Here are some helpful details in preparing for the CHART Conference. Of course, if your question isn't answered here, we invite you to email us any time - we're happy to help!

Logistics

When should I arrive and depart?

  • Activities for the conference begin on Sunday. If you are participating in any of the Sunday pre-conference workshops or the service event, you will need to arrive Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
  • The First Time Attendee Meeting is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm on Sunday and is very strongly recommended for attendees who have never attended a CHART conference. Details on the meeting are listed below.
  • The conference ends at 12:00 pm on Wednesday.

What should I wear?

  • Attire during the conference sessions is business casual.  A sweater or jacket is recommended as some meeting rooms get chilly with the air conditioning.
  • If attending the Sunday service event, bring sneakers and casual work clothes. If attending the Monday night event, feel free to dress casually, and remember to bring socks for bowling!
  • The attire for our Tuesday night dinner is also casual.

What should I bring?

  • Business Cards! You will need at least 25 of them for the Resource Gallery prizes and more to share with attendees that you meet.


How do I volunteer to help?

  • CHART is an almost all-volunteer organization and the success of our conferences depends on attendees’ “I can do that” spirit to take on various tasks during the event. Additionally, those attendees who accept volunteer assignments receive additional opportunities to network, are more engaged, and get more out of their CHART experience (plus an extra ribbon for their name badge)!
  • Volunteer sign-ups open two weeks before the conference. Check your inbox for an email from our Volunteer Directors with all the open assignments and instructions for how you can get involved. When the link is open, you can log in to sign up for the activity (registration table, stuffing name tags, working at the hospitality suite, etc.) and time you want to help, but check back as we add more activities even as the conference goes on.

Where do I go to check-in for the conference once on-site?

  • Our conference registration table will open at 2:00 pm on Sunday and you may collect your conference notebook, name tag, and important information there. The table will be open until 6:00 pm that evening and will re-open at 7:00 am on Monday morning.
  • If you are planning to arrive after 5:30 pm on Sunday, join us in the opening reception before 7:00 pm, or in the Hospitality Suite between 9:00 pm and midnight. If you are arriving very late, registration and continental breakfast start at 7:00 am Monday.

What meals will be offered at the conference?

  • Please note: these details may change as we get closer to the conference!
  • Opening Reception – On Sunday evening, very light appetizers will be served at the opening reception, and everyone will receive one free drink ticket (after that it will be a cash bar- no credit cards can be accepted at this event). After the reception, you will have the option to sign up for one of the Common Table Dinner Groups or go to dinner on your own.
  • Optional Common Table Dinner Groups – On Sunday evening, join eight to ten other attendees to go to dinner together at one of six local restaurants. Sign-up options will be at registration. This is a great way for new attendees (and long-term members) who do not have dinner plans to start networking early, meet new people, explore some of the exceptional restaurants nearby, and still get back in time to hit the hospitality suite.
  • Breakfasts - Monday,  Tuesday, and Wednesday there will be a light continental breakfast offered before sessions start.
  • Off The CHART Lunch - For all to attend! At this Monday lunch, we briefly celebrate our CHART volunteers in a fun atmosphere. We will take a moment to show appreciation for those who make it all happen. From the person who handed you your name tag to our Conference Team to our Regional Training Forum directors, we will give them a round of applause and then attendees can eat lunch, chat, network, and still have time to go back to your room to relax or return some emails.
  • Resource Gallery and Reception - Add tools to your toolbox and build your list of resources who provide quality industry training solutions during this highly-attended Monday afternoon exposition and reception. Not your typical vendor expo, this one features exciting prizes, high-quality networking, and introductions to member-recommended partners. Hosted beer, wine, and soda.
  • Monday Night Event - On Monday evening you can continue networking with members during this fun event. This event is part of your registration - there is no additional cost for full conference attendees. In Las Vegas, we will be enjoying a fun evening at Brooklyn Bowl! One drink ticket will be included for all attendees.
  • Tuesday Lunch - On Tuesday, lunch will be on your own, and a list of nearby restaurant options will be provided once on-site. There are also options within the hotel if you want to just grab something quickly and check emails in your room before afternoon sessions start.
  • Hospitality Suite  - Join us in the hospitality suite Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights from 9:00 PM to Midnight(ish) to relax and network at the end of each long day.

How do I get the conference App?

  • Get the free and friendly conference app that puts all of the details of the conference in the palm of your hand: Full agenda, room changes, list of attendees, and the ability to communicate and network before, during, and after the conference.
  • Download Whova which will be launched about a month before the conference.  
  • Use the email address you used when you registered, or sign up using a social media account.
  • Already have Whova installed? Simply log in using your existing account email and password. CHART Las Vegas should come up in your event options if you registered with the same email. (If you are having trouble, contact us.)
Get Whova Now



How do I modify my registration?

Event and Special Feature Descriptions

What is the service event?

  • The CHART service event is a great way to start your networking while giving back to the community that will be hosting our conference.
  • The service event takes place Sunday morning. In Las Vegas, we are partnering with The Chef Jeff Project, a non-profit organization that seeks to provide culinary, hospitality, and life skills training for disenfranchised youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those seeking a fair chance. 
  • Learn more and sign up here.

What are the pre-conference workshops?

  • These workshops take place on Sunday morning and afternoon and are add-ons for people that are coming in early and want to take advantage of additional learning opportunities.
  • At 8:00am is the Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT) Review and Exam from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). Please note that applications for the exam need to be sent in by the end of January. There is an additional fee (discounted for CHART) paid directly to AHLEI.   
  • Starting at 12:30, the National Restaurant Association is offering the ServSafe Online Course and Exam. Additional details and cost will be announced.
  • If you are interested in attending any of these sessions and did not sign up for them during registration, please reach out to Allison. She will be able to answer questions and help you add sessions to your registration.

What is the First Time Attendee meeting?

  • CHART is a unique, personal, active association of members, and we want to make sure that trainers who attend a conference for the first time understand how the sessions will go, how to get the most out of their three days, and give them an opportunity to meet people early and feel comfortable networking right from the start. The First Time Attendee meeting is for anyone attending a CHART conference for the first time, and we will have some senior members attending as well to provide their perspective.
  • The meeting will take place at 4:00 pm on Sunday. It will end at 5:30 pm, just in time for the opening reception.

Are First Time Attendees invited to all the sessions?

  • First Time Attendees are most definitely encouraged to attend all of the different education sessions, activities, resource gallery, and the hospitality suite.

How do the competency tracks and breakouts work?

  • There are three rounds of Competency workshops offered. Each workshop is 4 hours long and there are four tracks offered simultaneously (Trainer, Instructional Designer, Manager, and Executive...but don’t get too caught up in the track title - they are all relevant to all trainers).
  • Breakouts are offered at the same time as the competency workshops, so you can choose a breakout INSTEAD of a competency workshop in any round. See the Agenda for a quick visual of the schedule or the Session Details for more information.
  • Participants who complete all three workshops in one track receive a pin and can print a certificate showing that the track was completed. You can complete all three in this conference, or take workshops from different tracks here and complete a track, receive your pin, and print your certificate at a later conference.
  • Materials must be printed at least two weeks before the conference, so review the workshops now and choose which ones you want to take to avoid last-minute changes.

What is the hospitality suite?

  • Your CHART experience will not be complete without spending some time here! The hospitality suite is where attendees get together at the end of each day to relax, play games, catch up, and get to know each other personally in a casual setting. After a day of intense learning, join us in the hospitality suite to look over CHART photo albums, play Jenga, have a cocktail, and share casual conversations.
  • It is the perfect place for attendees to spend a little more time together and form the lasting friendships that are going to help you build your training network throughout the years to come.
  • All attendees are welcome and encouraged to come on in!
  • The suite will open at 9:00 pm on Sunday and Monday and at 10:00 pm on Tuesday.   

Get the most out of your time

How do I connect with CHART on social media?

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Whova - see link above!
#CHARTTrainers

What are the best tips for getting the most out of my time at CHART?

  • Start by downloading Whova, our conference app, so all the information you will need on-site will be readily available at your fingertips. It’s available from the Apple or Google Play stores, and once logged in, you will want to look for the CHART 101 conference.
  • Prior to the conference, think about your current training goals: what types of objectives are you trying to achieve, and in which areas do you need additional guidance? With a little forethought, you will be better prepared to attend the sessions best for you and ask the right questions of your fellow conference participants.
  • Once you know your goals, review the conference agenda to determine the specific competencies or breakout sessions you would like to attend. You will need to go with a game plan.
  • Split up! If you are traveling with another person from your company, wave goodbye to them as soon as you get to the conference. Attend different sessions, sit at different tables in the main room, and meet different people – you can always compare notes when you get back home. You are paying multiple conference fees and should have multiple conference experiences, so don’t spend the entire conference chatting with someone you already know.
  • At the educational sessions, instead of copying down exactly what the speakers are saying, think about how their strategies, tips, or suggestions could be helpful to you and your company. These are the notes that will be most beneficial once you return home.
  • Take notes directly on the Conference Takeaway Report Form so you have a complete report of all the best takeaways for your use or to share with co-workers or supervisors upon your return.
  • Make sure to take advantage of all of the networking opportunities possible, especially the Monday night event and the hospitality suites.
  • Bring plenty of business cards -dozens!- for the networking sessions. When you exchange cards with others, write down the subject of your conversation on the back for future reference. Then, once you return home, you will have a resource for calling other trainers to continue discussions on your topics of interest.
  • Stop by the Resource Gallery and check out the vendors inside. All of these companies have been recommended by CHART members, so you know you will be seeing only the best products available on the market. And stick around for the traditional prize giveaway at the end (another reason to bring plenty of business cards)… you must be present to win!
  • If possible, try to leave any work behind at the office so you can fully participate in the CHART experience. Sometimes this cannot be helped, of course, but the more time you are able to devote to the conference, the more you will get out of it.
  • Do nothing alone! Even if you are just heading off for a quick snack somewhere, invite a fellow trainer to come along with you so you can talk about your topics of interest. You never know when you will find someone who can help you (or whom you can help)!