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View Full Version : Ottawa Expo/Trip (Aug 8th-10th)


Geck-co
05-22-03, 04:38 PM
Over the last few days I have been planning and looking into the possibility of having a weekend getaway from Toronto to Ottawa. Originally what sparked my interest was a visit with myself and family to Lil Rays Reptile zoo, then as I was thinking about maybe organizing a coach trip for people from the Toronto area to check out the zoo and see the Ottawa for a weekend. Well as this idea has progressed it has turned into well what I would like to think of a rather exciting weekend away. This would not be open just to people that wanted to take the trip from Toronto but also for people local to Ottawa and anyone within the area that wants to attend.

First let me explain the weekend.
Friday:
There would be a coach bus that would depart from Toronto early Friday evening. We would arrive late in Ottawa and thus nothing is planned for that evening.

Saturday:
Breakfast would be served at the hotel (see end of post for hotel amenities) eggs, bacon, sausages, fruits, muffins etc.
After Breakfast there would be time to do as you please, site seeing, relaxing.
The coach would depart just after lunch and take everyone to Lil Rays Reptile Zoo where we would spend the afternoon checking out the exhibits and herps on display (admission to the zoo would be included) (lunch not part of package)
The coach would depart from the zoo to return to the hotel for around 5pm
There would be a fully catered meal in one of the banquet/conference rooms of the hotel Following the banquet there would be guest speakers talking on various herp related topics. Still awaiting confirmation on who but I¡¦m sure there would not be any disappointments as to who was doing the talks ƒº
Following that a party would commence until around 2am (cash bar)

Sunday:
Breakfast would be served (continental breakfast)
Reptile expo would commence around 9am-10am and go until mid afternoon
Lunch would be the responsibility of the people attending
Bus would depart back to Toronto late afternoon making a stop along the way for dinner (not supplied with trip, would be persons responsibility)
And yes it is ok with the coach line to bring herps back on the bus.


The above package would run roughly $350/person (based on double occupancy) would include everything needed minus lunches on both days, dinner on the Sunday and of course any spending money you may need along the way. There will be family pricing available if you wish to bring the kids along. People under the age of 18 would need to be accompanied by an adult, this applies for the bus trip, and people under the age of 18 would be admitted to the dinner/expo without a parent.
There would be packages available for people who live in Ottawa that would like to attended the dinner/expo, as well as options for people traveling from out of town that would like to stay over night on the Sat. in the hotel. This is just in the early planning stages this post is just to see what kind of interest there would be in this event. Anyone interested in this trip/show please post your interest here, if you have any further questions please email or pm me info@geck-co.com (any venders interested in setting up a table please contact me as well) Thank you for reading the long read ļ look forward to some feedback.

Hotel Amenities:



Fitness Center:

- Indoor heated pool
- Men¡¦s and women¡¦s saunas
- Change room/lockers ( no additional charge)
- Tread mills
- Rowing machines
- Elliptical machine
- Lifecycles
- Stair climbers
- Free weights
- Pacific fitness Gym

Childrens Creative Center:

- playroom and area for children of any age accompanies by their parents
- 115¡¦ heated indoor water slide
- indoor heated pool
- arts and crafts, games, toys,movies, puzzles and free Nintendo


Indoor parking
Dry cleaning
Babysitting services on site
Downtown Ottawa location

HeatherRose
05-22-03, 05:37 PM
WOW Adam, that sounds great! It'd be a great, fun/herp-filled weekend :D

I only have one question, but others might have the same:

How much would it run for everything (hotel, dinner, etc) if I don't need to bus here, seeing as I live here?

Geck-co
05-22-03, 06:58 PM
To answer your question heather, there will be various different packages available (if this happens) right now I just want to see what kind of interest there is in this kind of a event. If you wanted to stay both nights at the hotel and do everything minus the bus to and from Toronto it would roughly be $265/person (these are all rough numbers but they would not be higher)

Dom
05-22-03, 09:29 PM
what about if. I live in Ottawa .. I sleep at my house and I get free entry at the zoo as I work there lol .. whats my fee lol

Best f luck .. I hope u have a blast!

Mardy
05-23-03, 06:28 AM
What do you mean by reptile expo??

Sounds great, I'm from Ottawa and would do what I can. Great to have you southerners up here.

Mardy

Steve
05-23-03, 06:30 AM
Thats what I was wondering...I'm from ottawa, so what expo? I haven't heard of any expo going on here...

katev17
05-23-03, 07:14 AM
Nice, whatever it is, I'm in... I'll take what I can without having to spend money on transportation and accomodation! WOOHOO Go Ottawa... y'know, I hear Orleans is nice in the month of August... *cough, cough*...

Kate

HeatherRose
05-23-03, 07:55 AM
Okay Adam, it sounds great still....

Kate, come to the hotel! It'll be great...:D

And no it isn't! :O lol j/k...sure it is :(

katev17
05-23-03, 09:05 AM
Alright well first off: Free Nintendo, I'm there. Although, we COULD all just pack into MY house and have free nintendo! :p

Secondly, so is the stuff going on in the hotel only open to people actually STAYING in that hotel? (Just wondering cuz it would kind of rule to not have to pay for a hotel)

Kate

ReptiZone
05-23-03, 11:52 AM
that is assome you can count me and snake lady in we will be where you need us.....LOL

Dom
05-23-03, 01:01 PM
thinking about it .. what do u mean by expo? Theres nothing going on here .. well as far as I know?

Matt_K
05-23-03, 01:26 PM
I believe that Adam is planning an Expo IN the Hotel.. From what he told me, the Hotel has already given him permission to hold an Expo there!! As far as i know, the Expo will be put on by Adam and Catherine!!

BAZ
05-23-03, 01:32 PM
That would be coo if a bunch of you came down to visit us at Little Rays in Ottawa

Geck-co
05-23-03, 01:48 PM
To clear up some confusion that may be happening for everyone. This is something that is in the very early process of happening, not even sure it will happen. It’s a idea I came up with over the last few days and figured I would see if anyone would be interested in such a event happening. So as far as people wondering about what expo, well right now there is not a expo planed but I'm in the process of looking into this whole event happening. Matt is right, myself and Catherine would be planning the expo along with the help of a few other people. I do not want to mention who as I'm still in the process of working everything out. So this is what could be a great event I was just looking to see if there was any interest for such a event, and yes I do have permission to hold the expo in the hotel :D

Now Kate as you where asking about having to stay in the hotel or not to take part. Basically what would happen is there would be different prices available. For example if you live in the area and just want to attend the dinner/conference/party and expo there would be one price. If you wanted to add a room for just that night there would be another package. If you wanted to take the bus trip and come in from Toronto there is that price. This would be flexible but as I said its in the early process of being planned it may not even happen if there is no interest.

Hope that answers the questions that have been brought up so far. Any more questions or suggestions feel free to PM myself or post them here. May be changing the weekend to the weekend following the Daytona expo as one of the speakers I wanted to invite for this is unable to attended the 8-10th due to leaving early for the Daytona expo. So far I have spoken with two speakers, Neil Miester and Ron Tremper. I'm also working on trying to get a few other speakers as well.

katev17
05-23-03, 03:26 PM
Thanks Adam, I guess we'll all just wait and let everything fall into place as you plan it further... That does answer my question!

Well... What's the age limit for the children's center? lol :P free nintendooo....

Keep us all updated !!! It's sounding better every day :)

Kate

SerpentLust
05-24-03, 11:00 PM
That sounds amazing! Keep on planning! :D

Jenn