Some of the local NSWW planning group just got back from a tour of the new Norman Embassy Suites and Conference Center. Despite the somewhat currently lonely location for the Norman Embassy Suites (it is in an area that the city of Norman has big development plans for) the facility is brand spanking new and top-notch! If you can stay there, I would highly recommend it. If you can’t make up the difference between the room rate and per diem, there are other options here: http://www.visitnorman.com/default.aspx?page=62

The conference facility is very nice and NSWW09 will have a large general session room (seating for about 300), a vendor area directly adjacent to the general session room, and four breakout session rooms across the hallway. The banquet hall also seats about 300 with round tables and all 3 buffet-style lunches (included with 3-day registration) will be provided in that room, right around the corner from the conference/vendor/breakout rooms. The evening banquet ($20/person) on Thursday will also be in the same banquet room as the lunches (based on current information and scheduling). At this time we hope to set up the general session room with about 150 seats in rows and another 150 seats with narrow tables (these would be in the front half of the room). There will probably be only one very large projection screen at the front of this general session room but from what we saw this should work just fine. Obviously, if attendance estimates exceed 300 we will be altering some of these room plans.

Other amenities at Embassy include an indoor pool and great exercise facility. The restaurant menu looks very good. The breakfast area is nice and breakfast is complimentary if you are staying at Embassy, ~$13 otherwise if you want to come in early before the general sessions start. The happy hour is also complimentary from what I understand.

This is going to be a great workshop so I hope you can make it.