An interesting opportunity presented itself with the hotel this year and we think it's going to work out an an amazing way. Normally, we're using lobby space and breakout rooms inside the actual hotel, but this year we will actually have our own private, totally enclosed space! The area we'll be using is in the plaza building that houses Drunken Fish (we're right next door, basically!) and so is well within walking (wobbling) distance of the Sheraton Plaza Hotel doors.

It's a pretty cool meeting space, being a former nightclub, and we think it will suit our needs perfectly.

There will be signs directing you to where our area is, and we've included a link to some photos if you want to help familiarize yourself with the area.

Please note, that because we are outside of the actual hotel itself, we will have a Security Guard (actual Security, not a GM) on hand who will be checking badges this year to ensure that outside parties (or Con Crashers) do not wander into the area that has been designated for Simucon attendees.

THIS IS IMPORTANT

If you do not have your SimuCon 2011 badge with you, you will not be able to get into the lounge area, the meeting area or the game area.

Here is the link to the photos of the meeting space (we'll try to get a few more shots before the Con, too): http://s1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee432/Simucon/

This years reminders:

* If you are UNABLE to book a room at the Sheraton Plaza because the room block has now closed (Shame on you for waiting so long!), the Sheraton has graciously opened a block of rooms for us at the Chalet until Friday, July 15th. The Chalet is just a short walk from the Sheraton Plaza and our meeting rooms.

* The Sheraton is providing a bar and bartender complimentary on Thursday August 4rd through Saturday August 6th from 7pm – 1am. The bar prices have been reduced by 20% off their regular banquet menu. (Bottled Beer $4, Call Brand Drinks at $5.). We STRONGLY encourage use of the bartender, but realize that people will (as usual) bring their own drinks. Since we are outside of the hotel this year, please make sure to be a bit more discrete when transporting your outside beverages into our area. For those who are bringing or partaking in alcohol (store bought or otherwise), please be aware of the following additional information:

1) You should not be taking your brought-in booze into the hotel bar.
2) You should not be leaving our meeting space to the Drunken Fish or to wander around the Westport Complex with ANY drinks (unless you are going directly and immediately back to your room).
3) In addition, you need to be VERY careful wandering around the hotel property (inside or out) with your various home-brew substances, including your spiked fruit or whatever else shows up.

(Please do not get into an argument with the hotel (or worse yet, the police) if they ask you to comply with anything they say in regards to beverages. Whether you are well versed in the laws on home brewing or not, if you want to argue with either of those entities, you are very likely not going to win and may be asked to leave the hotel. If you choose to continue to argue with the police, you might be able to manage a place to stay for the rest of the weekend, however, but we don't think it's worth it, so don't go there)

* The hotel and meeting area are non-smoking venues. However, we have our own private patio/balcony space available outside our headquarters. The state of Missouri and several individual communities within the state have passed various non-smoking laws which severely limit where you can smoke, especially around hotels (you cannot smoke within 15 feet of a hotel entrance, for example). There are also new rules which apply to all of the restaurants in Westport. but they will be able to tell you more definitely if they have areas for smoking or not when you go to them. Please be aware of this. This includes ALL hotel rooms, whether they have a balcony or not, and there is a $250 penalty for smoking in them.

* If anything crazy or weird happens, do not try to resolve the issue yourself. Go to the hotel staff and tell them you need security or find a GM or Con staff and they'll get in touch with the hotel and/or Con staff.

* This should go without saying, but there should be no illegal drug use happening at the Con. If we see it happening, it WILL be reported to the hotel.

* Please don't wander around Westport Plaza and harass or scare the normals. Do not invite the normals back to our functions. Do not invite the locals to come play Curses or Rock Band or anything like that. If you want to invite the locals back to your room, good luck and godspeed.

* Housekeeping wanted to let us know that while they have worked out a plan to not going to start cleaning rooms for your group until 12:00pm (they know we like to stay up late and sleep in), they will not have Housekeeping Services available to clean rooms after 4:00pm. If you have your Do Not Disturb sign out past 4pm, your room will not be cleaned until the following day (provided your do not disturb sign is not out)! However, you can always call for more towels, etc. and that will not be a problem to get them after 4pm.


We're also going to be continuing with enforcement of the following: No minors without adult supervision.

SimuCon isn't really a family atmosphere or a family-oriented event.


Thanks and see you there!

~The 2011 SimuCon Committee~

This message was originally posted in SimuCon Forum: SimuCon 2011, General Discussion To discuss the above, follow the link below.

http://forums.play.net/forums/3/27/159/view/127