Where to stay?

We know that, for many attendees, finding the lowest possible hotel rate is paramount, and we are aware that often people choose to stay on the outskirts of town and then choose to drive to the conference each day.

However, before you book your hotel room for the ASHS Annual Conference, we want to mention the following ....

The American Society for Horticultural Science continues to make every effort to keep costs at a minimum for those attending the ASHS Annual Conference.

One way this is done is to make a commitment to the host hotel (for 2010 the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort and Spa) that a specified number of hotel rooms will be occupied by our conference attendees. In exchange for the hotel room occupation, the property provides ASHS with complimentary meeting space.

Over the last several years, many unsuccessful attempts have been made to explain this process to conference delegates. In 2004, ASHS did not fill its committed number of sleeping rooms, and, as a result, faced hefty penalty fees.

Therefore, the ASHS Board of Directors instituted a “Facilities Usage Fee” for those who attend the conference, but choose not to stay in the host hotel.

This is the only way that we can continue to run the conference without raising registration fees.

The $250 Facilities Usage Fee will apply only to those who register (including exhibitors, speakers, students, etc.) for the conference (with the exception of guests), but choose not to stay at the host hotel.

We encourage all conference attendees to avoid this Facilities Usage Fee and stay at the host hotel.

Please be aware that if you are sharing a room with another delegate, both names must appear on the room reservation by the hotel reservation cut-off date, otherwise you will be assessed this fee and obligated to pay it in order to pick up your registration credentials.

Staying at the host hotel makes it easy to enjoy the the camaraderie of fellow ASHS members inside and outside of scheduled activities.

Just imagine - no commuting time to conference activities; additional networking time with colleagues; and amenities, such as room service, safes, exercise facilities, and restaurants/shops - everything in one convenient location.

It certainly is your choice as to where you desire to stay during the conference, but please understand that ASHS does have contractual commitments that we must honor, and we must do all we can to assure that there are no negative financial implications to the Society and the ASHS Membership.