by Janet Dickelman
The 53rd ACB conference and convention will take place from July 11-19, 2014 at the Riviera Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. Our first tours and the 2014 Leadership Institute will be on Friday, July 11th. There will also be tours daily Saturday, July 12th through Thursday, July 17th. Tech sessions and some ACB committee and affiliate meetings will begin on Saturday the 12th, and run through Thursday, July 17th.
Join the Nevada host committee for the welcome party on Saturday evening. Our opening general session will be Sunday evening, with daily morning sessions Monday through Thursday and our final all-day general session on Friday, July 18th. Our annual banquet will be held Friday evening. Stay for the post-convention board meeting and our final tours on Saturday, July 19th.
Several members of the convention committee will be visiting the hotel in late September. We will meet with the host committee, and begin the process of obtaining sponsorships, recruiting volunteers and visiting potential tour sites.
Traveling to Las Vegas
McCarran International Airport (code LAS) is a short taxi ride from the Riviera. The average taxi cost is $15. Las Vegas is served by all major air carriers and many smaller airlines, including Air Canada, AirTran, Alaska, Allegiant, American, British Airways, Condor, Copa, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United, and US Airways.
You can travel by bus to Las Vegas on either Greyhound or the Megabus. The closest Amtrak stop is five hours away in Bakersfield, Calif. Amtrak provides a bus from Bakersfield to Las Vegas.
For paratransit services in Las Vegas, fax your certificate of eligibility to the Clark County TRC Paratransit certification office at (702) 676-1732. A certificate and necessary paperwork will be issued to the rider. The requests must be submitted at least one week in advance.
Bringing Food to the Riviera
Each year there is a question as to whether individuals, affiliates and others may sell food items at the ACB conference and convention. Here is what is stated in our contract with the Riviera. "Food & Beverage: The Riviera does not allow any food and beverage to be brought into the hotel. If it comes to our attention that food and beverage is being brought into the hotel suites for hospitality purposes in violation of this policy, then the hotel will automatically post a daily charge of $500 to that guest's folio."
This also means that there can be no sale of food in the exhibit hall, Market Place, or during general sessions or from an individual's room.
Reservation Details
Room rates at the Riviera are $870 (single and double) plus $10 per additional guest. Room taxes are currently 12%. Make telephone reservations by calling 1-800-634-0675 or online by visiting the ACB web site at www.acb.org and following the 2014 conference and convention link.
Convention Contacts
Stay in touch by joining the ACB convention e-mail list. Send a blank e-mail to
[email protected].
For exhibit information, contact Michael Smitherman by phone, (601) 331-7740, or via e-mail, [email protected].
For advertising and sponsorship information, contact Margarine Beaman by phone, (512) 921-1625, or via e-mail, [email protected].
For any other convention-related questions, contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair,
at (651) 428-5059, or via e-mail, [email protected].