May 2012

Formula 1™ Creates Slight Detour for 26th Annual EWTG Conference

With the upcoming Formula1™ event scheduled for November 17-18, 2012 just outside of Austin, the EWTG Board found itself hurriedly looking for a new host facility for our annual conference. Let me first give you a little background on the “why” we moved the conference to the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center, then I’ll tell you more about the new host facility.  

In February, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines created a challenge for the EWTG Board by offering either to move the day of conference to Tuesday, November 20^th or cancelling our contract. EWTG inquired about the availability of other weekends in November, but the Hyatt had none available. The Board felt that it was important that our conference volunteers be able to minimize the time spent away from work and that a Tuesday conference would be too burdensome. Also, due to the nearly year-long effort required to set up a successful conference the Board felt it was in the organization’s best interest to secure a host facility available during a November weekend. The Board also realized that our conference is an invaluable component of EWTG’s mission of providing professional development opportunities to our members and others interested in serving state government, and also realized that conference serves as a fundraiser to cover EWTG’s annual operating expenses. Therefore, it was important to the Board that we get this right.

 

Faced with the Hyatt dilemma, 2012 Vice-President and Conference Chair, Tanya Skaarup, contacted hotels and conference facilities in and around Austin that have capacity and facilities to hold our 900 conference attendees and sustain our conference format. However, none had a November weekend available. Tanya then turned her search efforts to the surrounding areas of San Marcos and San Antonio. She found that the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center was available on a November weekend. Moreover, the facility was excited to have the opportunity to host our 2012 conference!  

 

With that good news I quickly appointed a Contract Review & Negotiations Committee, comprised of Tanya Skaarup, Vice-President; Mary Castleberry, President-Elect; Susan Durso, Board Member; Kenya Johnson, Conference Facilities Chair; Carolyn Price, CMP Management; and myself. With the committee’s help, the Board was able to finalize a financially advantageous contract and retain many of the same amenities that our EWTG members have grown accustomed to at the Hyatt. Thank you, Contract Review & Negotiations Committee!  

 

Now that you know the “why” behind the need to relocate and change conference dates … let me share a little about our upcoming conference and the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center! 

 

Be sure to mark your calendars:

26^th Annual Professional Development Conference

November 4-5, 2012

Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center

 

Hopefully, these new dates will be appealing to all past and new conference attendees. Monday, November 5 will be our full-day Annual Professional Development Conference and our networking reception will be held the afternoon of November 4.  

 

 

Our new conference site is located between Austin and San Antonio on Interstate 35, approximately 30 miles south of downtown Austin. The drive to San Marcos is quick and easy using either I-35 or TX-130-Toll-N. Embassy Suites San Marcos is a 10-story hotel connected to the San Marcos Conference Center. The hotel has 238 two-room suites and offers many amenities, including: a full service restaurant, café with wireless internet access, evening Manager’s reception, full service spa, fitness center, outdoor pool & hot tub, and a business center. The facility is just north of the San Marcos Outlet Malls. Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center can easily accommodate our conference format and offers convenient parking, ample exhibit space, and has a ballroom with capacity to seat our 900+ attendees comfortably. Did I mention space? Yes, you’ll be amazed at the space in the hallways which will facilitate the flow of traffic while additional conference center space will offer our silent auction volunteers, sponsors, and exhibitors plenty of room to interact with attendees. Click here to access the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center web page … but don’t reserve your room yet, we have special conference rates and a forthcoming online site for you to reserve your room!

 

Let me encourage you to invest in yourself, your professional development, and your career. Make plans to attend the 26^th EWTG Annual Professional Development Conference at the Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa & Conference Center.

Please continue to view our EWTG website at www.ewtg.org to follow conference details as they become available. Also, look for Tanya and her Conference Committee Chairs’ forthcoming newsletter articles and emails on exciting details surrounding the upcoming 2012 Conference.