 
* When you fly from Europe to Chicago in Juli the rates for the tickets are sky high
* Hotel prices are higher because this is high season
 
The biggest problem in July are the family holiday times
Most people with kids will be on vacation during july and august
Things That Make You Go Boom wrote Re: Location & Cost $$$$
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 6:20 PM Link To This Comment
I have to agree that the Inn of Chicago was no Ritz, but it was okay considering all I did was sleep there (although I got the Executive Queen room expecting something like a nice big screen TV maybe, only to get a basic motel 6 like room a small 27" TV with 12 channels.  Executive????).
Mike Fry wrote BriForum 2009 dates
on Thu, Sep 4 2008 8:06 PM Link To This Comment

The dates work for me since that is a slow month in with us consultants.

As for hotels, having the 2 mile walk in the AM & PM was great.  Good to get the blood flowing before being idle for all day then get your legs stretched out afterwards.  I stayed at the Hampton Inn, a straight shot to the Navy Pier.  I had two flat screen TVs and only paid $178/night and $41/day for valet parking.

 

Looking forward to it?  Are you going to have the earlybird registration again?

Guest wrote Re: Navy Pier and date
on Fri, Sep 5 2008 8:23 AM Link To This Comment
Wasn't a problem for me this year. I managed to find last minute flights for less than £400 from Glasgow direct to the Windy Place.
Rudy Bauer wrote Re: Location & Cost $$$$
on Fri, Sep 5 2008 12:20 PM Link To This Comment
Downtown Chicago is awesome. I'm coming from Seattle and I think the cost is reasonable. Brian had some nice options for Hotels. The Pier is cool!
Christopher Wilson wrote Re: BriForum 2009 dates
on Fri, Sep 5 2008 3:15 PM Link To This Comment
Ditto. Dates are fine for me.
Niek Boevink wrote Re: Navy Pier and date
on Mon, Sep 8 2008 2:11 AM Link To This Comment
June is low season so the prices where low and during this period there are a lot of last minut deals.
 
Prices during the high season (July/Aug) are 2 times expensive
Michael Keen wrote Navy Pier and July sounds good to me
on Mon, Sep 8 2008 7:28 AM Link To This Comment
perfect.
Todd McLean wrote That works for me.
on Mon, Sep 8 2008 12:01 PM Link To This Comment

Hi Brian! This was my first forum and which I intend to make an annual event.  Summer time is always filled with camping and family vacations but I will make the time.  The navy pier is also a perfect venue to host!  Looking forward to it.....EH!

 

Michael Filmer wrote July shouldnt be a problem
on Tue, Sep 9 2008 4:22 AM Link To This Comment
Coming from Europe I'd personally like to see BF09 hosted in a different city for obvious reasons, not that I dont enjoy visitng Chicago:) I have to be honest and say that I preffered the Gleason Center venue. That being said, it was nice to be able to enjoy the sun and the view at navy Pier during the breaks. I stayed in Hotel71 which was about a 5 min walk to Gleason and 15-25 min walk to Navy Pier. Like Mike Fry mentioned July and August are slow months so July should be no problem for me.
Guest wrote Chicago Navy Pier was Great
on Tue, Sep 9 2008 8:21 AM Link To This Comment

JULY time is fine. Chicago and  Navy Pier Venue is also fine.

Jay Charles wrote Dates
on Wed, Sep 10 2008 8:24 AM Link To This Comment
Word.
Steve Greenberg wrote Those dates work
on Wed, Sep 10 2008 9:35 AM Link To This Comment
that works
Atle Lund wrote Excellent date suggestionz
on Mon, Sep 22 2008 2:39 PM Link To This Comment
Can't wait to visit Chicago and Navy Pier again. We norwegians always have a good time when we're abroad at conferences :) Chicago had awesome resturants, good cold beer and of course a mind blowing BriForum :)
Guest wrote DEFCON 17 will be held July 31 - August 2, 2009
on Tue, Sep 23 2008 10:36 AM Link To This Comment
Dont forget this date..

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