Housing and Travel

OFFICIAL NASP CONVENTION HOTELS

The convention will be hosted by the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown (headquarters hotel), Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, and Loews Philadelphia hotels. Centered in the heart of Philadelphia, the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown and the Loews Philadelphia are located across the street from each other, and the Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown is two blocks west. Convention activities will take place in the two Marriott hotels and the Loews hotel; the NASP Convention Workshops will take place in the Philadelphia Convention Center, which is attached to the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown.

HOTEL RATES

* Listed hotel rates do not include applicable fees and taxes.

HOUSING RESERVATION PROCEDURES

You must register for the convention before gaining access to NASP’s specially discounted sleeping rooms. You may also search for a roommate using NASP’s Roommate Locator Service before making your reservations to help save on hotel costs.

NASP has secured discounted blocks of sleeping rooms for convention attendees that will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis, through the NASP Housing Center only. Hotel reservations must be guaranteed by a credit card or a check for a 1-night deposit. All housing reservations must be received by the NASP Housing Center no later than January 25, 2012. NASP convention rates cannot be guaranteed after January 25, 2012, and rooms may sell out before that date.

Four Easy Ways to Make Your Reservation

1. Make your reservation online now!


2. Phone
   Domestic: (800) 811-5947
   International: (703) 449-6418


3. Mail
   NASP Housing Center
   J. Spargo & Associates
   11208 Waples Mill Road, Suite 112
   Fairfax, VA 22030


4. Fax
   (703) 631-7258

Attendee Housing Reservation Form
To mail or fax reservations, please use the NASP Housing Request PDF Form.

ROOMMATE LOCATOR ASSISTANCE SERVICE

Find a roommate for convention and cut your hotel costs in half! Use the Roommate Locator Assistance Service to find another NASP convention attendee to share your room with. You can register as a potential roommate and search a listing of other NASP convention attendees looking for roommates. Individuals using the Roommate Locator Assistance Service are responsible for reserving their own hotel rooms, and NASP cannot accept any responsibility for roommate arrangements, changes, or problems.

HOUSING RESERVATION CONFIRMATIONS

Reservations will be confirmed within 3 to 5 business days of receipt of your reservation. If you have not received your housing confirmation within this time, please call the NASP Housing Center, at (800) 811-5947 or (703) 449-6418. Special requests will be honored whenever possible but cannot be guaranteed; the hotel will assign specific rooms upon check-in, based on availability.

HOUSING CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICY

You may cancel or make changes to your reservation in writing or online on or before January 25, 2012. Written requests should be sent to the NASP Housing Center and will be acknowledged with a confirmation within 5 business days. To change or cancel your reservation online, you will need your confirmation number and the e-mail address used to make your reservation. Online requests are acknowledged with an immediate e-mail confirmation.

If you need to cancel your reservation, you must do so before 12:00 a.m. (midnight), Eastern time, Wednesday, January 25, 2012. If you do not cancel your hotel reservation before that time, or if you fail to check in on your confirmed arrival date, your first night’s deposit plus tax will not be refunded.

ADA ACCOMMODATION

NASP welcomes our colleagues with disabilities to the convention. Attendees with a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act who require accommodation should send specific requests as early as possible to Glenn M. Reighart, Director, Meetings and Conventions, NASP, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814, or by e-mail. Please note that NASP cannot guarantee accommodation for individuals who do not preregister for the convention and request accommodation by January 25, 2012.

BY AIR

With hundreds of daily flights, getting to Philadelphia is easy!

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Distance from Marriott Philadelphia Downtown: 9 miles
Approximate driving time: 20 minutes

American Airlines is offering a special discount for NASP convention attendees traveling to Philadelphia from cities in the domestic United States. To receive the NASP convention discount, you must refer to authorization number 2922AY. NASP convention discounts are not valid for use in conjunction with any other fare discounts.

Official Travel Agency
Take advantage of special discounts by booking your travel with Premiere Travel, at (800) 456-2335 or (703) 287-8998, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday–Friday. Be sure to mention the special American Airlines discount when you call to make your reservation.

Three Ways to Get From the Airport to the Hotel

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)
SEPTA is a fast, convenient way to get to the NASP convention hotels from the Philadelphia International Airport. For under $10, you can hop on the Regional Rail line at the airport and get off at the Market East Station, just around the corner from the official NASP hotels.

Shuttle Service
Take the Lady Liberty share-ride van shuttle service between the Philadelphia International Airport and your hotel for just $10 each way.

Shuttles depart the airport for Center City Philadelphia every ten to fifteen minutes, and advances reservations before your arrival in Philadelphia are not necessary. When you get to the airport, simply go to the Ground Transportation Desk in the Baggage Claim area and pay for the ride to your hotel. For your return to the airport after the convention, sign up for a shuttle at the front desk of your hotel.

Taxicabs
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Distance: 9 miles
Travel time: 20 minutes
Fare: $30

BY CAR

Philadelphia is less than a day’s drive for more than a quarter of the U.S. population.By car, the city is just a short drive away from most major Northeast cities. No scanners, no peanuts, and bring as much baggage as you like!

• New York, NY – 2 hours
• Washington, DC – 3 hours
• Richmond, VA – 5 hours
• Pittsburgh, PA – 5.5 hours
• Boston, MA – 6 hours
• Rochester, NY – 6 hours

Rental Car

NASP convention attendees are eligible for special discounts on Avis rental cars. To make your reservation, call (800) 331-1600 and use AWD# B136001. Outside the United States, please call (918) 624-4301.

BY TRAIN OR BUS

Put your feet up and let someone else do the driving. Take advantage of quick and easy travel to Philadelphia from along the northeast corridor by taking the bus or train. With Amtrak service from several major U.S. cities, riding the rails is an inexpensive, stress-free way to get to the convention. Bus service to and from Philadelphia is another budget-friendly option. Low-cost lines like Megabus and BoltBus offer tickets from many east coast cities for as low as $1 each way!

Here are a few tips that may help make your trip go more smoothly. Visit the TSA website for more information on airport security checkpoints, wait times, and other packing tips.

Fly With the Scoop

Before arriving at the airport, get the details. Information about flights, baggage allowances, nonacceptable travel items, security procedures, airport check-in and security wait times, and acceptable forms of ID is available on the TSA’s website.

Fly Organized

Don't be slowed down by last-minute details. Get your seat assignment in advance; make ticketing changes and any special need requests before the day of travel. When making your reservation, confirm the correct spelling of your name, and make sure all contact phone numbers and e-mail addresses are current.

Fly Prepared

Pack carry-on bags with essential items. Place contact name information inside and outside baggage. For international travel, make sure passports and visas are current for all passengers, including infants. Keep all identification and ticketing documents in a handy location, and remember that checking baggage will make security checkpoints smoother and faster.

Fly Virtual

To avoid long lines at the ticket counter, try your airline's virtual check-in (VCI) options or self-service kiosks. VCI allows passengers to check in on an airline's website using personal digital assistants or Web-enabled phones and through toll-free telephone lines. Customers may use the new self-service kiosks to check in, check baggage, request upgrades, and make seat selections.

Fly Early

Arrive at the airport at least 1 hour before flight departure for domestic travel and at least 2 hours for international travel. Check the airline's website for airport wait and check-in estimates for specific airports during peak and off-peak times, and budget extra time for random security checks. Be prepared to remove shoes, jackets, scarves, belts, and any metal or sharp objects as you visit security screening. Have your ID ready, remove laptop computers from their cases, and empty your pockets.

Fly Informed

When waiting to board the aircraft, use the gate information and flight information display screens to keep informed on departure times, standby procedures, and the current weather at your destination city. To expedite the boarding process, arrive at the gate early with your boarding pass, e-ticket receipt, passport, personal ID card, and other documentation ready.

Fly Connected

Upon landing, listen to gate announcements, especially if you have a connecting flight.

WARDROBE CONSIDERATIONS

Business-casual attire is the accepted fashion during NASP convention activities. Temperatures in meeting rooms vary widely, so sweaters or light jackets that can be put on or taken off are strongly recommended.

You won’t want to miss all the city of Philadelphia has to offer during the NASP 2012 Annual Convention. Whether you’re soaking up history at one of Philadelphia’s historic landmarks, enjoying the view at one of the city’s many museums, or dining at a world-class restaurant, there’s something for everyone in the City of Brotherly Love.

History

Home of William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross, Philadelphia was the center of the original 13 American colonies during the birth of the nation. See sights like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the newly opened National Museum of American Jewish History, all less than a mile from the hotels.

Culture

Soak in all that Philadelphia’s thriving arts scene has to offer just steps from the hotel. Located next to the Convention Center, Lenfest Plaza is an open-area piazza brimming with public art, trees, and outdoor dining. Or walk a half mile to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts where you can hear Philadelphia’s top musicians, catch a Broadway show, or watch dancers light up the stage.

Dining

More than a decade of development has advanced Philadelphia’s culinary scene to a world-class level. From fine dining to pho, you can pick from an array of options just steps from the hotel. Be sure to visit the historic Reading Terminal Market just around the corner from the Convention Center and enjoy your choice of baked goods, ethnic eats, and more in this bustling historic farmers’ market.

10 Reasons Philadelphia is Hot Even in February!

1. Taste Test Philly’s Best Cheesesteaks
Walk south a mile and a half to weigh in on the famous cheesesteak debate! Philadelphia’s dueling cheesesteak kings, Pat’s and Geno’s are conveniently situated directly across from each other on Passyunk Ave. near Ninth Street.

2. See a Flyers Hockey Game
Catch a Flyers hockey game with Philadelphia natives in a local sports bar. Take your pick of local hot spots to watch the Flyer take on the Jets on Tuesday, February 21, or the Oilers on Thursday, February 23.

3. Visit an American Icon – The Liberty Bell
No trip to Philadelphia is complete without a trip to see the Liberty Bell. This classic piece of American history never fails to amaze visitors. Just a short walk away, this is an easy, FREE outing.

4. Admire the Masterpieces at the Museum of Art
Visit the third-largest art museum in the country, the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Just a short cab ride away, you can browse the expansive art collections, or visit one of 80 period rooms ranging from a medieval cloister to an Indian temple.

5. Meet a Champion
Don’t miss this larger than life statue of fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, at the base of the east stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Come have your picture taken with this triumphant statue of the Italian Stallion!

6. Read the Words That Shaped Our World
Visit the National Constitution Center to explore this amazing document through high-tech exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays. Just a short walk from the hotel, this is the only museum devoted to exploring the story of we the people.

7. Explore Philadelphia’s Newest Museum
Take a trip to the newly opened National Museum of American Jewish History—the only museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Follow more than 350 years of American Jewish history through all three floors of this inspiring museum.   

8. Get in Touch With Your Classical Side
Head a few blocks south to Philadelphia’s renowned Kimmel Center to see The Abduction from the Seraglio. The Opera Company of Philadelphia takes on Mozart's musical genius in this humorous tale of a Turkish ruler's comically passionate pursuit of his beautiful young prisoner.

9. Dine in Style
Over a decade of development has transformed this town into a gourmand’s dream. Take advantage of Philadelphia’s blossoming fine dining scene and head out for a night on the town!

10. Experience the Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Reading Terminal Market
After exploring Philadelphia, head back to the Reading Terminal Market, right across the street from the hotel. Grab a bite to eat, enjoy local music during Midday Melodies, or take the Market Tour to hear the history of this iconic market.

CYBER CENTER

The NASP Cyber Center will be open 24 hours a day and will have 20 computers, so you will have ample ability to cruise the Internet, check e-mail, or explore the NASP website.

BUSINESS SERVICES

The Marriott Philadelphia Downtown has a full-service FedEx Office offering one stop shopping for all of your business needs. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, FedexKinkos is open 24 hours a day through Friday night and then from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (215) 923-2520.