Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve developed the 2007 Esker Americas User Conference to revolve around Esker solution users, and we hope to see you in Naples this year. Below are answers to the questions most frequently asked about the conference. If you have a question that's not addressed here, please contact the conference manager at 1-800-368-5283 extension 6144 or sarah.baumann@esker.com.
Q: Who should attend the EAUC?
Customers, Certified Partners and Sponsors
The conference is open to all current Esker customers, Certified Partners and Sponsors. Each attendee has access to the hands-on training, audience-specific breakout sessions, the vendor expo, daily breakfast, daily lunch and sponsored evening events.Guests
The 2007 Esker Americas User Conference Guest Pass is designed to allow family members and guests of registered conference attendees to accompany attendees to evening meals and social activities. Open to any adult (21+) family member or guest of a registered conference attendee, a Guest Pass allows for entry into the following events:
Each Guest Pass is priced at $300.
Q: How much does the conference cost?
The Early Bird price of $995 reflects a $200 discount off the regular conference fee. To take advantage of the Early Bird pricing, you must book by February 16, 2007. From February 19 to May 14, 2007 the conference fee is $1,195. Of course, once you arrive at the conference, sessions/classes, meals, events and conference-related educational materials are provided to you as part of that conference fee. Round-trip bell service is included. Use of the business center is complimentary and is accessible with guest room key.Your hotel and airfare are not covered in the conference fee.
Q: Where is the hotel and what are the rates?
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
9891 Gulf Shore Drive
Naples, FL 34108
Map and DirectionsThe 2007 Esker Americas User Conference will take place at the award-winning LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. The Resort offers 178 guest rooms and is one of Naples’ finest hotels. Situated right on the Gulf of Mexico and next to picturesque Vanderbilt Bay, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort offers guests a rare opportunity to experience South Florida’s subtropical beauty from front-row seats.
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is located 29 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Meyers, FL and 10 minutes from downtown Naples, where shopping and site-seeing abound.
Conference attendees will enjoy a discounted room rate of $189 per night, plus tax, for either a king or double room. This includes in-room wireless, daily newspaper, laptop safe, valet parking, use of 24-hour exercise facilities, pools and private beach. Your room features a robe, coffee maker and luxury bath products. All Resort rooms are non-smoking indoors. Smoking is permitted outside on lanais and patios.
Reservations are first-come, first-serve and room types are subject to availability. The hotel tax is 10%. The recommended daily housekeeping fee is $3.00. You must register for the conference in order to book a hotel room at the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort. Please go to the Registration section to reserve your conference pass and hotel room(s).
Guest check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 12:00 noon. For your convenience, at check-out, the hotel will arrange for a baggage area to accommodate your luggage until departure.
Q: Do I need to make my own hotel reservations?
When you register online for the conference, please reserve a hotel room at that time. We will coordinate the room reservations with the hotel. You will receive a bill from the hotel upon check-out. We will ask you for a travel itinerary a few weeks before the conference in order to facilitate express check-in when you arrive.Q: What expenses will I be responsible for?
You will be responsible for your own hotel and hotel gratuities, airfare, transportation from the airport to the hotel and back, spa services, golf (if not an Esker-sponsored event), personal gifts and non-Esker-sponsored meals, entertainment and activities. Hotel housekeeping gratuities are optional at the recommended $3/day rate.Q: How do I get from the airport to the conference?
LaPlaya is located at 9891 Gulf Shore Drive in Naples and is 29 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). A limited number of taxis are on hand at the cell phone lot at the airport or you may call for a taxi when you arrive. Please see the Travel section for more taxi information. Average fares from RSW airport to LaPlaya range from $55-70.For shuttle information, please go to www.nttdestination.com and select Esker Americas User Conference 2007. NT&T Destination Services will begin accepting reservations after January 1, 2007. Please make reservations within 7 days of your arrival.
Click here for a listing of car rental companies serving Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
Q: When is the last day I can register for the conference?
Registrations will be accepted until 5:00 CST on Monday, May 14, 2007.Q: What form of payment will you accept?
Company check drawn from a U.S. bank or credit card (American Express, VISA or MasterCard). Credit card payments can be processed online using the online registration form.Q: What type of laptop is required for the training (laptop requirements)?
If you are participating in hands-on training you will need your laptop. It is not mandatory to bring one otherwise. For persons participating in the hands-on training session, this VM (virtual machine) session will be based on Windows Server 2003 Enterprise edition SP1. You'll be able to copy it when you register for the conference.
The laptop requirements are:
• Pentium 1.5 GHz processor (or equivalent)
• 7 GB of free hard drive space
• USB 1 port minimum; USB 2 port is preferable
• 1 GB RAM minimum
• VMware Workstation 5.5 Player installed on your machine; go to
http://www.vmware.com/download/player for free downloadEsker will have a limited number of laptops available for check-out to conference attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis prior to and during the conference.
Q: Is there wireless at the hotel?
Wireless is available throughout the entire hotel (indoors and out) and in each guest room.Q: Am I automatically registered for the conference if I received an invitation?
No. To register for the conference, please register online using the conference registration form.Q: Is there a business center at the hotel?
Yes. Use of the business center is complimentary and is accessible with your guest room key. All faxes and copies are complimentary.Q: What is proper attire for the conference?
With May temperatures ranging from high 90s to a low of 70, it's hot and humid outside and air-conditioned inside in Naples. Please dress comfortably and casually for all events, keeping in mind that layers work best for meetings, where room temperatures often vary. If entertainment events require special clothing, that will be communicated to you when the event is announced.Q: Can I bring family and friends to the conference?
Registered conference attendees may bring adult guests to the social activities that highlight the evening hours of the program. Open to any adult (21+) family member or guest of a registered conference attendee, a Guest Pass allows for entry into the following events:
Each Guest Pass is priced at $300.
Q: Can prospective customers attend the conference?
Please discuss this with your Esker Territory Manager to get approval to register for the conference if you are not currently an Esker customer. The Esker Americas User Conference is an excellent way to see how Esker solutions work in a variety of settings and applications while gaining insight from users and experts.Q What is the cancellation policy?
Conference cancellations received by April 1, 2007 are eligible for a 100% refund of conference fee. Cancellations made between April 2 and April 20 are eligible for a 50% refund. Regrettably, no refunds will be given on cancellations received after April 20, 2007. Hotel cancellation policies apply for room cancellations.
