FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Have a question about the conference? Chances are, you'll find the answer here. If not, please contact us and we'll respond as quickly as possible.

Who, What, When, Where
1. Who is the International Retail Design Conference for?
2. Is the IRDC open to everyone in the industry?
3. Is there an exhibit hall or trade show component of the conference?
4. When is the 2008 conference?
5. Where is the conference held?
6. Are there discounted room rates for conference attendees?

Registration Questions
1. How do I register?
2. Is there a one-day rate?
3. Is there a student rate?
4. What registration options do I have, and what does each include?
5. Can I get a receipt/invoice for my registration?
6. Can I pay by check?
7. Is the group rate a per-person cost, or is that for the whole group?
8. Can I make my hotel reservation when I register?
9. When is the deadline for registering at the Early Bird Rate?
10. What is your cancellation policy?

Travel Questions
1. Which airport do you recommend I fly into?
2. What is the best way to travel into Atlanta from the airport?
3. I'm driving into Atlanta for the conference. Where can I park?

Using the IRDC Web Site
1. What if I'm having problems with the online registration process?
2. I'm having some difficulty just viewing the pages on your Web site. Can you help?

Other Questions
1. How can I recommend a speaker, or submit my own name as a potential speaker?
2. How can I submit session/topic ideas for the conference?
3. Can I receive printed materials about the conference?
4. How do I subscribe or unsubscribe to the IRDC E-Newsbrief?
5. Are AIA credits available?
6. Can I get a list of who's attending the Conference?
7. May I bring a guest to the IRDC party on Thursday evening?
8. Do you accommodate special needs?
9. What if I have a question about the Conference that isn't answered on this site?

Who, What, When, Where

Who is the International Retail Design Conference for?
The IRDC serves executives, planners, merchandisers and designers from every retail sector—from department stores and discount chains to grocery stores and specialty boutiques—as well as designers, architects, consultants and contractors who specialize in creating and maintaining retail environments. Read more about who should attend on the About IRDC page.

Is the IRDC open to everyone in the industry?
Almost. If you're a supplier to the retail design industry (fixtures, lighting, etc), you must be a sponsor to attend the conference. (To learn more, visit the Interested in Sponsoring? page.) Otherwise, anyone interested in learning about new trends and ideas in retail is invited to attend.

Is there an exhibit hall or trade show component of the conference?
No. At the IRDC, the focus is on education and networking, so the program is comprised of general sessions, breakout sessions, roundtable discussions and networking events—all designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.

When is the 2008 conference?
The conference begins on Wednesday morning, September 3 and concludes on Friday, September 5.

Where is the conference held?
The venue is different each year. The 2008 event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, 721 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101. Visit the Travel page to learn more about the hotel and Seattle.

Visit the Seattle Retail page and discover the countless retail success stories from the Pacific Northwest.

Are there discounted room rates for conference attendees?
Yes, and a variety of room options. Discounted rates apply August 31 through September 7 (based on availability), including the Labor Day holiday prior to the conference. Visit the Travel page for the IRDC group code and instructions for booking online.

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Registration Questions

How do I register?
It's best to use the fast and secure registration form on this web site. You can also register by fax or postal mail by printing and completing this registration form (link coming soon).

Is there a one-day rate?
Yes. It is $399 and applies to Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and includes your choice of all sessions, breakfasts, lunches and other events offered that day, as well as all conference materials.

Is there a student rate?
No.

What registration options do I have, and what does each include?
* Full Attendee Registration at $999 includes enrollment in your choice of all sessions, continental breakfasts (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), Networking Roundtable lunches (Wednesday and Thursday), the Cocktail Reception on Tuesday evening, the Seattle Retail Tours on Thursday, the IRDC Party on Thursday evening, and all Conference materials. Register by June 25 and get the Early Bird Rate—just $899 for Full Attendee Registration.

* One Day Rate at $399 applies to Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and includes your choice of all sessions, breakfasts, lunches and other events offered that day, as well as all Conference materials.

Can I get a receipt/invoice for my registration?
Yes. If you register online, you will be presented with a printable receipt at the end of the registration process (on your confirmation page). Please print that page for your records; it acts as your receipt. If you need to be invoiced, please contact us for arrangements.

Can I pay by check?
Yes. Simply print and complete the [link]registration form and mail it to us with your check. We will send you a receipt.

Is the group rate a per-person cost, or is that for the whole group?
The group rate is a per-person registration cost. By registering three or more people from your company at the same time, you pay just $699 per registrant, saving $300 each. Please visit the Registration page for a complete price list. To qualify for group registration prices, at least three people must register, the attendees must be from the same company, and the registrations must be received at the same time. Each group member must complete a separate registration form.

Can I make my hotel reservation when I register?
No, but you'll find complete information for booking your room—and taking advantage of discounted IRDC rates—on the Travel page. Please be sure to make your reservations early, as our room block fills quickly. All room requests at The Grand Hyatt Seattle must be made by 8.29.07 in order to qualify for IRDC discounts.

When is the deadline for registering at the Early Bird Rate?
The deadline for submitting Early Bird Rate registrations is Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

What is your cancellation policy?
If you must cancel for any reason, please notify us via email at kristy.lohre@stmediagroup.com. Cancellations received prior to Friday, 6.20.08 receive a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations received prior to Friday, 8.1.08 will receive a full refund less a $100 cancellation fee. Refunds will not be given after 8.18.08, but the registration may be transferred to a colleague. Refunds will not be issued for no-shows.

Travel Questions

Which airport do you recommend I fly into?
The Grand Hyatt Seattle is about a 30 minute drive from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport—the drive time can vary depending on the time of day.

What is the best way to travel into Seattle from the airport?
Grayline Seattle Downtown Airporter is a shared shuttle service with stops at eight downtown hotels, including Grand Hyatt Seattle. Aside from public bus, it is the least expensive and most convenient airport transportation option. Find out more.

I'm driving into Seattle for the conference. Where can I park?
Valet parking at Grand Hyatt Seattle is $33 per night plus tax (in/out privileges included). Self parking is $28 per night plus tax (does not include in/out privileges).

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Using the IRDC Web Site

What if I'm having problems with the online registration process?
If your problems are technical in nature (your browser is reporting errors or pages are failing to load correctly), please first try quitting and re-launching your browser, and/or restarting your computer. Also, be sure you are not blocking cookies in your browser's preferences (cookies are required for the registration form to work). If the issue persists, contact us and explain your problem in as much detail as you can.

I'm having some difficulty just viewing the pages on your web site. Can you help?
The IRDC web site uses several web technologies, including JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets, which depend upon the browser to interpret correctly. Our site is optimized for version 6.x browsers and higher (e.g., Netscape 7.0+, Mozilla 1.4+, Firefox 1.0+, Safari 1.0, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6+ for PCs or 5.2+ for Macs), and a video resolution of at least 800x600.

If you are using an older browser, or a browser that does not support these technologies, but want to learn more about the conference, please feel free to contact us. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the conference, and we can send you a conference brochure via postal mail if you have yet to receive one.
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