CFUnited Blog

Guest Pass Changes and Hotel Prizes

Hello everyone!

As soon as we posted up the guest packages, we realized we were going to have some problems.

Long story short, the system was not going to work as we hoped. So we have a new system.

We are going to offer a guest package for $220, which will cover Wednesday through Saturday guest amenities, including lunch and evening events.

Of course, we know not all guests will want the whole week's worth of goodies, so we have discounts available for the guest packages.

Guest1 - $160 off - Use only if you want to use the guest package for either Wednesday or Thursday (1 day only).

Guest2 - $100 off - Use only if you want to use the guest package for Wednesday AND Thursday (2 days).

Guest3 - $50 off - Use only if you want to remove the Saturday from the guest package, and therefore would be applicable for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (3 days).

ALSO!

We have had some people asking about the golf and spa specials that the resort had offered last year. This year, the Lansdowne Resort will be able to offer 10% off all spa treatments.

Though not many people had taken advantage of the free golf that was offered last year, the Lansdowne Resort was kind enough to let us raffle off (1) free tee time! Stay tuned for more info about that!

Purchase your guest passes here!

Thanks everyone!

Guest Passes for CFUnited 2010

Be our Guest!

Many of our attendees are curious about the options for bringing their spouses, and maybe even kids. Is it ok to have guests during CFUnited?

Heck yeah! We created a "guest pass" for all these people in our lives so they can join in the fun! Now you can register yourself for your specific package, and also purchase a "guest pass" based on the day it will be utilized.

The guest passes are $60/day for Wednesday and Thursday. This includes the all-day amenities and lunch, as well as the evening events. Friday and Saturday guest passes $50/day as there is no evening event that requires ticketed entry.

These prices are based on our cost per person at the venue, so guests will have access to everything minus the sessions. Kids under 16 are free. During the resorts Health Club classes, Resort Rascal Day Care is available for our guests, but pre-registration is required! Please visit the Health Club while you are on property for advanced registration and further details.

P.S. To all the kids of our attendees: There is a pool... and it has a WATER SLIDE!

Purchase guest passes today!

CFUnited room block extended, but only 23 rooms remain

After our room block sold out in record time on March 31st this year, we asked the Lansdowne Resort to add more rooms at the $199 price (the regular rate is $279). They agreed (they are such friendly people!), and extended our block with more rooms. These have been selling fast and now there are only 23 rooms left. After these go, the hotel will be full on Wednesday and Thursday nights at any price. (There are more rooms available on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). If you haven't booked your room yet I suggest you move fast to snag your room now! And if you haven't registered for CFUnited, do that at the same time.

Also, if you need anything from our end in order to register, or book your room, please contact info (at) cfunited.com with your questions!

We are back at Lansdowne for 2010!

Big Announcement! Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back...

Last year was so nice, we are going to do it twice! That's right everyone, we have been invited back to the AAA Four-Diamond Award-Winning Lansdowne Resort for CFUnited 2010 and we have RSVP-ed with a resounding, YES!

I mean really, how could we resist? We are looking forward to seeing the faces of the friendly and accommodating staff, checking in to the sumptuously appointed guest rooms and suites, learning and networking in the award-winning conference facility, and getting in some playtime on the championship golf course and sparkling aquatic complex. Only the best for us please! Stay tuned for the code to book your hotel room at a discounted rate, we will be sharing the room block information shortly. Please let us know right away if you are interested in room sharing this year so we can begin putting something in the works. We have locked down the resort for July 28th - July 31st, 2010.

But wait, there's more! There were a lot of people who contacted us because they have wanted to register but needed to have exact dates/location in order to. For those people who missed out on the last early bird because they were waiting for this announcement, we are going to be offering the 11/30/09 early bird price from now until Monday 12/21/2009 at midnight. To take advantage of this offer, use the code EBEXT50, when you register.

We are so thrilled to be back at Lansdowne! 2009 was truly special thanks to the location, but you don't have to take our word for it. Here are some comments we got after last year that really convinced us to come back for 2010...

"And the location... one word, unparalleled. I mean, this place was a gem waiting to be discovered. I'm going to reserve the majority of this blog post just to talk about the conference center / hotel. Not that the sessions don't deserve more attention (they were beyond my expectations), but after all the previous CFUnited conferences I've been to (which were great), I never realized how much better an event can be just with subtle improvements at an event location." - Jeff Coughlin

"I really can't say enough good things about the location. The Lansdowne Resort was a beautiful location, it had great rooms, amazing food - and snacks and drinks were available all day, every day! - incredibly helpful staff and a good bar." - Sean Corfield

"Comfy room, lap pool, play pools, plenty of space to hang about, etc. There are advantages to being closer in to DC, but I'd come back here again, for sure. In particular, the outdoor patio was perfect for the evenings, and it was remarkably pleasant outside after the sun went down." - Barney Boisvert

CFUnited Shuttle Schedule Revised

Hello Shuttle Riders!

We had to make minor changes to the Shuttle Schedule. And we've created a document which makes it easy for you to follow shuttle times.

Shuttles run TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY

Download PDF: http://cfunited.com/images/cfunited_shuttle_schedule.pdf

Dulles Airport Shuttle

If you have not done so already, fill out this form and fax back to the resort: http://cfunited.com/images/Dulles_Shuttle_Form.PDF

Monday (or earlier) Arrivals and Commuters

For those of you arriving on Monday via Reagan Airport (DCA), Amtrak, and Metro! We recommend taking the Orange Metro line toward Vienna and get off at the West Falls Church Station, take the Washington Flyer Coach Service to Dulles Airport ($10). Notify the hotel @ (703-729-8400) that you will be arriving at the airport and you'd like the shuttle to pick you up. Let them know you are with CFUnited.

More information about the Washington Flyer Coach: http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/parking_transportation_3/ground_transportation/metrorail

Conference Tips

What do alumni conference goers recommend? We've done research and interviews to find out how to make the most out of your experience and be the most prepared. Do you have any tips of your own?

1. Bring a lot of business cards and make sure to take home anyone's but your own.

2. Bring the right clothes. It is going to be a hot summer week. The Air conditioner will be running, but if you get cold easily, bring a light sweatshirt.

3. Have a list of numbers, addresses, and confirmation numbers in one place. try keeping it all in one envelope.

4. Leave time while at the conference to invite someone you meet to dinner or drinks.

5. Take notes about what you learn about in the sessions and feel free to share a link to your notes in the comments under each topic listed on the website.

6. Follow CFUnited and others to get the most out of the conference.

7. Sleep when you get homeýCFUnited is a huge and fantastic event, so make the most of it!

8. If you bring your laptop, find an area in the session rooms near the power strips. And feel free to use the workstation quiet rooms to work or answer emails privately.

9. Ask questions.

10. Drink lots of water. Keeping hydrated will keep you going day in and day out.

BONUS: Thank the conference/hotel staff. It helps to know how things are going.

More Dulles Airport Shuttle Information

We received a form for attendees staying at the Lansdowne Resort. If you would like to ensure that the hotel and shuttle driver knows when you are arriving, please fill out this form. http://cfunited.com/images/Dulles_Shuttle_Form.PDF

The Dulles airport shuttle will be making rounds every 30 minutes. Filling out the form just helps the resort be more prepared for your arrival.

Also, the form includes a map of how to find the shuttle when you exit the airport terminal.

Thank you for taking these extra steps so we are prepared!

Why I didn't come to CFUnited for years by Ben Nadel

We recently reread the article on Fusion Authority that Ben Nadel wrote in 2007 about why he didn't attend CFUnited for many years.

Read how Ben overcame his fears and what his first time was like, plus tips for first time attendees at http://www.fusionauthority.com/reviews/4704-the-road-to-cfunited.htm

And thanks Ben for sharing your experience!

BTW, that was Ben's first year and we think Ben is doing really good for himself now. He's been nominated for several categories in the Community Achievement Awards and now he's even speaking this year! What could CFUnited do for your career?

Getting some exercise at CFUnited

Whether you feel like playing Tennis, Golf, Racket Ball, or going for a swim, the Lansdowne Resort helps keep you in shape for the week.

Lets say you just want to enjoy a walk near the Potomac. Or jog. Or run.

We've created a path on WalkJogRun.net with the trail details that the Lansdowne Resort has provided.

WalkJogRun.net was created by Adam Howitt, one of our own community members. Follow Adam on Twitter @earnshavian

Lansdowne WalkJogRun Trail

CFUnited Shuttle Schedule & Directions to Lansdowne Town Center

Hello Commuters!

See latest blog entry about the Shuttle schedule

Direction to Lansdowne Town Center:

The Lansdowne Town Center has various places to eat. If you have your own car, it is less than a mile away from the Resort. Start out: Lansdowne Resort, Turn RIGHT onto Woodridge Parkway, Turn LEFT at stop sign onto Lansdowne Boulevard, Turn RIGHT at the merge onto Riverside Parkway, Turn LEFT into shopping center.

Here are some of the Restaurants: Mariachi, Not Your Average Joes, Emelio's Pizza & Grill, Burapa Thai, Haagen Daas, The Dock, California Tortilla, Silk Road - Afghan Restaurant, Starbucks, and Panera Bread.

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