[KathrynPorterDrapeau]

The conference is now sold out.

If you weren’t able to register, please sign up for the wait list. You’ll be contacted via email if space opens up.  http://bit.ly/2012WaitList

Thanks for your support, and we can’t wait to see you in June!

[punatic]

Are you kidding me? 
The conference is sold out.
I tried to register, but the system would not let me log in.  I could not log in because the system would not recognize my user name.  When I tried to create a new user name it would not let me.  When I tried to call for tech support there was no one there.

I got up at 5AM HST to try to reach tech support again today, and there will be no one there until next Monday - due to inclement weather. Inclement weather indeed...  there's going to be a s***-storm of very unhappy members.

Since when do you need to be an AHA member to attend the conference anyway?

This just keeps getting better and better.

[theDarkSide]

Is this a result of space not being as big as last year, or is the popularity of it growing that much?

If it keeps up this pace, they have to hold it in locations that have domed stadiums

[dbeechum]

Popularity growing that much. The seattle crew and the AHA worked really hard to get as many people into the space as possible.

in the meanwhile, get on the waitlist, i guarantee you there'll be turnover thanks to overzealous buyers.

2 days, jesus, you'd think we were a rock show or something.

[bonjour]

Actually a combination of the two.  Last year was planned much smaller, but had the room to grow.
This year is the 2nd largest NHC ever, so it is not small.  The AHA has had very significant growth which is great, and Seattle is a great beer destination.

A subject that we, your governing committee, will be discussing on many levels.

[punatic]

My last post may seem a little harsh.  I'm sorry about that.  I am just really frustrated.  It took me quite a while to get a hotel room booked at the conference.  I did not want to travel all that way to stay at an off-site hotel.  Once I got that accomplished I went straight to the registration site, which is where my email above picks up.

Being optimistic; can I get on the list for the Hopunion tour on Tuesday?

[bonjour]

I agree with Drew that some spots are likely to open up

Get on the wait list.  I'm sure FIFO

[bluesman]

I agree with Drew that some spots are likely to open up

Get on the wait list.  I'm sure FIFO

+2

I would try that.

I'm amazed at how quickly it sold out. Success comes at a price I suppose.

[dbeechum]

i almost guarantee you there'll be a few sheepish conversations this month. "you spent how much to go to a beer thing?"

[bluesman]

i almost guarantee you there'll be a few sheepish conversations this month. "you spent how much to go to a beer thing?"

yup.

You can probably fit me into that category. 

[punatic]

i almost guarantee you there'll be a few sheepish conversations this month. "you spent how much to go to a beer thing?"

Do you know how much the Hawaiian guy charges to paddle from Puna to Bellevue?!  

 

[jeffy]

I bit the bullet last night and charged up a full conference pass even though I'm not exactly sure I'll be able to go.  I'm glad I did now. 

[bobby_m]

I didn't realize there was a way to back out of a registration. Isn't that an obvious reason why it sold out quickly? Does the AHA impose any kind of back out fee to discourage people from jumping the gun even though they know they have an uphill battle to actually make it to the event?

Ugh... I never thought I'd have to camp out on the registration site to get a spot. Frustrated, this may be the first one I missed in the last four years. I'm curious how many West Coasters are going to keep it going when they have to spend 5 hours on a plane next year.

[denny]

I'm curious how many West Coasters are going to keep it going when they have to spend 5 hours on a plane next year.

I will!

[dbeechum]

I will too..but then again denny and i both have an excuse.

yeah, i predict there's going to be hella lot of conversations happening in the next month or two to fiugre out what to do in response to the growth.

10 years ago, the conference was in Irving, TX and was a disaster due to a number of issues outside the control of the AHA and the local crew. We had less than 200 people at the conference.

2004 we thought we were pretty styling in Vegas with 700. In 2008, Cincy and it's just shy of 1k felt unreal. Then to make the jump from MN's 1300 to San Diego's 1900.. holy crap. Once we throw in the social packages, ala carte and everything else, i'm sure seattle will be near that too.

One of the problems for us as we stand is we're at that cusp of having to go into much larger conference spaces and that's a risk.