While planning your conferences, has your affiliate moved to different conference venues each year in an attempt to provide members with a new and exciting experience in a different section of your state? If so, you may have experienced the yearly challenges of getting to know various site contact people, the types of technology services that could be offered at the conference, options for seating and room layouts, food choices, contractual agreements, special parking arrangements, and other details related to successful conference planning. Whereas the structures of classroom teaching, management, and organization are intrinsically part of teachers’ daily lives, conference planning duties can be daunting and are typically unfamiliar to affiliate conference planners.

When our board members began discussing the conference planning last year, ARKTESOL made a wise decision to sign a 3-year contract with a well-known convention center connected to the city tourism bureau. With the assistance of the local tourism bureau, plus the name of the convention center, our conference enrollment exceeded expectations. The high enrollment may have been due to the hot topic conference theme, ELLs and Common Core, or possibly a convenient time, but it was also noted that the convention center reputation assisted in the conference sales. As ARKTESOL approaches the second convention center partnership, the long-term practice has already proven to be extremely worthwhile. Not only can our members mark their calendars in advance for the date, time, and place of our annual conference, but the ARKTESOL Board members now have the time to dedicate to other affiliate initiates such as advocacy, student scholarships, recognizing ESOL educators, and further website development. If your affiliate has been in the cycle of hosting your annual conference at a different location each year, it is recommended to consider a long-term partnership with a reputable convention center location.

Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Span, and Convention Center, Rogers, Arkansas

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/arkansas/embassy-suites-northwest-arkansas-hotel-spa-and-convention-center-XNAESES/index.html

Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Span, and Convention Center, Rogers, Arkansas

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/arkansas/embassy-suites-northwest-arkansas-hotel-spa-and-convention-center-XNAESES/index.html

Dr. Kristina Howlett currently serves as president of ARKTESOL and treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of women educators. She holds a BA in Italian from the University of Connecticut, an MPS in TESOL from Manhattanville College, and a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Arkansas. She is employed as an ESOL/migrant specialist for the Rogers Public Schools, in Rogers, Arkansas.