I received a request from SCI today to answer a survey on the SCI Convention. One of the questions said that SCI is considering three locations for its 2011 location: Reno, Dallas and Houston, and asked which location I would prefer. So, I guess that the secret locations being considered are now officially out.

Unless it is all smoke and mirrors to get a better deal in Reno ... One of the questions was whether gambling is an important after hours entertainment issue or something similar.

They ought to consider a different location but it's probably smoke and mirrors. The SCI show is great but...

1. Reno, NV isn't really the center of anything.
2. The official SCI hotel, the Peppermill, is a bit tired and dirty and the food isn't that good. If I go to another Reno convention, I won't be staying at the Peppermill.
3. My wife and I went to all 4 banquets in 2007 and the Friday banquet in 2008. Our take home lesson; don't go to a banquet for the food.

I have wanted to go to the SCI convention in Reno for many years, but there is no easy way to get there from Michigan without a bunch of flight changes. I hope they move it somewhere that is a little more direct.

Howdy,

I sure think yall would be happy having it in Houston. The availibility and affordability of great food is overflowing here. There are plenty of friendly women you don't have to pay directly and our convention center is gigantic. We do not have gambling but everything else is cheaper here than just about anywhere else in the nation.

Having the convention in St. Louis would be nice. Centrally located, and I'm only about 30 miles away.

I think there are lots of choices, but really few good ones if the idea is to pick a centrally located city with good flights that isn't too cold in the winter. That really narrows it down.

How about Sun City

YIPEE!!!----------anyplace but Reno!

If it is really safari club INTERNATIONAL...Why not someplace really International !! How about Cape Town. That would get us somewhere warm in January. Better yet....Harrare or Bulawayo. Man, I can see Bob smiling now !! You know...they have gambling in Zimbabwe...you could win Trillions...no...ZILLIONS!!!!!

not houston every bushrat I know would want to stay at my house.

I filled out the survey also... My pet peeve was walking thru smoke filled casino to get something to eat... What a delicious appetizer...

Mike

Why only Reno and Texas locations. Or is it because of competition from the Texas organization. It's certainly not about convenience to it's members. I'm sure it would be improper to suggest Tucson since their headquarters and museum are there. Plenty of GOOD weather, a couple of excellant casinos and excellant hotel accomodations. They even have an airport.

I have to be honest, a location where there is a large airport with many flights available to get there.. Dallas, Ft. Worth has two large airports DFW and Love field...
I really do not need gambling, that I can do at my home in NE Pa. I am coming to see the convention and to meet my friends and make new friends...

Mike

Maybe I'm the dissident voice, but I like Reno. Direct flight from Calgary to San Fran, and a short stop and a hop and I'm in Reno. I'm usually too busy to eat decently, and I'm only in the room for 10 minutes before I pass out and 30 minutes in the morning before getting out the door. I don't gamble, but once a year I can cope with the noise and the smoke, I guess. The Atlantis does me fine, or any other shack really. I doubt if I'd fly out to Texas.

Frans

Too much hassle with all the flights and connections for me to bother going as long as it's in Reno. Any of the large Texas cities would be great, or just go back to Las Vegas!

Orlando would make my wife happy.

Oh PLEASE GOD LET IT NOT BE LAS VEGAS,

I did not think I would ever be as depressed as in Vegas, Expensive , overrated, and did I say Expensive, they would even charge for toilet papr if they had a chance

What about Orlando,Florida,

Or St Louis as alternative, central, well sort of, if you want Central, what about Wichita ??

Stay in Reno, all of us knows where it is

Just remember that one of the main reasons the Convention is in Reno is that there isn't anything else to do there.

In order to get 3000 plus people to the dinners and the nightly auctions you cannot have alternative shows and such going on.

One of the problems with Las Vegas (there are many) is too many shows and better food that the high dollar guys find better than the fair offered at the Dinners.

Remember, it is all about making money for SCI.

Guys,

I said it before but Reno sucks in my opinion but why Texas as an alternative? Dallas is convenient but it seems that having 2 big hunting shows there in one year seems redundant and Houston seems to be the same only to a lesser degree.

WTF???

Mark

So SCI is now asking us to choose between Hell and Texas?

That's a tough choice . . . but I think I'd prefer Texas, at least in winter.

if I owned hell and reno id live in hell and rent reno out.

Once again, the only three choices listed in the survey were: Reno, Dallas and Houston. I know that you all are wishing other locations, but SCI apparently has narrowed it down to those three places only. One doesn't make sense from the standpoint of another major Safari Show, and that leaves Houston and Reno.

Personally, I think it should move every so often...even every year. I know that doesn't allow them to lock in a rate but lots of business conventions rotate every year. For example, in the last few years, my business convention has been in Indianapolis, Anaheim, Kansas City, Dallas and next year in Orlando. I know SCI is bigger than most but it is possible.

Of course, that's assuming that the show is primarily for the benefit of the membership.

Denver is in the middle of the country and its pretty easy to get here.

Just a thought.

Larry

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
... My pet peeve was walking thru smoke filled casino to get something to eat... What a delicious appetizer...

We stayed at Harrahs this year. Mediocre with the permanent sour smell of a wet ashtray. Last year at the Grand Sierra (Hilton) - and that was good.

If they move it around, a bunch of exibitors will be in slight trouble as we store furniture and other booth materials near the convention centre. All of this have to moved around by the designated movers, orobably costing more than new stuff every year.

+1 on Orlando....the vacation capital of the world! Bring the family, send them to Disney while you're at the show, etc. Of course the added cost of bringing the family means less to spend on a hunt or that new double...but then BRINGING the family might ALLOW you to book that hunt or buy that double.
Besides, the extra traffic won't bother me....I live closer to Daytona .

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

I haven't missed a SCI convention since 1985 and have never gone for anything but the show itself. Having hunted all over from Alaska, Mexico, Africa western US my sleeping and eating are far down on my list. If I want to go somewhere I'll get no matter what. I've said all that to say this--I don't care about location I'm going. See ya there.

quote:

Originally posted by Bahati:
If they move it around, a bunch of exibitors will be in slight trouble as we store furniture and other booth materials near the convention centre. All of this have to moved around by the designated movers, orobably costing more than new stuff every year.

Understood. I knew that was the case. There are probably better places than Reno though. I kind of like the idea of having it near a family type atmosphere...Orlando, etc.

I know Houston and DFW have a better airport, but San Antonio is a better convention town.

Ed

I have 2 problems with Reno. First I think all the hotels there are sub-standard compared to many other locations. Second and more important is the lack of direct flights from many places. The plus side however is that SCI gets a much better deal from Reno than say Vegas. A million or more dollars in the coffers is an important issue for the organization. I think many of us especially those that are sick of winter by now would prefer someplace warm. I know I would. Also at this point the number of rooms available in Reno at the "better" places have reached max capacity. I dont care where the convention is but would prefer the following requirements:
1 Someplace warm
2 Easy to get direct flights in and out of, which also reduces cost.
3 Not excessively expensive for the organization
4 Sufficient facilities for the convention itself, not shoe horned in somewhere
5 Adequate number of hotels and dinning facilities
6 Quality of hotels and dinning facilites
These are not necesarrily in order of priority
7 If there is gambling fine but that is not the reason I go. It is a nice diversion in the evening at times but I would rather spend the nights at dinner and drinking facilities socializing with my friends from all over the world. Many of whom I only get to see once or twice a year if that.
Did I miss anything?

My wife being a good sport goes to the convention but she would really like better shopping and some place that was warmer. She might actually like to go to Dallas or Houston.

What about San Diego? Lots to do there and nice weather.

How about Orlando? We can all stay here...



Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Wonder how many Zebra they would loose over the weekend.

quote:

The plus side however is that SCI gets a much better deal from Reno than say Vegas. A million or more dollars in the coffers is an important issue for the organization. ........
Did I miss anything?

You got it exactly. The convention will be in Reno, I don't think there is any chance at all of the convention being in Dallas or Houston. Dallas and Houston already have very large safari conventions, hosted by groups that are no longer affiliated with SCI, and much cheaper to attend. The real choice of locations for the SCI convention is Las Vegas, as several have pointed out. Better airport, nicer hotels, warmer weather. However, that would mean much fewer attending the nightly meals, in that much better food and entertainment is available all over town at half the price. See you in Reno.

I guess some of you are not reading ALL the posts and keep making suggestions as to where it should be held. As stated it's been narrowed down to three (3) nothing more nothing less. Reno - Dallas - Houston.

My vote is and was on the survey Reno. I like the convience of the buses, everywhere else would demand long, expensive cab rides to get to the show and back, going somewhere in the evening for dinner etc. This factor alone is a major plus. I usually stay at the Legacy/El Dorado/Circus and have an entire array of dining choices, entertainment, gambling etc. and never have to venture out, unless it's a sidetrip to Cabelas. I am not in the room long enough that this factor is much of a concern. As a Life Member and attendee of 10 of the last 11 Conventions I would be hard pressed to attend it if it were indeed moved to texas. I/we have had absoulutely no problems flying into Reno, so don't understand all the complaints?? Most all flights go through Las Vegas in route to Reno so complaints about connections from almost anywhere is really a stretch. Small town atmosphere, small town friendly, appreciative people, Reno has it hands down. Dallas and Houston are among the top places NOT to go for ANYTHING if you ask me.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Mark Young makes a very valid point concerning Dallas. Houston is a monster sized town, but does that make it a good thing? Due to DSC having their convention in January, I'd opt for another location central to the US. Reno keeps a lot of people away for many reasons. One is it's across the entire country from the east coast. I'd vote Dallas before Reno any day. Thanks for bringing this up Larry. It's an important decision.
David

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
Too much hassle with all the flights and connections for me to bother going as long as it's in Reno. Any of the large Texas cities would be great, or just go back to Las Vegas!

No Las Vegas doesn't want SCi any more! Not enough gamblers! Besides, there isn't enough room around the Tiki Bar,
AKA Buffalo Bar

I thing we are seeing negations for cheaper rates in Reno. The Ski show, same size 20,000 attendants left Vegas for Denver saving several million dollars. For me the obvious answer is Salt lake, cheap flights, good hotels, good food, Yes you can drink in Salt lake!

quote:

Denver is in the middle of the country and its pretty easy to get here.

Well, not EXACTLY in the middle! But it would be easier to get to for sure.

I'd go anywhere but Reno! Orlando makes sense as it has all the facilities. Dallas would be easy. Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, St. Louis, Chicago [it IS winter but, it's cold everywhere!] all would be great.

Reno is a dreary depressing little place but it seems unlikely they will leave the west coast.

The SHOT show is going to Orlando again in 2009 but probably never again, the westerners just did not attend in 2007. So SHOT will return to Las Vegas with a 10 year contract after this.

Les