New for 2019 …
For 2019, the traditional Friday evening Welcome Reception will be held at the Airport Clarion Inn, not a nearby hotel. This brings us closer to our ultimate goal of holding HD&F in one location. Also, the special HD&F hotel rate is now guaranteed through the 31st because of several attendees’ requests to stay over the Sunday following the event for sightseeing or to visit friends in the region.
Vendor space has also sold out!
Frequently-asked questions.
Why is there so little mention of the hotel on the mail-in conference registration form … and none at all in on-line registration?
Reserving a room at the hotel is separate from Conference registration. You must make your own reservation, but do not use the chain’s (800) number. Instead, please call the Clarion Inn directly at its local number, (937) 832-1234. Mention HD&F when making your reservation to receive the special discount rate, unchanged since 2016, of $89 per night plus tax. (Unfortunately, the tax has risen by .25% this year.) One improvement for 2019 is that the Clarion Inn has guaranteed our rates from 29 through 31 March. This was in response to several requests from attendees who wanted to stay over the Sunday after HD&F for sightseeing or to visit friends in the region. If you have not already obtained a room, please do so soon. As of 5 March the Clarion Inn is almost sold out. There are several other hotels nearby, but they are all at least a short walk distant.
I went to the hotel's Web site and noticed that rooms are sometimes available at a lower price than HD&F's guaranteed rates. Why?
At times because of special promotions, you may indeed reserve rooms at lower rates. However, such reservations usually are nonrefundable. (Read the fine print.) If you reserve a room at the HD&F rate and later find you cannot attend, you may cancel your reservation until noon of the day you would have arrived. Of course, notify the hotel of cancellations as quickly as possible.
Exactly what does my registration fee include?
- All registrations include: the Friday evening Welcome Reception with wine, beer, soft drinks, and hors d’œuvres (you can make a light meal from them); Saturday coffee and tea service until noon; and Saturday luncheon. Attendees who lodge at the Clarion will also have complimentary breakfast.
- The Conference Banquet is extra. If you are coming with a spouse or friend who will not go to the Conference, he or she is welcome to attend the Banquet on Saturday evening upon purchase of a second Banquet admission. The event will be held at Company 7 BBQ, an award-winning restaurant an easy walk from the hotel. (There will be a shuttle, however.) Company 7’s most recent award (in early 2017) was being named one of the 37 best BBQ eateries in the USA … and the only one in Ohio! There will be a cash bar. Company 7 prides itself on a wide selection of craft beers, some locally brewed. (“Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your BBQ.” —BLUE [slightly modified])
Why is there an “early bird” discount?
People who register early help us better to plan for HD&F. We return the favor with an “early bird” discount. That discount will expire on 15 March 2019. The price of the Banquet, however, will remain the same.
I have never purchased anything on line. Will you guide me through the process?
- First and foremost, read the directions further up on this page.
- HD&F uses a secure service called “Pay Pal” for on-line registration. If you look carefully, as Sherlock Holmes would, you will observe that registration and payment take place at Pay Pal’s Web site, not ours. (Look for the image of a padlock with a circle around it.)
- Have a credit or debit card at hand. Pay Pal accepts all major cards. When paying, click on the “Pay Without a Pay Pal Account” option. (You wouldn’t be reading this if you have a Pay Pal account.) Pay Pal does all the arithmetic for you.
- Your registration takes the form of an imaginary “shopping cart.” After making a selection, you may either click the “Continue Shopping” button at the top right, for example, to register someone else or buy another Banquet admission, or proceed to the checkout. When requested, enter your credit card numbers with or without spaces.
- You can inspect the contents of your “cart” at any time by scrolling to the bottom of the on-line registration form and clicking the “View Cart” button. (It may appear in a different position if you use a small tablet or smart phone, especially if you’re holding it in the so-called “portrait” [short side up] position.) If you have made a mistake or changed your mind about something, you may add or remove items from your “cart.”
Do members of THE AGRA TREASURERS of Dayton and the nearby TANKERVILLE CLUB of Cincinnati receive discounts? Do HD&F staff get in free?
We shamelessly borrow most of the following wording from our friends at A Scintillation of Scions: HOLMES, DOYLE, & FRIENDS is a fan-run event. All involved with managing HD&F are volunteers, and pay their own undiscounted registration fees, unless they are also speakers. Proceeds from registration are used to cover conference expenses (including maintenance of our Web site). The Tankerville Club of Cincinnati does indeed raffle off admissions to two lucky Tankervillains (sorry, we couldn’t resist that!), but the Club purchases those admissions. The only discount offered is the one for early registration, which expires on March 15.
A preliminary 2019 Program will be posted by March 16.
SOLD OUT!
As of 5 March, the hotel has also almost sold out. Please obtain a room soon. See “Frequently Asked Questions,” toward the bottom of this page.
Registered too late? Please notify Ann Siefker (see the Contact Us tab, or use the ”snail mail“ address on your Registration Form). If you’ve registered on line, your credit card can be credited with a refund, minus Pay Pal’s fee, which is about 3% of what you charged. If you registered by mail, Ann can return your cheque or money order, minus a charge for postage, or simply tear it up — free!
The “Helpful Details” document covers such things as the airport shuttle, driving directions, nearby churches and restaurants, local weather, and sightseeing. It has been updated for 2019.