Summit ’14: Site Visit to Phoenix

Guest post by Paul Mueller. Next year's Summit takes place 5-8 May 18-21 May in Phoenix, AZ. Even though the 2013 Summit just ended, we're already hard at work planning the next one!

We just visited the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix for our initial site planning and I can’t wait to return to Phoenix in May 2014 for the Technical Communication Summit. The people, location, facilities, event plans, and sightseeing opportunities are incredible.

We packed in a great deal during our visit, but I thought I would try to highlight some of my thoughts:

• Travel from the airport to the Hyatt Regency is fast and easy. Taxis take about 15 minutes ($20), and light-rail is an inexpensive option ($2) and requires less than an hour.
• The Hyatt Regency is a great hotel with many public seating/conversation areas, Wi-Fi, comfortable rooms, Networks bar and grill, well-equipped gym, pool, friendly and helpful staff, and much more.
• Many shops, bars, restaurants, and sites to see (including Alice Cooperstown) are within walking distance of the Hyatt. I can't wait for the TweetUp and other social gatherings.
• Misting systems on many buildings and outdoor patios keep you cool so you can enjoy the area.
• The architecture of many of the older Phoenix buildings is beautiful, as is the art and sculptures throughout the city.
• You can get a light-rail day pass ($4) and easily ride around the city to see the sites. Light-rail is only two blocks from the Hyatt.
• The baseball stadium is an easy walk from the hotel, so I look forward to seeing an Arizona Diamondbacks game while I'm in town.
• The convention center, which will provide our conference session rooms and EXPO hall is across the street from the Hyatt … just 56 steps away, and provides wonderful accessibility.
• Starbucks is located at the convention center entrance … so convenient!
• Our session rooms in the convention center are all together, just inside the entrance, and give us great flexibility to deliver a powerful program with new formats … stay tuned for more information and announcements.
• The Hyatt provides great meeting space for our preconference education programs and our evening events.
• The Arizona Cardinals football stadium, which will host the 2015 Superbowl, is 20 miles from the Hyatt and can be seen from the revolving restaurant on the top floor.
• The Grand Canyon is only about 4 hours away.
• Sedona, Flagstaff, and Tucson are each less than two hours away.
• The Symphony Hall is next to the convention center, and several museums are nearby.
• I enjoyed breakfast at Steve's, just across the street from the Hyatt. It’s an easy place to meet with friends.
• The Honors Banquet meal will be delicious, offering a wonderful filet mignon, fish, or vegetarian grilled, stuffed poblano chili main entree. I enjoyed meeting the chef and hearing how they use local suppliers when possible to create fresh, delicious dishes.

I hope you are getting excited about the 2014 Summit in Phoenix and putting it on your calendar today.  The Call for Proposals will be opening in early August and will close in early September.  We look forward to seeing you in Phoenix.