Well friends, the National Association of Broadcasters’ yearly convention is coming up, and I thought I would put a few tips on the blog. Although I missed going last year (which ended my 18-consecutive-year streak!), I’m very likely going to head out to the desert again this spring.
• Date: This year the exhibits portion of the event will be held from Monday, April 8 through Thursday, April 11th. I always try to arrive on Sunday so that I can hit the ground running when the halls open at 9am on Monday. Exhibit hours are typically 9a – 6p except for Thursday when they close at 2pm.
• Registration: Thanks to Sony, you can enter code LV4064 to change the $150 Exhibit Only pass into a free pass at the following link: http://registration3.experientevent.com/ShowNAB131/ExhibitsOnly/Login.aspx
• Getting there: I remember when roundtrip airfare was around $200 – $250 from OKC to Vegas, but alas, those days are long-gone. As of this writing, expect fares in the $380 range, or more if you fly an airline for which you have to pay for luggage. However, Bing’s Price Predictor says that fares have a 67% chance of dropping $50 or more, so their advice is to wait to book. And don’t forget, if you can jam everything into a “fit-in-the-overhead-bin”-sized bag, the cheapest flights might actually be on one of the major airlines like American or Delta.
FEBRUARY UPDATE: As promised, fares have dropped! Southwest Airlines has a $180 round-trip going right now. Make sure to book your flight by Feb. 7.
• Staying in Vegas: I put a great link up on the company Facebook site that talks about my methods for getting a great rate via Priceline – check it out here if you are so inclined. In the past, I’ve found some great deals at the Hilton right next to the convention center but nothing so far this year. For food, Travelzoo has a pre-paid deal for a buffet for 2 at the Palms for $29 if you purchase in the next few days. Of course, if you have a kitchenette you can grab the basics from the Walgreens on the strip and at least make breakfast in your room.