Hybridfest 2008 Registration is Open!!

The MPG Challenge would be interesting to try so I may have to end up "sick."

 

OK, I'm registered and have hotel reservations.

I also will be in the MPG challenge--I'll probably finish last, but it should be fun! (I'm a slow runner and I finished last in a 20K, so it's nothing new)

My son Pravus Prime (Rich) also registered today, so watch out for the SUV division! He thought about entering twice for the MPG--once in his FEH (Ford Escape Hybrid) and once in my Prius!

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you and being with a bunch of hybrids. Should be fun!

Prius Prime (AKA Donna)

 

Ive been looking at hybrid fest, and since I live 35 mile from there I am definetley going...but Do you have to pay the 60 bucks and register to be in the mpg challenge? I didn't see that anywhere in black and white

 

Yes, you have to register to be in the MPG challenge. Only a limited number can compete & there are usually more interested that spaces allotted. The $60 is higher than last year, but I paid up - only way to get the cool T-shirt, the lanyard ID (that makes you look so important), and entrance in the MPG challenge.

 

I'm in. And since we're in the process of becoming a 2 Pri family, I may even bring hubby along!

 

OH,, Is everyone staying at the Days Inn???, Maybe I should cancel my reservation with the Comfort Inn??, I guess I should just pay the $60 and register and get the better rate at the Days Inn??, How many so far from PC are staying at the Days Inn????

 

I just signed up for Hybridfest membership and also changed my hotel reservation to the Days Inn where everyone else is staying. I'm excited about this. I assume since we paid the $60 for membership that covers any entrance fees into the show?????

 

Yep, it's part of the member benefits:
You and your children (under age 16) receive free admission to the Dane County Fair Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 18-19-20)

Hybridfest is located within the Dane County Fair in Exhibit Hall B.

Here's the rest from the member page...

Although the public portion of Hybridfest spans two days (Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20), as a Hybridfest member you'll have access to even more fun:

• An extra half day of activities on Friday, July 18
• Post-show activities Saturday evening, July 19
• Pre-show activities Sunday morning, July 20

Members who attend Hybridfest will receive:

• Hybridfest 2008 T-Shirt
• Hybridfest 2008 Goodie Bag
• Reserved space to show your car in the Hybrid Owners Car Showcase
• Eligibility to win awards in the Hybrid Owners Car Showcase
• Eligibility for special members-only door prizes
• You and your children (under age 16) receive free admission to the Dane County Fair Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 18-19-20)
• Full access to the Hybridfest members-only hospitality area
• Invitation to compete in the Hybridfest MPG Challenge (limited number of entrants) on Friday, July 18
• Hybridfest Member-only "How-To" sessions on Sunday morning July 20, 9 a.m. - noon.
• Invitations to the Hybridfest members-only gatherings during Hybridfest (see below)
• And, of course, you'll also receive the satisfaction of knowing you're helping make the Hybridfest event possible!

 

Made my hotel reservations at the Days Inn. I hope!! The hotel staff were clueless about the special rate, actually almost rude, tried to rush me off the phone. So I'm half expecting to not have a room when I arrive!! And there were rooms available on their web site for more $.

Wayne

 

Sorry to hear of your difficulty. Dang!

It is IMPERATIVE that you call directly to the hotel.

You can not get the special rate via the web.

The Hybridfest web site states:

Right not we have the entire hotel blocked off. Our block ends at the end of June. After that anyone can make reservations if there are rooms left.

So right now, unless you call directly and say the "secret code" you will be told the hotel is full.

 

Hey Wayne, They were rude to me too, when I called the guy claimed he had no idea how to make reservations with the special block codes, and told me there are only 2 people there that can do that, the hotel general manager and the desk manager, I called on Weds. and he told me to call back on Saturday!!!!!, I asked him if he was serious,, and he said "YES". Nobody else knows how to do this and he acted like he did not want to even attempt to help me.

So, I just made my reservations online, and I was able to do it no problem, but I did use my Federal Government rate.

 

I'm booked at the Days Inn. I will be coming in on Friday and leave sometime on Sunday. Hoping to meet some of you in person, especially the Grumpy Old Moderator Efusco.

By the way, they do accept AAA rates for $2.00 more than the Hybridfest rate. I booked a King non-smoking for $80.10.

See you in Madison,
---Kent

 

Yepper, when I called it was indeed a struglle to get them "on board" with Hybrid Fest. This motel either has a lot of new employees or a most cavalier approach to customer service. I look forward to meeting many of you in person.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback regarding the hotel staff. I have contacted them to make sure they are aware of the feedback.

 

Sure, no problem, although, I hope our experiences so far with the staff and their unwillingness to book a room for us is not a pre-cursor to how the service will be once we are there....

BTW, did you ask them why only 2 people in the entire hotel know how to book rooms with the special block codes??, That is what the one reservation guy told me. That there were only 2 people that knew how to do that. If that was not the stupidest thing I have ever heard out of someone's mouth I don't know what is, he acted like the hotel has never done this before and it was totally alien to him. Hotels do this all the time, it is probably part of their training for reservation agents.

How was the service at the hotel last year?, Did you stay at the same place??

 

I have always had great service from the manager, Steve, as well as Kyle at the front desk. I've only briefly met a few of the other staff.
The entire Hybridfest experience is important to me, so please, if you have these kinds of problems give me a call or email me personally. (email is best.)
Thanks again for taking time to post!

The hotel last year was the Clarion. This year their prices were $179 per night, so based on people's comments about finding a less expensive hotel, after a bit of searching for a hotel that had enough rooms for us and had what we were looking for, we chose the Days Inn.

 

I thought we had to move to the Days Inn because the Dali Lama was in town and the Clarion was booked?

Saving the money will be nice but it was so sweet to be right there when a nap was calling my name...:yawn:

 

"Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.