Registration
When will registration open? What are the registration rates?
What does my registration fee include? Why should I register in advance? I am not a member of SAH, but my co-worker is a member and cannot attend. Can I use their membership to register at the member rate? Who can attend the SAH Annual Conference? Will I receive a confirmation of my registration? Will I get a refund if I have to cancel my registration? What if I can’t use a tour or special event ticket? I am bringing my family with me; will there be activities for them to enjoy? What is Single-Day Registration?
I am a member of the press – do you have press registration?
Hotel/Transportation
What hotel has been reserved for this annual conference?
What are the rates? Can I make my hotel reservations now? Will I receive a confirmation of my hotel reservation? Will I be refunded if I have to cancel my room reservation? What if I prefer to stay at a different hotel or with family/friends? Are there any airfare discounts? Will transportation be provided during the conference? Exhibit Area
What are the hours of the Exhibit Area and who will be there? Events
Which night is free for exploring Buffalo? Are there any tours scheduled for Buffalo? General Information
What is the conference dress code? Will all conference programming be held at the hotel? How can I become a speaker at the Annual Conference? How many AIA/CES Learning Units will I earn by attending the Annual Conference? aIs child care available? When will award recipients/Fellows/be recognized? Where will I be able to get lunch or a snack at the conference? Is there parking near the hotel? My question is not here!
REGISTRATION
When will registration open? What are the registration rates? Online registration opens at 3:00 pm Central Time on January 3, 2013. Click here to register.
What does my registration fee include?
Registration fees include the printed program, a badge to gain access to all 35 paper sessions Thursday through Saturday, admission to the Exhibitors Area, Opening Reception, Introductory Talk, Plenary Talk, Awards Ceremony, and various midday programs and the attendee roster. Registered attendees will also receive access to all available session handouts. Additionally, meeting attendees will have the opportunity to register for a variety of receptions and tours for which a small cost recovery fee is charged. Please note that reservations are required for all events, even those included in the registration fee. This allows us to estimate the number of attendees so that we can provide enough seating and provisions.
Why should I register in advance?
If you register before February 19, you will be able to take advantage of the lower registration fee. Registration fees increase on February 19, 2013. Registering in advance also helps us determine how many are attending the conference. This will ensure we have enough food for the receptions, buses for the events and tours, and chairs for the sessions. Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and often sell out quickly, so registering early is also recommended if you want to secure tickets for specific tours.
I am not a member of SAH, but my co-worker is a member and cannot attend. Can I use their membership to register at the member rate?
Membership in SAH is individual and non-transferable to others. You can register as a new member during the annual conference registration process by choosing the registration rate that includes a one-year membership. Up to two employees of our institutional (library) members are permitted to register for the conference once approved by the main contact of that institution.
Who can attend the SAH Annual Conference?
The SAH Annual Conference is open to all who share an interest in the history of architecture, landscapes, art, urbanism, sustainability and design. Membership in SAH is required for conference participation. If you have not yet joined or need to renew your membership, you can register as a new or renewing member during the annual conference registration process.
Will I receive a confirmation of my registration?
A confirmation of your registration will be sent to you via email immediately upon completing your registration online. For registrations paid by check, please allow two weeks for processing. Confirmation of your registration will be sent to you via email or regular mail upon processing. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kathy Sturm at 312.543.7243, ksturm@sah.orgor Beth Eifrig at 312.573.1365, beifrig@sah.org
Will I get a refund if I have to cancel my registration?
We’ll be sorry that you won’t be able to join us for this exceptional learning and networking experience. However, we understand that unexpected situations might occur. Please notify us in writing no later than February 19, 2013. Refunds, less a $50 administrative fee, will be processed after the annual conference. Please note, for cancellations received on or after February 20th, 2013 there are no refunds, no exceptions. Cancellations must be submitted to Kathy Sturm via email ksturm@sah.org, via fax to 312.573.1141, or via mail to Society of Architectural Historians, 1365 N. Astor St., Chicago, IL 60610-2144.
back to top
What if I can’t use a tour or special event ticket?
Tour and event tickets are non-refundable, but they are fully transferrable. Substitutions may be made at any time. If you are unable to attend but another registered member can participate in your place, go ahead and either donate or sell the ticket. There will be a message board at the SAH Check In/Information desk area where you may offer your tickets to another registrant. If you need to sell or exchange your tickets prior to April 10, SAH will have a bulletin board on the conference section of the website for your convenience.
I am bringing my family with me; will there be activities for them to enjoy?
Family and friends will love Buffalo! There are many sites of interest to visit during your time in the Buffalo area and many are for the entire family. Click here to discover what may be of interest to your family and friends who plan to accompany you to Buffalo.
If your family and friends wish to participate in any portion of the conference, they will need to register either as a conference participant or tours-only participant. “Tour Only” registration begins on February 20th and allows your spouse or guest to register for tours that are still available. SAH cannot guarantee that space on tours you registered for will still be available. Please, no children during the conference programs, events and tours.
What is Single-Day Registration?
Single-day registration is $75 for members who live within a 75 mile radius of Buffalo, and is available onsite only during registration hours. Non-members are welcome and can pay the selected membership rate during registration. A single-day ticket includes a one-day conference badge and access to the paper sessions and mid-day programs. Receptions and tours offered on the selected single day are at the posted rates.
I am a member of the press – do you have press registration?
SAH welcomes the professional editorial staff (including photographers and camera crews) of print, online, and broadcast media to cover our Historic Preservation Seminar, Introductory and Plenary Talk, and our Paper Sessions. For more information on press registration, contact Kathy Sturm at 312.543.7243 or ksturm@sah.org.
back to top
HOTEL/TRANSPORTATION
What hotel has been reserved for this annual conference? What are the rates? This year the headquarters hotel is the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel. It is located at Two Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202. The rate is $139 sgl/dbl per night. If you share a room, the rate is divided in half and is $69 per night per person. The current tax rate is 13.75%. Click here for more information on reserving your room at the hotel.
By staying at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel, you are supporting the annual conference and in the long run you are keeping your expenses down. Future hotel rates are negotiated based on the percentage of members who stay at the HQ hotel—the more members that stay at the HQ hotel the better the opportunity for lower rates in the future. If you feel the hotel rates are high, it is a direct result of the economy, the time of year that the conference is held, and the number of hotel room nights used at the SAH Conference hotel in previous years. We appreciate your support of the designated hotel. With your assistance, let’s try to reach an attendance level of 800 to be able to negotiate better rates in the future. The 2013 hotel rate is in part the result of higher attendance numbers at the Pasadena and Chicago conferences, as an example.
Can I make my hotel reservations now?
Hotel reservations may be made online for the conference beginning January 3, 2013. Click here for more information.
Will I receive a confirmation of my hotel reservation?
A confirmation of your reservation will be sent to you via email, fax, or mail directly from the hotel. Only one confirmation will be sent, so please be sure to watch for it.
Will I be refunded if I have to cancel my room reservation?
We’ll be sorry that you won’t be joining us. Your room reservation falls under the guidelines of the hotel policy. Please contact the hotel to cancel/change your reservation. Cancellations must be received by the hotel no later than February 19, 2013. Failure to check-in on the scheduled date of arrival will result in the loss of your deposit and the cancellation of your room for the remainder of the stay. Please note, sending your room cancellation request directly to SAH does not guarantee processing of the request. Please send your request directly the hotel. The hotel will provide SAH a report of any cancellations and reduction in reserved nights to aide in SAH managing the required number of contracted room nights. These reports are used to aide in negotiating future hotel rates.
back to top
What if I prefer to stay at a different hotel or with family/friends?
If you choose to stay at a different hotel or select alternate accommodations, there is an additional $100 added to the conference registration fee. Graduate students and local residents are exempt from this additional charge. If you are traveling to Buffalo, and staying with a local resident, the $100 additional registration fee applies.
The reason for the additional fee is this: SAH enters into contractual agreements with hotels and convention centers up to three years in advance. Contracts are negotiated based on past history and anticipated conference attendance. Hotels provide SAH with a specific number of sleeping rooms from their inventory at the lowest possible group rate to accommodate the expected number of attendees and the number of conference rooms needed for the annual conference. When SAH attendees fill our entire room block; the fees for conference rooms, exhibit spaces and related conference expenses are lowered and even waived. Attendees who do not use our conference hotel or do not use the conference hotel for their entire stay jeopardize SAH’s ability to cover the expenses of the conference. It is important that all conference participants share equally in underwriting the significant costs of running a conference.
Are there any airfare discounts?
Everyone’s looking to save a little money and stretch their dollar a bit further, so we’re doing our best to help make that a possibility. SAH is investigating discounted airfare opportunities. More details will be posted on the Hotel and Transportation page in September.
Will transportation be provided during the conference?
In Buffalo most offsite venues will be within walking distance of the hotel, so bring walking shoes and your pedometer. Ground transportation will be provided for tours as noted in the program.
Ground transportation between the airport and hotel is also available. Visit the Buffalo Airport website for details about ground transportation.
EXHIBIT AREA
What are the hours of the Exhibit Area and who will be there?
Attendees and exhibitors will have many opportunities to meet in general or one on one. The Exhibit Area will be open throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, and with reduced hours on Wednesday and Saturday. Please check the program or the schedule posted at the entrance to the Exhibit Area for the specific times and a listing of the Exhibitors who will be joining us in Buffalo.
EVENTS
Which night is free for exploring Buffalo? The Local Committee is investigating opportunities and suggestions. Watch the conference webpage and the printed program for details and information. Please note that there is no transportation, and be sure to dress for the weather.
How is SAH giving back to the Buffalo community while attending the Annual Conference?
SAH is pleased to announce that we recognize the need for socially responsible activities in the cities we visit. This year, in Buffalo, we will be continuing this important program. Details coming soon.
Are there any tours scheduled for Buffalo?
Yes, the Local Committee has put together a full array of tours for the conference participants. Tours will be posted on the website when registration opens on January 3, 2013. Tour reservations are first-come, first-served, and waiting lists will be maintained. There will be a “Tours Only” registration opportunity beginning on February 20, 2013 for those who wish to join a tour but not register for the conference. This is especially nice for spouses/guests not registered for the annual conference. Space is subject to availability.
GENERAL
What is the conference dress code? We want you to be comfortable so you can enjoy your conference experience! Therefore, business casual dress is strongly encouraged. We suggest bringing a light sweater or jacket with you during the day as conference rooms are air conditioned and it will get chilly in the evening. Watch the weather channels to gauge what the weather will be like during the conference week.
Will all conference programming be held at the hotel?
No, the majority of programming will be held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, unless otherwise noted. Locations for all events will be noted in the program. The convention center is connected to the hotel by a covered walkway.
How can I become a speaker at the Annual Conference?
At this time, the program for the 2013 Annual Conference is finalized. Proposals were due by June 1, 2012 – we’re sorry you missed this deadline. The deadline for proposing sessions for the 2014 conference has already passed, but you are welcome to submit an abstract proposal for the 2014 conference, beginning in April of 2013. If you have specific questions about getting involved as a speaker or session chair at the SAH Annual Conference in Austin, please contact Kathy Sturm at ksturm@sah.org.
How many AIA/CES Learning Units will I earn by attending the Annual Conference?
Attendees may earn up to approximately 30 learning units by attending the Annual Conference. It will depend on how many qualified programs you attend. The AIA/CES Learning Units are listed in the program and on the website beginning January 3, 2013. Be sure to note that you are an AIA member on the registration form and SAH will provide a listing of the events and the corresponding learning units when you pick up your conference materials at the registration desk beginning Wednesday, April 10, 2013. At the conclusion of the conference, please return the completed form to the registration desk, email it to ksturm@sah.org or fax it to 312.573.1141 for processing. Please submit the forms to SAH no later than May 31, 2013. If sent later there may be a delay in submitting the learning units.
Is child care available?
If you are in need to child care services, we suggest that you contact the concierge at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel for recommendations.
When will award recipients/Fellows be recognized?
All recognitions will be made during the Award Ceremony on Thursday evening, April 11, 2013. This will be held in the Council Chambers of City Hall downtown Buffalo. City Hall is within walking distance of the hotel.
There will be a reception prior to the ceremony held at City Hall. Tours of City Hall will be available. You will need a ticket for the reception and the ceremony as seating is limited. SAH will be presenting the six SAH Book Awards, announcing the fellowship recipients, acknowledging the 25 and 50 year members, and inducting the 2013 SAH Fellows. This is a special evening for SAH and we encourage you to attend and support your fellow members. At this event, SAH Plenary Talk will be presented immediately following the awards ceremony.
Where will I be able to get lunch or a snack at the conference?
There is a food court at the convention center, restaurants in the hotel and restaurants within walking distance from the hotel and convention center. SAH always includes a restaurant guide in the conference bag that is handed out when you check in for your name badge.
Is there parking near the hotel?
Valet Parking. We are pleased to offer overnight valet parking for $20 a day, which includes guest in and out privileges. Additionally, our valet team will vacuum your car, clean your windshield and leave bottled water and chocolates in your vehicle for your departure.
Self Parking. Guests may park at the Augspurger Parking Ramp, located adjacent to the hotel across the street, or the open lot located directly across the street if they prefer. Parking rates vary at both locations, and do not include in and out privileges.
My question is not here!
We’re sorry that we could not anticipate your needs. Please email Kathy Sturm at ksturm@sah.org for assistance.
back to top