Getting around San Diego
Arm yourself with the San Diego City and Hotels Map. All INTA hosted events are held within the SDCC, which is in walking distance to many downtown hotels. If you prefer not to walk, taxis are abundant and easily accessible from major hotels and downtown locations. With more than 9,650 registrants for this year’s Annual Meeting, expect taxi queues and plan your day accordingly.
The Big Bay shuttle service is another option. It connects Harbor Island with South Embarcadero with stops along the way at selected hotels including the Hilton San Diego Bay Front, San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina and the Wyndham San Diego Bayside. An all-day pass costs $3 per person. Tickets can be purchased at each of the stops. The nearest stop for the SDCC is the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina. The Big Bay’s Hours of Operation are:
• Sunday through Thursday: 10am—8pm
• Friday and Saturday: 10am—10pm
Navigating within the San Diego Convention Center
Equip yourself with the INTA customized SDCC Map available for download from the Annual Meeting microsite and via the Annual Meeting mobile app. New this year, there will be two Meeting Points—Meeting Point 1 and Meeting Point 2—located in the Hospitality Area of the SDCC. Registrants no longer have to meet in front of the Exhibition Hall and search for others. If a last-minute business appointment comes up while you are in San Diego, use the Meeting Point to find your colleagues.
Scheduling time for a very important Annual Meeting event
The Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address returns to Sunday evening. It will be held at the SDCC, Ballroom 20 from 4:00pm—5:15pm. Walter Robb, Co-CEO of Fortune 500 Company Whole Foods Market will be giving the keynote address on “Building Enduring Brands”. This session will not be recorded so don’t miss it!
Joining Walter Robb are J Scott Evans, 2015 INTA President, Etienne Sanz de Acedo, INTA CEO, INTA Board Members and various INTA leaders. Immediately after the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address, the Welcome Reception will be held at the Sails Pavilion located within the SDCC.
Taking advantage of additional programming on Saturday and Sunday
Eight new educational sessions are available to all registrants on Saturday and Sunday. This includes the session INTA Committee Selection, Membership and Involvement: Behind the Curtain on Sunday May 3 from 2:15 pm—3:00 pm. Hear INTA leaders discuss the benefits of committee involvement and what’s new for the 2016 – 2017 committee term!
Networking
INTA will also feature Meeting Points to make finding people within the SDCC that much easier for you! There will be two Meeting Points—Meeting Point 1 and Meeting Point 2—located in the Hospitality Area of the SDCC. When you schedule your business meetings, be sure to identify your Meeting Point clearly so that you don’t waste time looking for each other and end up running late for your next appointment!
Speed Networking is one of the best way to meet other trademark professionals, and the following networking opportunities are not to be missed:
• Opening Ceremony & Keynote Address: Sunday, May 3, from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm.
• Welcome Reception: Sails Pavilion, Sunday, May 3, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
• The Grand Finale: Gaslamp Block Party, Wednesday, May 6, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Scheduling meetings
Give yourself enough time between education, networking and business meetings and be sure to leave some time to visit the Exhibition Hall. You will be surprised at the number of new things you can learn and the hands-on experience you can get with new resources and services. Use the mobile app to design your calendar and have easy access to it on your phone or tablet.
Getting connected within the SDCC
Free wireless Internet is available in the public lobby areas of the SDCC and the Hospitality Area. You can also use the computer facilities at the E-Access Pavilion within the SDCC.
Staying connected during the Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting Portal, INTA mobile App, social media and the INTA Daily News are some of the ways that you can keep up with Annual Meeting activities.
The Annual Meeting Portal is the exclusive online resource for course materials and speaker bios. The INTA mobile App has the most up-to-date meeting schedule and room names. Go to either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for “INTA 2015” to download to your smart phone, tablet or computer. Both the Annual Meeting Portal and mobile App provide access to the 2015 INTA Annual Meeting Attendee Directory, final program, floor plans, exhibitor and sponsorship information.
Sharing your experiences during the Annual Meeting
The official hashtag for the Annual Meeting is #INTA15. Please follow us and share your experiences with us on Twitter. Share your photos from the Annual Meeting on our Facebook page.
With its year-round sunshine, near-perfect weather and miles of sparkling coastlines, San Diego is a highly photogenic city! As such we’re hosting a simple photography competition for all Annual Meeting registrants. To enter follow these simple steps:
• Take a photo during your travels around the city.
• Tweet your photo including the official hashtag #INTA15 OR post your photo on INTA’s Facebook page. *If you are using Twitter and a third party app (such as Instagram), be sure to set your image upload service to Twitter.
The winner will be notified and announced on Tuesday afternoon and can collect their prize from the Onsite Registration Desk on Wednesday morning. *Be sure to follow INTA on Twitter and / or Facebook so that we can contact you!
Closing off the Annual Meeting with your very own Block Party!
The Gaslamp Quarter Block Party will be held on Fifth Avenue, right across from the SDCC, where guests will enjoy the freedom of moving from restaurant to restaurant, experiencing an array of cuisines, entertainment and networking opportunities exclusive to INTA. Registrants will have access to all the unique storefronts and restaurants on the block and can take in the traditional gas lamps, scenery and historic architecture of the neighborhood while enjoying the final night of the Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Guests over the age of 21 are welcome to join you at this event. Be sure to purchase a guest ticket in advance!
