Pitt Ganza 2008 Update - July 01, 2008
Greetings! We hope you are all enjoying your summers. It has been so good to hear from some of you either by email or by phone. We have had a lot of positive feedback on these semi-monthly updates and a lot of people are really getting excited to come to the Pittsburgh Extravaganza. We also have had a lot of questions though and I thought it would be helpful to answer some of the questions we have received in case other people have the same question.
First, however, an update on the hotel. The email sent June 15 indicated we were extremely close to needing an overflow hotel. While we still cannot completely rule out that possibility, we were able to work with the hotel to secure additional rooms for the main nights of the event. I believe we will now be able to accommodate everyone at the Westin, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Now for some of your questions:
| 1. | | Is there a deadline for registering? |
| | The deadline for booking your hotel reservation at the group rate as well as pre-ordering your Extravaganza package is Friday, September 5, 2008. This date is important for two reasons: 1) the hotel cannot guarantee you the special TAA rate after this date and 2) we cannot guarantee admission to the banquet, Pittsburgh Tour or Dessert Cruise after this date due to our requirement to provide a headcount in advance of each of these events. If you plan on attending and want to stay at the hotel or attend either the banquet, tour or dessert cruise, it is highly recommended that you make your reservations prior to September 5. You can book both your room and package by clicking HERE. Tickets will be available at the hotel for admission to the welcome dance, dance workshops, shows and break-out rooms. |
| 2. | | Does registering for a package get me into all of the events? |
| | Unfortunately, the package is not a free-pass for admission into all events. The packages only get you into the welcome dance, concerts, break-out rooms and banquet. If you want to attend the Dessert Cruise, Friday Dance Workshops, Pittsburgh Tour or Survivor's Party, you must register for each of these events separately. Keep in mind, reservations for the Dessert Cruise and Pittsburgh tour must be received before September 5. While we prefer to also have reservations for the dance workshops and survivor's party in advance to help facilitate planning, you can pay for admission to these events that day. |
| 3. | | What if I've already registered for a package and mailed in my check, but now I want to attend one of the other events? |
| | This is no problem. Simply go back to the registration page and order the additional items you would like to purchase. You will receive a new confirmation number for your new order and will need to send another check, but your spot can be reserved by placing a second order. Actually, you can do this for anything you didn't purchase the first time around -- chances on the raffle, booster ad for the souvenir book, merchandise.... |
| 4. | | What if I'm registering my child? |
| | Anyone wanting to register a child 12 and under should contact our Registration Chairwoman, Jackie Zidanic, prior to registration. You can email her at jackie.zidanic@pittganza2008.org. |
| 5. | | I'm coming to the banquet, but I'm a vegetarian. What will be served for dinner? |
| | The entrée for the banquet will be an olive oil basted French breast of chicken served with port wine shallot reduction, chive mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. If you are a vegetarian, please contact our Banquet Chairwoman, Sue Wagner, and we will make the necessary accommodation for you. You can email her at susan.wagner@pittganza2008.org. |
| 6. | | Have special arrangements been made with the hotel for parking? |
| | The hotel has a self-parking garage directly beneath it. We have negotiated a rate for self-parking which is 30% lower than the rate posted. Parking will be $13.40 per day. Parking passes will be available for hotel guests at the front desk throughout the weekend. |
| 7. | | Will there be shuttle service available from the hotel to the survivors' party on Sunday? |
| | We are currently working to secure a contract for shuttle service for our out-of-town guests staying at the hotel Sunday night. Shuttles will take guests from the hotel to the survivors' party at the beginning of the event and return you to the hotel when it is over. Those traveling home Sunday are also welcome to use the shuttle, however, keep in mind, the shuttle will not offer continuous round trip service and it will not go to the airport. More information will be available at a later date. |
I hope you have found this information to be helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@pittganza2008.org. In the meantime, please spread the word to your friends and be sure to make your reservations to ensure your spot at the Pittsburgh Extravaganza.
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