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Frequently Asked Questions

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!

Would you rather watch our FAQs instead of read them? Check out our Conferences and Competencies FAQs Playlist for a selection of short, informative videos in one place.

HOW TO PREPARE

When should I arrive and depart?

• Activities for the conference begin in the afternoon of the first conference day. If you are participating in the Service Event, you may need to arrive the night before, as the Service Event typically starts early in the morning, before any of the other conference events.
• The First Time Attendee Meeting is very strongly recommended for attendees who have never attended a CHART conference. Details on the meeting are listed in the “What to Expect” section HERE.
• The registration table will be open in the afternoon on the first day of the conference. If you are planning to arrive later, join us in the opening reception or in the Hospitality Suite (see agenda). If you are arriving very late, registration opens bright and early the following morning, followed by a light, continental breakfast.
• Even after the Hospitality Training Competency Workshops conclude, attendees are HIGHLY encouraged to stay for the final dinner and celebration event. Round out the networking and bonding at the hospitality suite afterward, and you will leave the conference with new friends and industry contacts that can last a lifetime. 
• Optional post-conference workshops may be offered the following morning. See the agenda for details as these sessions are confirmed.

How do I get the conference App?

• Search CHARTtrainers in your app store or click here to download the free and friendly 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.
• Use your email address and CHART Member Login password to sign in. Contact us if you get stuck.
• Not a CHART member? Not a problem! You will still be able to log in and have access to all of the conference information. (You just won’t be able to access the member-only areas of the app like Ask My Peers and our Membership Directory).

Registration important dates and which workshops/sessions should I choose?

• Early registration ends about 5 weeks before the conference. Register before this date to receive a discount on the member or non-member rate. (See the fee schedule HERE and our refund policy HERE.)
• Be sure to reserve your lodging well in advance of the conference. Get the special CHART conference rate at our hotel HERE. The room block closes February 2, but it may fill up sooner.
• When registering, you will be asked to choose the workshop you plan to attend in each 4-hour session block, which we refer to as "rounds." There are 3 rounds in the Winter Conference. The workshops and rounds are set up so that you can complete a full track during the conference, by taking one workshop from that track in each round. If you prefer to pick-and-choose workshops from multiple tracks, you can, as long as the workshops you choose are offered in different rounds. You can also choose to attend the Alternate Breakouts INSTEAD of a Competency Workshop in any given round. (For a full explanation of how the Hospitality Training Competency Program works, and what we mean by "track," click HERE. To see the Conference Agenda, click HERE.)
• Participant materials for the workshops must be printed at least three weeks before the conference, so review the schedule of workshops and breakouts now and choose which ones you want to take to avoid last-minute changes.

How do I modify my registration?

• Email us at [email protected]. We're happy to help!

How do I connect with CHART on social media?

Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
CHART App
@CHARTtrainers #CHARTTrainers

Who else is attending?

Get excited about collaborating and networking with some of the best and brightest in hospitality training! Look forward to seeing your old friends and contacts, and making some new ones! You never know when you will meet the person who may impact the trajectory of your professional life, OR becomes such a close personal friend that you couldn't imaging a time before you knew them. Check out your fellow registrants HERE to see the list of people you know (or want to know!) who are attending.

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 about 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.

WHAT TO BRING

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 Service Event, bring sneakers and casual work clothes. The Off-site Social Event is typically casual dress, as well.
• The attire for our final night celebration dinner is festive casual - some people choose to dress up, but you are welcome to come-as-you-are.

Don't forget!

• To bring plenty of business cards! You will need at least 25 of them for the Resource Gallery prizes and more to share with attendees that you meet.

Lanyard/Pins

• Many attendees bring their lanyard and conference pins collected from other CHART conferences, as well as their CHART member pin, milestone pin(s) (5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year), competency track and program completion pins, etc. You will see some truly aspirational lanyards weighing down the necks of long-time CHART members! But don't worry if you don't have one (or forget to bring it), we'll get you started with a fresh lanyard and a conference pin to start your collection!

What To Expect

• 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.
• The MasterClass in each track helps to make the training stick. Only available to those who have completed all three of the workshops within a role, these in-depth, interactive masterclasses further hone participants’ skills in a group setting where you practice and get feedback from your peers.
• Materials must be printed at least three weeks before the conference, so review the workshops now and choose which ones you want to take to avoid last-minute changes.

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

• Our conference registration table will open on the afternoon of the first conference day, and you may collect your name tag and important information there. The table will be open until the welcome reception starts (see agenda), and will re-open at the following morning when breakfast begins. If you are arriving late, you can just join us at the opening reception or Hospitality Suite and formally sign-in in the morning.

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.
• We have a long history of kicking off conferences with a service event - we have done more than 40 of them so far! (View past service events.)
• The service event typically takes place the first morning of the conference before sessions begin. Usually about 9:00 am - noon (-ish), though this might change from conference to conference.
• More information will be announced as details are confirmed.

• What is the After Hours Meet-Up (Hospitality Suite)?

  • Your CHART experience will not be complete without spending some time here! This event 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 suite or bar 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 Meet-Up starts around 9:00 or 9:30 pm on each night of the conference.

What is the Resource Gallery?

• Add tools to your toolbox and build your list of resources who provide quality industry training solutions during this highly-attended Sunday afternoon exposition and reception.
• Not your typical vendor expo, this one features exciting prizes, high-quality networking, and introductions to member-recommended partners.
• Bring your business cards to enter drawings!
• Hosted beer, wine, and soda.

What are the Common Table Dinner Groups?

• On the first evening of the conference, 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.

What is the Training High Five?

• Get simple (and yet sometimes blindingly obvious) solutions from our High 5 member company winners as they share their most effective training ideas and strategies. You will be able to easily implement these tactics that help trainers achieve learning objectives and improve the overall performance of employees. (Submit your idea here or view previous years' Training High 5 eBooks.)

What meals will be offered at the conference?

• Please note: these details may change as we get closer to the conference.
• We will share the full menu/food list with all attendees about a week before the conference!
• Opening Reception – On the first day of the conference, 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). 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.
• Breakfasts – there will be a light continental breakfast offered before sessions start on the two full days of the conference.
• Day 2 Lunch — is provided onsite and will be interactive.
• Resource Gallery and Reception - Hosted beer, wine, and soda.
• Evening Offsite Event- 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.
• Day 3 Lunch - The last full day of the conference, lunch will be on your own, and a list of nearby restaurant options will be provided once on-site. There are also typically options within the hotel if you want to just grab something quickly and check emails in your room before afternoon sessions start.
• Celebration dinner and entertainment on the final day of the conference.
• Hospitality Suite - Join us in the hospitality suite each night from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm to relax and network at the end of each long day.

WHAT DO FIRST TIME ATTENDEES NEED TO KNOW?
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 in the afternoon of Day 1 of the conference, before the opening keynote. All First Time Attendees are highly encouraged to attend.

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.

Get Your CHT Recertification Points by Attending CHART.

• Keep track of your documentation before it’s time to renew! You need a total of 50 points, every 5 years. The point breakdown for each CHART activity is as follows:

• 1 point	per day	Conference attendance
  3 points	per seminar	Competency workshops count toward this, in lieu of the 1 point per day of conference attendance
  1 point	per year	CHART membership
  5 points	per year	CHART board member
  4 points	per presentation	Competency and breakout presenters

• Start by downloading the CHART App, our conference and membership 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. Click here for more details and direct links to download.
• 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 Sunday 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)!

If you have any additional questions or need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are always happy to help!