IFWTWA Celebrates Our 3rd Conference at Sea
June 25—July 2, 2011
Members are invited to join the festivities as we sail to Alaska on Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam. We depart Seattle, Washington at 4:00 PM (all aboard 2:00 PM), June 25, 2011. First stop is Juneau, Alaska; sail around Hubbard Glacier; stop in Sitka, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, B.C., Canada; returning to Seattle, Washington on July 2, 2011. We will arrange exciting excursions where possible.
Members and their guests are welcome to take part in several Professional Development Seminars during our days at sea. We are still working out details, but know we will have classes on photography, wine pairing, Internet, writing guidebooks, and more (subject to change). French Master Chef Hervé Laurent will be joining us for a private cooking demonstration. Winemaker Don Reha will do one of our wine tastings. Details on all of this are still underway.
Our conference is open to all media and hospitality professionals, including writers, photographers, public relations, publicists, and marketing personnel who are members of IFWTWA. Our application has a $50 discount for new Associate Members and Regular Members who join and reserve at the same time. Members of SATW, ASJA, SJA, NY, Midwest, IACP, NATJA or other established writers’ organizations automatically qualify for New Regular Membership with Membership Registration Form completed.
Our Conference at Sea is a perfect time to mix and mingle with fabulous writers, photographers, and other professionals who will be attending. In addition, the professional development has continually received high praise.
We will have welcome and farewell cocktail parties along with other exciting activities.
All attendees are responsible for transportation to the Port of Seattle. Holland America does not believe its contracted air price is better than the competitive prices found on the Internet. Therefore, it is up to you to secure your own air.
We encourage you to sign up early, as we have a limited number of staterooms.
Since all of you will not be able to arrive early for our fabulous pre-trip, we have a group rate quote for pre and post cruise rooms at the historic Marqueen Hotel on lower Queen Anne Hill, the closest hotel to pier 91. The hotel provides transfers to and from the terminal for only $5. The regular rate on 6/25 is $185; the 7/2 rate is $225. Our group quote for those dates is $139/night. You can arrive as soon as 6/22 and stay 7/2 and 7/3. Suites have sitting areas and kitchenettes. This is 3-star hotel with a good rating on Trip Advisor. There are many restaurants in the neighborhood. Seattle has many conventions in town during this period, so there is limited availability anywhere. You have to make your own reservation by calling 888-445-3076 or register online at www.marqueen.com. Our Online PROMO Code is: IFWTWA. Cut off date for group rate reservations is 3-15-2011.
We have a separate registration form for a phenomenal pre-cruise trip. It will be limited to 30. Board Member Allen Cox has put this wine, dine, and deluxe accommodation package together for us. It will be first come, first served. So register early.
