CFO / Treasurer
AS YOU PLAN FOR THEATREFEST, 2013,
AT THE HOUSTON HYATT REGENCY.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
IN ADDITION……
(REMEMBER: December 1 is on a SATURDAY this year, and most items mailed on that date will NOT be postmarked on the same day. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!)
AND PLEASE….PLAN AHEAD!
Some personal notes from the Convention Director:
Each year, no matter how hard we emphasize that no exceptions will be made to any of our policies, we receive at least one or two dozen requests from Members who are sure that the “NO EXEMPTION” policy should not apply to them. It does! For example:
TheatreFest has gotten to be a BIG event. On the date we sign the hotel contracts- typically 3 to 5 years before the TheatreFest itself - we are committed to pay the hotel the full value of the contract, which is mid-six figures. With that kind of obligation necessary so far in advance to secure the space TETA needs for TheatreFest, our financial policies HAVE to be inflexible.
Today, TETA’s programming requires 75,000+ square feet of meeting space, and there simply aren’t many hotels in Texas with that much space which can also meet the three criteria above and can (or will) accommodate our requirements at room rates less than $200 a room for up to four people per room (and 2013’s hotel rate is actually LOWER than 2012’s!!).
Thank you for your understanding. Happiest holidays, and we’ll see you in Houston in January, 2013.
Gene Dickey, Convention Director
- Registration opens on THURSDAY, January 24, at 5pm. The Keynote Speaker and Business Meeting begin Friday, January 25, at 1:30pm in the Imperial Ballroom. Please do NOT be late as we will start promptly at 1:30PM.
- Programming begins on Friday morning, January 25 at 9am.
IN ADDITION……
- Registration postmarked by December 1, 2012, is $125.00 per person;
- Registration after December 1, 2012, will be $175.00 per person;
- Single day registration was eliminated three years ago.
(REMEMBER: December 1 is on a SATURDAY this year, and most items mailed on that date will NOT be postmarked on the same day. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!)
- You can pay with a personal check, school check, Visa, or MasterCard if you register now through December 1, 2012;
- After December 1, 2012, you can only pay any fees with a school check, Visa, MasterCard, or Cash. No personal checks accepted after December 1, 2012 or ONSITE;
- For complete details on these and other policies, please go to our website, www.tetatx.com.
Some personal notes from the Convention Director:
Each year, no matter how hard we emphasize that no exceptions will be made to any of our policies, we receive at least one or two dozen requests from Members who are sure that the “NO EXEMPTION” policy should not apply to them. It does! For example:
- You got all your paperwork submitted on time but your school secretary forgot to put it in the mail. Sorry, but the higher fees will apply;
- Your business office forgot to give you a check so all you have to pay for fees onsite is a personal check. Sorry, there is an ATM in the hotel just waiting to give you the money you need;
- Weather was bad and you simply could not travel. You really feel you should get your money back. Sorry, but inclement weather is considered an “Act of God” and TETA will still owe the hotel and all its vendors every penny of our original contracts. We simply cannot refund any money, or TETA could never pay the bills which we are charged, which is exactly the same no matter if the weather is sunny, raining, or a full blown ice storm.
TheatreFest has gotten to be a BIG event. On the date we sign the hotel contracts- typically 3 to 5 years before the TheatreFest itself - we are committed to pay the hotel the full value of the contract, which is mid-six figures. With that kind of obligation necessary so far in advance to secure the space TETA needs for TheatreFest, our financial policies HAVE to be inflexible.
Today, TETA’s programming requires 75,000+ square feet of meeting space, and there simply aren’t many hotels in Texas with that much space which can also meet the three criteria above and can (or will) accommodate our requirements at room rates less than $200 a room for up to four people per room (and 2013’s hotel rate is actually LOWER than 2012’s!!).
Thank you for your understanding. Happiest holidays, and we’ll see you in Houston in January, 2013.
Gene Dickey, Convention Director