Hospitality committee needs your input [Archive]

Ol'Salt

01-24-2005, 05:12 PM

As a member of your Hospitality Committee for this years National, I would like to ask the forum members what services and/or items you would like to see be made available to you from the committee. We are here to serve you and your input would be greatly appreciated. It would assist us in making this rally as pleasant an experience as possible for you as well as us. :wave

YB in IN

01-24-2005, 05:53 PM

Beer, bourbon, and coffee.

dancogan

01-24-2005, 05:57 PM

Maybe a place to send and receive email.

Jeff

01-24-2005, 06:32 PM

Where are the closest laundry faclities, grocery stores, local restaurants, maybe even Wall Mart, put this on a large map of the city with oneway streets marked. I can find my way across the country but I damm sure get lost going across town. :thumb

riderR1150GSAdv

01-24-2005, 07:13 PM

Beer, bourbon, and coffee.

and wild wild women!!!!!! :evil :rofl :rofl

kbasa

01-24-2005, 08:45 PM

Let clubs rent an EZup so they have some shade and a place to hang.

Voni

01-24-2005, 11:18 PM

BradfordBenn

01-24-2005, 11:59 PM

I would like to see recommendations for destination rides, that might be off the beaten path. Such as maybe something to a cool museum or something.

Visian

01-25-2005, 05:34 AM

I was the Hospitality and Map Tours Chair for the 1996 Rally in Morganton. We coordinated the work of the 3 Chartered Clubs that were local, we had a large map to discuss good riding in the area, a ride sheet with directions for all the good roads, a list of restaurants and other services of interest.

Over the years, as the Internet came on strong, the Rally Web site has features pages listing nearby adventures, (http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally/rally2001/nearbyadventures.htm) restarant guide, (http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally/rally2001/restaurants.htm) and information about local road conditions. (http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally/rally2001/bendbypass.htm)

I've found that if you can assemble this information early, it's useful for people planning their rally ride, and useful in the hospitality booth for those of us completely incapable of planning! :)

Ian

SheRidesABeemer

01-25-2005, 06:04 AM

and wild wild women!!!!!! :evil :rofl :rofl

The wild women? We coordinate ourselved!

gsjay

01-25-2005, 08:16 AM

I met a guy while I was in Africa who has been to almost all of the Nationals. What he'd love would be a backdrop (like a Beemerville USA street scene) where people could pose with their bikes to make their own souvenier of the rally. Could that be a job for the hospitality crew????

Voni
sMiling

Excellant idea!!!!!!!!!

gsjay

Ol'Salt

01-25-2005, 09:42 AM

kbasa

01-25-2005, 09:58 AM

Believe it or not this has already been discussed and is a probability. if a photographer can be found. Sue was working on this last I heard.

I think they were looking to have something more like a photo op set up so people could take their own pictures. I envision this as a big Beemerville banner (with the logo for the rally) hung on a wall so people can have their picture taken in front of it. The banners are fairly cheap now and any FastSigns can make you one for $6/sq. foot, I believe.

The tricky part would be keeping people from parking in front of the sign. Having run security, managing where people can and can't park can be a chore as some folks think the rules just don't appy to them. :dunno

username

01-25-2005, 10:25 AM

a sewing table with lots of spare fabric and several sewing machines. and i mean the fancy ones, where you can load a bitmap image and it'll do th embroidery too!

why? so everyone can make their rally shirt the way they want it. want a collar? sew one on! want a pocket? sew one on! want a special logo or image? no problem!

Ol'Salt

01-25-2005, 10:37 AM

I think they were looking to have something more like a photo op set up so people could take their own pictures. I envision this as a big Beemerville banner (with the logo for the rally) hung on a wall so people can have their picture taken in front of it. The banners are fairly cheap now and any FastSigns can make you one for $6/sq. foot, I believe.

The tricky part would be keeping people from parking in front of the sign. Having run security, managing where people can and can't park can be a chore as some folks think the rules just don't appy to them. :dunno
I believe what was discussed was as you stated but to also have a photographer for those who may want a professional one done. May have to schedule appointments as a way of avoiding a traffic problem. Logistics of this seemingly simple task could be great with 6-7,00 attendees.

gsjay

01-25-2005, 12:46 PM

We've tried this set up with a professional photograher at other events I've been involved with.

You'd be surprised how hesitant folks are to step up and take advantage of this service.

I don't know if it's the price or what. You hear a lot of "we'll have to come back and do that" but you guessed it, they never come back.

This set up would have to be somewhere folks could stop at while heading in or out of the rally site, making it as convient as possible!

I think a lot of folks also want the digital file for use in other formats and most professional photographers aren't going to part with the file.

my 2 cents,
gsjay

Montana

01-25-2005, 01:44 PM

You could do something similar to what we did in Missoula: Single-sheet handouts (can be half-page sized) showing local rides; just pick three or four and show them generally, then folks can compare to their own maps for other details.

One map showing hardware, supply and local mc shops, especially BMW shop. And U-Ship-It places, too. (Maybe invite a U-Ship-It shop to set up at the rally.) I worked the hospitality table at the Missoula rally and the most often asked question was how to get to the BMW shop.

You could do better than we did in Spokane: On that generic restaurant/Wal Mart map, show gas stations and Quickie Marts located nearest to the rally site and remind anyone going on any group ride to go there first, fuel up and buy water, BEFORE showing up at the staging area for their event. At the GS tent in Spokane, every ride, riders showed up still needing fuel and packing no water.

Jim Shaw

01-25-2005, 02:26 PM

I have asked for this before, but never does it happen:

I'd like to see a large map of the rally grounds posted near registration - and divided into sections like a lot of AAA maps - A-J across the top and 01-15 across the side. And a place where people who want can list their name and the quadrant where they are camping - or where they want to meet at a day/hour. The map could also be reprinted in the rally program.

Every event would have an 'address' included - like "Seminar Bldg C - 9-F." We could also post these poster-sized maps around the grounds so people can find events and each other.

It would also help security . In case of an emergency, first aid, etc. could get very close to the scene of a problem without question.

For those with cell phones or family band radios, you can meet a freind without getting lost by telling them the quadrant you are in, right now.

Clubs with hospitality tents can list them on the board near registration - so arriving riders can find their club without riding around endlessly looking for someone familiar.

And so on... :deal

Sue

01-25-2005, 03:55 PM

I think they were looking to have something more like a photo op set up so people could take their own pictures.

Nope --- Old Salt had it right. We are working with a professional who will take a souvie picture of you and your bike in front of Beemerville.....

Ol'Salt

01-25-2005, 05:56 PM

For planning purposes what length of "day rides" do you prefer?

Jim Shaw

01-25-2005, 07:46 PM

For planning purposes what length of "day rides" do you prefer?

If I were from fur aweigh, I'd like to look at half day and full day rides, and be back before dark in most cases. Just as an example, I had MS S&T make the following map. The blue boundaries are what S&T thinks are 2, 3, and 4 hour rides one way from Lima. (One hour gets you pretty much nowhere - not even to Dayton - to the Air Force Museum).

Two hours will get you to Pickerington (AMA Museum - highly recommended) and the western edge of Amish country (ultra scenic - nice roads).

Four hours will get you to Hocking Hills for some of the best riding roads in four states. Three hours will get you to Dearborn for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, but I'd recomment an overnight there if you want to spend any time either place.

Three hours will get you to Shaw Towers, if you can think of some reason why. A little over two hours to Shaw Flats - same qualification.

tnk12lt

01-25-2005, 10:21 PM

Nope --- Old Salt had it right. We are working with a professional who will take a souvie picture of you and your bike in front of Beemerville.....

Please clarify for us then. If someone wants to ask a friend to take their souvie picture instead of the professional will they be allowed or must they use the professional?

Doug

Sue

01-26-2005, 03:58 PM

If someone wants to ask a friend to take their souvie picture instead of the professional will they be allowed or must they use the professional?

Sure your friends can take your picture. But probably not where the pro is going to be doing his work.... There will be lots of potential photo opportunities. It's all good. I'll see about having a second location that will work for folks who want to do their own camera work.

This is going to be a heckuva party!

Voni

01-27-2005, 09:54 AM

Sue wrote:
I'll see about having a second location that will work for folks who want to do their own camera work.

Wonderful!!!

It's going to be one heck of a party ; )

Voni
smiling :clap

mthelmet

01-27-2005, 07:50 PM

The banner should be made with Beemerville only, and of good qualit that would last for (say 5 years). A second banner cuold be made then with the rally LOGO and Location on it, for each rally.

The people who would like a pro to take their picture could have hours from say 11 am to 2 pm. then the rest could have the rest of the day.
It should be set up with the banner facing south, I think this would give the best lighting for most picture during the day. :brow

DLilah

01-28-2005, 12:33 PM

You might already have this covered somehow. However, for us Newbie's it would be helpful to have some type of brochure or poster giving us tips and advice on getting the most out of the rally. We are new BMW riders and new MOA members and this is our first rally of any kind. Quite frankly, we are extremely excited about coming, but it's a little overwhelming, and tips and advice from veterans would be welcome and very helpful.

Thanks! ;)

Joecubana

01-28-2005, 12:41 PM

Or how about a newbie "icebreaker" or something similar?? Since this will be my first National something like that would be appreciated.

JC

Ol'Salt

01-28-2005, 01:31 PM

Or how about a newbie "icebreaker" or something similar?? Since this will be my first National something like that would be appreciated.

JC
Great Idea!! Sue, you looking at this and the post before?
How about helping these people out some of you ol'vets!

DLilah

01-28-2005, 02:03 PM

Or how about a newbie "icebreaker" or something similar?? Since this will be my first National something like that would be appreciated.

JC

I like your idea, JC, of an "icebreaker." I know me and my husband (STRESS) would love that. :clap

We are really looking forward to meeting fellow BMW enthusiasts, especially those with more experience than we have (which isn't hard to do) who are willing to share their knowledge.

Sue

01-28-2005, 02:17 PM

DLilah

01-28-2005, 02:45 PM

Without a doubt, the best and fastest way for you to meet some new folks and REALLY feel like you are part of the family is to volunteer.

Do it early, so you can meet new folks right away, and then do another shift later in the week, somewhere else, to meet another whole different group. Before you know it, you will have new friends who might live a thousand miles away from you.

These BMW rallies are like family-reunions ... on STEROIDS. ;) The more places you volunteer, the more people you will get to know, and the more fun you will have.

I Promise. :thumb

Thanks, Sue. Already did that. Got that suggestion from another thread and thought it was a great one, so me and hubby threw our hat in as soon as we confirmed we are able to make it to the rally. Looking forward to it.

Any other Newbie help/advice is always appreciated!

RebeccaV

01-28-2005, 04:29 PM

Or how about a newbie "icebreaker" or something similar?? Since this will be my first National something like that would be appreciated.
JC
Hey mods - is there going to be another Forum Frenzy?

At the 04 National all of us Forum Folks met at the beer tent at an appointed time and it was fun to meet people face to face.

'cept maybe gambrinus. He's beer-crazy. And knary - he's tequila-crazy. ;) :wave I sure hope you west of the Mississippi folks can make it to Lima.

BradfordBenn

01-29-2005, 09:20 PM

Hey mods - is there going to be another Forum Frenzy?

At the 04 National all of us Forum Folks met at the beer tent at an appointed time and it was fun to meet people face to face.

'cept maybe gambrinus. He's beer-crazy. And knary - he's tequila-crazy. ;) :wave I sure hope you west of the Mississippi folks can make it to Lima.

Hmmmmm. That could be good fun :thumb

must remember to not hold bourbon during incriminating pictures.... I wasn't drunk I have lazy eye :thumb

Behnkeb

02-24-2005, 05:08 PM

Excellant idea!!!!!!!!!

gsjay
This will be my first rally and I really was hoping something like this would be there to start a long list of pitcures and memories.

airhead6

02-24-2005, 07:48 PM

True story, last year at AMA - Belive it or not I parked the bike next to 50 other BMW's walked over to the person(s) directing traffic and asked where the BMW tent was. They did not know and said it should be on the infield somewhere. Keep in mind BMW was hosting the thing last year and the tent was freak'en huge with an emblem the size of my car on it. We wlaked around the swap meet for an hour before I figured out where the infield was.

The most important thing to me is to have knowledgable friendly people that know what is going on and how to get there. Keep in mind hospitality, for me at least, means if I have a question or a problem, they know where it is and what I should do.
A map would be good and a list of the events and times.

As for specifics - we like the daily rides but if you don't want us to ride with you give us a map. Went on a club ride last year the destination was a cliff site about 75 miles from the rally. The guide(s) stayed 10 minutes - hopped on their bike and rode off. Thank God we had some idea of direction. I am sure someone is still sitting there wandering were the guide went.

And finally - two things you must have. Shirt sizes other than large and xx large. My wife takes a small and will buy one if you have one. And second I need a coffee mug - plastic prefered - with a hole drilled in the handle so I can clip it on what ever is handy.

Thanks
Gmac :thumb

Bob_M

02-24-2005, 11:13 PM

I bet a local independent business person in the shoe shine trade would do a land office business at the ralley. A hard working shoe shine would make some good coin and earn every penny. (my guy worked 40 minutes on my boots for $20). I think this would be a good way to spread the wealth and provide a service that is needed. Regarding west of the rockies members, I promised my boy (22 yrs, living in Philadelphia) that I would give him the silver bike and ride out east with him. We have the trip timed to coincide with the Lima ralley and we are much looking forward to it. I don't know if we are sufficiently beer crazy to represent the region, but we will give it a shot (pun intended). :clap

Motoclass

02-25-2005, 09:29 PM

I sure hope you west of the Mississippi folks can make it to Lima.

Don't worry, some of us westerners will be ridin' back to see the other side of the big muddy... Looking forward to a great Beemerville bash, too!

Chris :groovy

Kenny2

02-27-2005, 01:17 AM

Nope --- Old Salt had it right. We are working with a professional who will take a souvie picture of you and your bike in front of Beemerville.....

And put the detailer next to it.
Get the bike clean before the picture, or do the before and after.

Kenny2

03-07-2005, 11:09 PM

Is there going to be a "Teen Club" as there was at Spokane? This year I ask, I am bringing my 15 y/o daughter. :stick

Ksrob

03-08-2005, 06:53 AM

How about a hot tub vendor. A nice soak after a long ride would be nice.

Sue

03-08-2005, 09:33 AM

Is there going to be a "Teen Club" as there was at Spokane? This year I ask, I am bringing my 15 y/o daughter. :stick

You Bet! I have an enthusiastic 24 year-old BMW rider who is covering that. The teens will have an INCREDIBLE time in Beemerville....

Sue

Kenny2

03-09-2005, 08:37 PM

You Bet! I have an enthusiastic 24 year-old BMW rider who is covering that. The teens will have an INCREDIBLE time in Beemerville....

Sue

Great, at Spokane, they had a "little" water fight at the wash rack. :D Of course that was after the water balloon "toss". :thumb

The_Veg

03-09-2005, 10:23 PM

Here's another newbie question about volunteering. I want to , but may not be able to commit until shortly before making the trip. Should I speak up now or later?

Sue

03-10-2005, 09:40 AM

I want to , but may not be able to commit until shortly before making the trip. Should I speak up now or later?

Thanks for asking. This is a GREAT question. First, a little recent history: Last year we tried something different with the early arrivals: nobody was allowed on the grounds early unless they volunteered for a shift somewhere. This seemed like a great way to ensure that all of the shifts would be filled, and also opened the gates to the BMW riders on Wednesday. (as long as they promised to work a shift somewhere.)

Unfortunately, once on-grounds, many of these folks must have forgotten about their commitment because throughout the rally, the committees were left short-handed because MANY people did not show up for their shifts.

That being said, we definitely need lots of volunteers. We could not do this event without the thousands of volunteer-hours every year. But please - if you DO volunteer, please PLEASE remember to show up for your shift.

And we have some REALLY cool things in store for the volunteers this year - a little "thank-you", as it were.

So thanks in advance. This is going to be really-something!
:)