Venue Of Aapc National Conference Changed To Jacksonville

By Author: Nancy Rose
Total Articles: 53
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Reed Pew, the National AAPC CEO and President, provides the latest updates.


To all AAPC Conference participants who are participants:


We've selected Jacksonville, Florida to relocate our conference owing to the extent of the flooding in Nashville, TN. It'll be on the exact dates with the same agenda. We feel awful that so much damaged has occurred to our members and the citizens in Nashville and want everyone there and in the adjoining areas to know how much we regret that a move was required.


I'd like to thank our AAPC national conference team for their work to immediately pull together another location. It's not an easy task to plan and conduct a conference for 2,000 attendees on one year's notice, much less 30 days. We took into consideration many factors prior to making our decision. Firstly, could we keep the conference anywhere near Nashville? We gave it a shot but could not. Knoxville wasn't available. Chattanooga did not have meeting space. ...
... Downtown Nashville is flooded even now; we even contacted Vanderbilt University to see if we could use their facilities and dorms, but without much luck.


We got in touch with Louisville, KY, however it was booked, as were Indianapolis; Charlotte, NC; Orlando; and a host of others, including Gaylord properties.


Secondly, we considered how important it's to keep the conference on the same date. We realized that too many schedules were in place and required to keep it within the original dates. A location change was bad enough and to change time and location would be even more difficult. The next concern was travel plans. This is most likely the biggest impact to everyone because of potential change fees and higher fares to Jacksonville. We've a little solution below for this however we know that we'll not be able to make everyone happy. We also know that many conference attendees planned to get their CEUs this year; thus cancellation or postponement of the conference was rejected quickly.


The good tidings:


1. Hotels are less expensive than the GayLord - about $30-60 per night less, ranging from $120 to over $200 considering the hotel and number of nights in Jacksonville. This will be $60 to over $100 savings for those with double occupancy. See hotel information, telephone numbers and costs below:

2. The total cost of hosting the conference in Jacksonville is less expensive. As a consequence, AAPC will pass along those savings by returning $100 to each attendee, which you'll get in Jacksonville during on-site registration/check-in

.
3. Jacksonville is a large and beautiful city. The spacious convention center is on the river, not far from the Atlantic Ocean and is very nice.


4. Educational events are likely to remain as scheduled. There'll be 18 CEUs and 15. 75 CMEs.


We're aware that changing your air ticket may be more expensive. We hope the savings on hotel rooms and conferences will help bring down any added expense. We're doing all we can, given the circumstances.


To aid us move quickly to deal with all registrants, we've some very important policies and dates to adhere to:


5. For those that paid AAPC for Gaylord hotel accommodations, your reservation is being transferred to one of the new conference hotels in Jacksonville, Florida. You'll get your new hotel confirmation number soon. If you didn't book your accommodations through AAPC, please reserve your room at one of the conference hotels mentioned below.


6. Please remember that you need do nothing to keep up your conference registration.


7. We hope you plan to join us in Jacksonville; but, if you are unable to attend, you may get a full refund by contacting us (http/www.aapc.com/ContactUs.aspx) .


8. Thank you for your patience as we may have lots of calls and emails to deal with over the next few days.


Jacksonville Hotel Help (You may start making reservations with them on Friday, May 7)


5. Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront - $149 per night in addition to tax - 904-588-1234


6. Omni Jacksonville Hotel - $139 per night in addition to tax - 904-355-6664


7. Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront - $129 per night in addition to tax - 904-398-8800


Note: For those who paid AAPC for Gaylord hotel accommodations, your reservation is being shifted to one of the new conference hotels in Jacksonville, Florida. You'll receive your new hotel confirmation number soon.


Airline Help


Every single major airline, including Southwest, fly into Jacksonville.


When changing your airline ticket, call—don't go online to make the change. Tell the representative that you're changing owing to a cancelled conference in Nashville due to flooding. Request that no change fee be charged because of hardship. You may not get the fee waived, however you should ask.


We hope you'll join us for what has always been planned to be a terrific conference. We'll continue to work very hard to offer you with the quality of conference you have been accustomed to.