HDI 2008 FAQ’s

Basics
1. When is HDI 2008 Annual Conference & Expo?

• March 9-12, 2008, Gaylord Texan Resort, Dallas, TX

• More than 3000 customer service and IT support professionals will be at this year’s conference – the world’s largest support service event.

• Click here to be put on our mailing list
• Click here for an electronic brochure

• Online registration is available by visiting, http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/registrationform.aspx. If you would prefer to register with one of our call center representative, please call (800) 248-5667.

• For a complete list of Program, Networking and Products & Services that your conference package includes, please visit http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/conferencepackages.aspx.

• The Executive Connections package is an exclusive program designed specifically for the senior executive responsible for the strategic direction of their organization. For a complete list of Program, Networking and Products & Services that the executive package provides, please visit http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/conferencepackages.aspx#executive.

• More than 50 Fortune 500 companies bring their teams to the conference each year. To qualify for the team discount, purchase 5 conference registrations, get the 6th for free! Full Conference Value: $1595. To purchase bundled registration tickets please call our customer service center at (800) 248-5667 or use our online registration system to secure your space today. Large groups of 10 or more may reserve a table at breakfast and lunch to catch up with colleagues and strategize for the rest of the day. Don’t forget to take advantage of Pre-13: Synergy Circles: Team Building for the 21st Century—ideal for groups or teams of 5+.

• Breakfast (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
  Lunch (Monday, Tuesday)
  Morning and Afternoon Beverage Breaks
  Welcome Reception (Sunday)
  Doobie Brothers Conference Party (Tuesday)
  

• Payment Information
  HDI accepts Visa, MasterCard or American Express for conference payment. Billing is also available and invoices are payable upon receipt. Pre-payment (or a federal government purchase order) is required prior to conference attendance.

  Cancellation Policy:
  All cancellations must be made in writing. You may cancel without penalty until January 31, 2008, after which a $150 cancellation will be charged. Cancellations after February 29, 2008 or no shows will be charged the full conference rate.

• Vegetarian meals/items will be available at all conference food functions. If you have additional physical or dietary needs that need to be addressed, please call (719) 268-0307 prior to March 1st and we will be happy to try to accommodate your request.

• Yes, you may substitute at any time before receiving your conference materials on-site. If possible, knowing the replacement’s name, title and address prior to attending the conference helps facilitate a smooth registration substitution.

• Yes, all HDI Silver members and above receive $200 discount off the conference registration fee and $100 off the 3-day and 2-day preconference workshops.

• Yes, alumni to any HDI conference receive an alumni discount of $100.

• Yes, register by January 11, 2008 and you receive $100 off the conference registration fee.

• Discounts may only be applied to the Core Conference or Executive Registration Packages.

• Guest tickets for conference receptions will be available on-site at the HDI registration booth based upon availability. Welcome Reception tickets are available for $50/person. Doobie Brother concert tickets will be based upon availability prior to the conference for $125/person. Space is limited.

• Only registered conference participants will be allowed to attend conference sessions or keynote presentations.

• 1-day passes are not available for this conference. You must purchase the entire conference package in order to attend the event.

• Conference registration will be located in the City Hall Lobby, Texas Ballroom level.

• The on-site registration/information booth will be open during the following hours:
  • Friday, March 7th from 7:00 am to 8:00am
  • Saturday, March 8 from 7:00am to 8:00am
  • Sunday, March 9th from 7:00am to 6:00pm
  • Monday, March 10th – Tuesday, March 11th from 7:00am to 6:00pm
  • Wednesday, March 12th from 7:30am to 12:30pm
  

• Conference attendees will receive:
  • A conference bag designed to hold your conference materials
  • Proceedings Manual (all conference handouts);
  • Program & Exhibitor Guide (a complete listing of all sessions and exhibitors at the event);
  • Pocket Guide (schedule at a glance);
  • Conference Badge (entrance into all conference keynotes, sessions, expo and receptions)
  • Conference/Reception Meal tickets

• Business casual.
• Dress comfortably and casually to enjoy this roll-up-your-sleeves conference.

• A discounted conference rate is available to conference participants:
  $197 single/double occupancy. A daily $10 resort fee will be added to the guest room rate. This fee covers high-speed internet, two bottled waters per day, fitness center access, local shuttle service, and more.
  
  Please call 866-782-7897 and reference the HDI2008 Annual Conference. Or, you may register on-line. Hotel rooms are will sell out early – please reserve as soon as possible. The conference rates will be available until February 13 OR until the rooms sell out.
• For more details on the Gaylord Texan Resort, check out our website www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008
  A $10 Resort Fee will be charged. It includes:
  • In-room safes that can recharge laptops or mobile phones
  • High Speed Internet access
  • Coffee Maker with Daily Coffee refills
  • Refrigerator with 2 bottled waters refilled daily
  • Complimentary local and 1-800 telephone calls
  • Fitness Center access
  • Daily newspaper
  • Shuttle service to Grapevine and other local areas
  

• High-speed/Wireless Internet access in guest rooms is included in the $10.00 per day resort fee. The conference will be offering a cyber café which will allow you to access your email and the web using the computer units provided. The conference will not be offering wireless access in the meeting area for personal laptops.

• The Gaylord Texan offers self-parking for $10 per day.

• The average temperature is 68 during the day with a low of 47 in the evening.

• Yes, work-out facilities are included in the resort fee.

• The hotel is ten minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
• Twenty minutes from downtown Dallas or Fort Worth
Taxi fare is approximately $25.
For more information on transportation, click here

• There are approximately 8 restaurants and lounges available at the hotel, plus just 5 minute shuttle ride from the resort you will find charming eateries in downtown Grapevine.

• Please visit http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/precons.aspx for a full list of pre-conference workshop titles and descriptions. Pre-Registration is required.

• Click here to find out: http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/exhibitors.aspx

• Attend Breakfast Brain Bites on Tuesday and the Launch Pad sessions in the Expo Hall.
  
  Take advantage of the expo hours and prize giveaways to meet as many vendors as possible.

• Expo only passes are available at no cost. These passes may only be used to access the Expo Hall on Monday, March 10th and Tuesday, March 11th.

• For a complete directory of our esteemed faculty and keynote speakers, visit http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2008/sessionsandtracks.aspx.

• Sessions have been organized in the following tracks and labeled by support experience, organizational maturity and call volume:
• Strategic Focus—for senior executives, particularly for those in the Executive Connections program.
• Support Masters-- for seasoned support professionals with more than 5 years management experience setting the organization’s strategic direction and service best practices, particularly for those in the Executive Connections program.
• Support Operations Management—for experienced managers (2+ years)
• Everything ITIL ® --for experienced managers (2+ years)
• Customer Service—for all audiences
• The Human Factors--for all audiences
• Essentials for New Support Managers--for managers new to technical support
• Technology in Action for all audiences