Conference & Expo

Minneapolis – something for everyone

A preview of what the 2007 Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo has to offer

By Carole Marie Hobrock, NIRSA Director of Education

Wow. Minneapolis is such a great city! I hadn’t been there for years, and my recent site visit was fabulous. Minneapolis is able to pull off a great combination of old/historical with new/modern, which some cities just can’t seem to do. Minneapolis does it with style and grace, and the city is so clean! I toured around with 2007 Host Committee Chair Dan Allen, University of Minnesota and got to see all the fun places that are lined up for NIRSA Conference attendees and exhibitors.

The Conference hotel, the Minneapolis Hilton, is beautiful, and connected to the Convention Center via a handy skyway. (View more information on reserving a room at the discounted NIRSA rate at the Conference website.) The hotel also has a great fitness facility, including equipment from our very own Associate Members. We’re exploring other fitness and recreation opportunities and will keep you posted.

The convention center is attractive, easy to get around, and equipped with Wi-Fi areas. We also plan to enhance the Cyber Café in the Expo Hall to accommodate those long lines of attendees wanting to check email.

The first night of the conference will include a trip to the Mall of America, with a full dinner, full access to the amusement park, and shop-'til-you-drop access to over 500 shops and boutiques. Transportation will be provided via the city’s light rail system, which is an adventure all its own.

Your Host Committee has planned a Dance Party on Thursday night, with truly “something for everyone.” There will be a quieter area for people who want to chat, arcade games for those who want to play, food and beverages, and of course, dancing! Many thanks to Woodway and mtvU for their generous sponsorship of this legendary conference event.

New this year is an Ice Skating Party on Friday night. What can I say? Bring your cameras. It will be epic. Who wants to see Executive Director Kent Blumenthal on skates? I do! I do! See you there.