Second Amendment Blog Bash

Nothing is set in stone, and I will have further updates on this from a blogger perspective as we finalize some arrangements, but I did want to let you know that the general NRA Annual Meeting Schedule has been updated!

Now that we’re really headed towards May, updates are going to come more often.  Keep an eye out on this page, or sign up for our email alerts.

If you know bloggers out there who support enjoy hunting, love hitting the gun range, or just simply support the Second Amendment, let them know about this great event.  We’re going to have some amazing developments over the next few months, and no one should miss out!

Well, there’s a silver lining to everything. I realized based on some feedback that rooms were starting to sell out (though not completely, just some evenings) at the $99/night hotel. Now, if cost was a factor, hopefully it just became less of a factor.

I now see that they have added hotels, and some are even cheaper! Though they aren’t quite as close, there are now rooms at the La Quinta Inn for $79/night and the Holiday Inn for $94/night.

I know that some are looking for roommates, so please check the last housing post if you’re interested.

For those of you who aren’t as worried about cost, this is just a reminder that some hotels are starting to fill. The member magazines with more details for NRA’s 4 million members will likely be the March issues which will mail in February. The little secret that housing is open will be out soon.

This year’s event will likely be one of the largest meetings ever. Don’t be shocked when you find yourself roaming the aisles with 65,000 or more fellow gun owners, Second Amendment supporters, and others.

I’ve had some questions, and figured I’d post here to let everyone know what they can do for cheap housing. (Here’s the link to the housing program.)

First, there is a $99/night hotel - the Executive Inn. However, for anyone who lists a check-out date of Monday, May 19, they cannot see it as an option. After several phone calls, I finally figured out that there’s a reason for this, but not one that should stop you from taking advantage of it if you want the lower rate at the closer hotel, but want to leave on Monday.

You will need to sign up online, but set your check-out date for Sunday. Reserve the room, and get your acknowledgment number. Call the Conference Direct folks at 866-799-8878, and tell them you’re having trouble modifying your reservation online. Give them your acknowledgment number and name so they call pull it. If your operator is new, they may try to tell you that the hotel is booked Sunday night. As of now, that is far from the case. They have now sold out of the Sunday night room block. However, don’t be alarmed, read on.

Basically, the hotel didn’t sign up to have their rooms blocked off by the housing agent Sunday night because they weren’t sure of demand. The Conference Direct operator can put in a request to extend the reservation to a Monday check-out, and as of now, they are all being approved because the hotel has lots of open rooms on Sunday night. (I have confirmed this directly with the hotel as well.)  They should be able to put in a request and have an answer within a day or two.  At this time, they do seem to be granting extensions without issue, just delay.

However, there’s another trick around this.  The hotel has open rooms outside of the room block for now.  If you go straight to the Executive Inn website and choose either Friday through Monday or Thursday through Monday, you’ll pay more.  But for those of you who would like to stay until Monday and save a little money, you can order the $99 rate through NRA and check-out on Sunday.  But you can reserve a room directly with the hotel for Sunday night at only $79 (right now) and check back in while you’re downstairs at the desk.

Second, we have folks who would like to split rooms to cut costs. I think a little spontaneous order is the best way to solve this problem, so I’m un-moderating comments and suggest you guys use this post to put up requests/offers/etc.

Third, we’ve had questions about where most bloggers will be staying. From what I can tell, people are congregating at the Executive Inn because of the $99/night room rate and close location. Because demand for rooms is going to pick up when the March issues of the magazines hit, I didn’t want to designate one hotel and have people feel left out because they may end up at another one. I will also ask folks about their hotel in advance so I can put together a hotel list for fellow bloggers if people are interested in a few post-show beverages/meals/time to mingle.

For those of you who are looking to stay at another hotel, don’t be intimidated by those listings that say they are 100+ blocks away. The Expo center doesn’t have many hotels nearby. Traditionally, when faced with a location like this, NRA has sponsored shuttle buses to and from partner hotels.

You’re welcome to look for hotels not working with the housing reservation service. There may be better rates. However, I can’t promise that since there will probably be about 60,000+ people descending on Louisville for 3+ days. In addition, I don’t know what transportation to/from the Expo center will be offered.

I hope that answers most questions. Please email me or leave a comment if you have more or experience other difficulties.

There’s so much to say about the upcoming NRA meetings now that we’re officially in 2008.  I’ll have more details and an update in the coming week.  For those of you who have recently submitted a note that you’re interested in joining us, thank you, and I’ll get you added soon!

We’re going to have a blast in Louisville, and there’s still plenty of time to make up your mind to come out and join us!

I will remind you all again that once NRA starts advertising the meeting in their magazine, hotel rooms will likely go fast.  You can reserve now and cancel later, but you can’t reserve one once they are sold out at the discounted rates.