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So … we’ve heard the murmurs and been asked the BIG questions. In full transparency, I wanted to share some behind-the-scenes activity to help answer your questions and give you confidence that the decisions we make are to ensure you have an amazing Accelerate experience.
Yes, Accelerate, powered by NetVU, is taking place right after Easter in 2024. Yes, most of NetVU’s hotel options will require longer-than-normal walks to the convention center or require taking a shuttle (we’re going to provide you these options at no cost to you). Yes, NetVU is prepared to ensure we are taking care of you and considering your needs every step of the way.
The Big Picture - Easter
- First, let me tackle the biggest question. Did NetVU really schedule Accelerate to start right after Easter in 2024?
- Yes and no. The “no” response is that we were originally scheduled to be in New Orleans in 2022. The “yes” response is that we ultimately landed on dates immediately following Easter, beginning on April 1, 2024. Here’s how.
- Prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Accelerate was scheduled to take place on the following schedule:
- 2020 – Minneapolis (canceled)
- 2021 – Denver (canceled and rescheduled)
- 2022 – New Orleans (rescheduled)
- 2023 – Austin (was not able to be rescheduled because of uncertainty around timing of a convention center rebuild)
- 2024 – Cincinnati (canceled and replaced)
- As a result of the prolonged worldwide pandemic and NetVU’s contractual obligations, NetVU was able to creatively renegotiate its future obligations to minimize the financial impact to the organization due to our need to cancel Accelerate as an in-person event in both 2020 and 2021. Following renegotiations with host cities, our schedule became:
- 2021 – Virtual Accelerate
- 2022 – Denver (moved from 2021 to 2022)
- 2023 – Austin
- 2024 – New Orleans (moved from 2022 to 2024)
- As you might expect, the entire events industry, not just NetVU, was affected. Moving the chess pieces across multiple chess boards became an incredibly complex and challenging dilemma for organizations like NetVU, visitor bureaus, hotels, and convention centers. These complexities resulted in our 2024 dates being April 1-4 as these were the only dates available to us in 2024.
What does this mean for you?
- The first event taking place in 2024 at Accelerate for All Attendees will be the Kickoff Party, starting at 6 p.m.
- This allows you and your team to use Monday, the day after Easter, as a travel day to attend Accelerate.
- When should you plan a return flight? You won’t want to miss the Vertafore Customer Appreciation Party on Wednesday night or workshops and roundtables on Thursday morning, so plan on returning home energized and empowered on Thursday, April 4.
- For those who come to New Orleans early, NetVU will be providing you with a list of available Easter services and holiday-related events near our host hotels (more on that next), as well as other tourist activities for both before and after Accelerate. NetVU's room blocks at each of our host hotels start on Friday, March 29 and end Friday, April 5.
But what about the location of the Convention Center and Host Hotels?
- New Orleans is one of the top destination cities in the country, with numerous large and boutique hotels.
- The hotels with which we are contracted are those that responded to our RFP to accommodate our guests.
- Not all hotels or hotel chains responded to NetVU’s RFP, meaning that you will see hotels closer in proximity to the convention center than NetVU’s host hotels.
- The reason is generally because properties not in NetVU’s host hotel room blocks have events or obligations to other groups that limit their ability to meet our rooming needs.
What does this mean for you?
- Our farthest hotel from the Convention Center is 8/10 of a mile, or a roughly 20-minute walk.
- April in New Orleans is often pleasant – with daytime high temperatures mostly in the mid-70s and early morning lows in the upper 50s and the lower 60s.
- Knowing that not all our guests will want to make this walk in the morning and evenings, NetVU will be providing shuttles (at no cost to you) to and from the Convention Center.
- The part of the convention center where Accelerate events will take place is the part closest to our host hotels (yes, it’s a BIG convention center), and our events from general session to exhibit show to education breakouts are in the same part of the convention center, on two floors. We’ve kept this space as compact as possible for attendees.
- NetVU will offer additional assistance for guests with limited mobility through our relationship with the convention center. Please contact info@netvu.org if you believe you will need extra assistance to get around the city or convention center.
- There is only one way you should book a hotel for Accelerate – through NetVU’s website at accelerate.netvu.org. All other email offers or third parties offering to book a room for you are not affiliated with NetVU or Vertafore. If you have questions about a hotel offer you’ve received, please reach out to info@netvu.org.
What else is going on behind the scenes that you should know?
- If you know you are going to be at Accelerate, but don’t want to pay until 2024, you can REGISTER NOW, PAY LATER at today’s rate.
- Education topics and descriptions will be available in December.
- The next rate increase takes place on Dec. 19.
- As I already mentioned, New Orleans is an amazing destination city. But Bourbon Street isn’t the only destination if you aren’t into New Orleans’ historic social scene. The French Quarter is more subdued as are other parts of the city known for its architecture, food, history, cultures, music, and yes, ghost stories and voodoo. SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR UTMOST CONCERN FOR OUR ATTENDEES, and we will be providing helpful hints and suggestions for all of our guests.
- We’re going to be doing lots of fun and helpful things to get you ready for Accelerate and to enhance your overall experience. We look forward to you joining us in New Orleans.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
- Our future Accelerate sites are scheduled through 2026, and we have begun the process to select our 2027 host city. Because of the size of our event and the destinations you have shared are the most appealing, we often negotiate future Accelerate commitments three to four years in advance.
- Accelerate in New Orleans in 2024 is the last significant piece of rescheduling that has been impacted by the pandemic. Every decision we make is for our members and the overall health of the organization so that we can ensure our continued support of Vertafore, its customers (YOU), and our industry.