The excitement is building and your conference team is putting the finishing touches on their preparations for you to experience the best HR Florida State conference ever.
The following logistical information will also be helpful as you prepare to attend the conference. More info can also be found on throughout the website.
MOBILE APP – HR Florida attendees can now access session descriptions, speaker bios, speaker presentations, speaker evaluations, detailed exhibitor information, create a customized conference schedule and so much more – right from a smartphone, tablet or computer! To access the mobile app, go to http://eventmobi.com/hrfl2015/
HOTEL – The times for check-in at the Hilton Bonnet Creek will be 4:00 pm and check-out will be at 11:00 am. In the event that you have to cancel your hotel room, please note that the Hilton Bonnet Creek has a (5) day cancellation policy. Cancellations made less than 5 days out will be charged a one night’s room and tax penalty. Hotel address is 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, Florida 32821. From I-4, take exit #67 (toward Epcot/Downtown Disney). Merge onto Epcot Center Road (0.7 miles). Take the first exit to Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon (0.30 miles). At traffic light, make a left onto Buena Vista Drive (0.2 miles). At the next light, turn left onto Chelonia Parkway (1.1 miles). Turn right onto Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Hilton Bonnet Creek is the first hotel on your right. More detailed directions can be found at http://www.
PARKING – Both valet parking and self-parking are available at Hilton Bonnet Creek. For self-parking, drive past Hilton Bonnet Creek and you will find the parking garage on your right, before you reach the Waldorf Astoria. Self-parking is available at the discounted rate of $5/day. The parking garage connects to Hilton Bonnet Creek on the 2nd level. Valet parking is available at the entrance to the hotel for a higher fee.
ATTIRE – Conference dress is business casual. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Also, while the August climate in Orlando is quite warm we encourage you to bring a sweater or jacket as the meeting rooms at the hotel may be cool.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS – There is still time to register for one of the 6 pre-conference sessions being held this year. Click here to review these sessions. To add on to an existing registration, please email marty.bryson@hrflorida.org.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM DOWNLOADS – Concurrent session presentations will be available to download on the HR Florida Mobile App one week prior to the conference at http://eventmobi.com/hrfl2015/
ATTEND ORIENTATION – If you are a first-time attendee or just want to learn how to maximize your 2015 HR Florida Conference experience, attend Conference Orientationon Sunday at 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm in Citrus. Discover all the conference has to offer; create a format that fits your personal needs and design a plan of action to make the most of your conference experience!
EXPO HALL GRAND OPENING RECEPTION – Take advantage of the Expo Hall Grand Opening Reception on Monday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Find a great assortment of vendors offering the latest HR products and services and network with your HR colleagues from across the state.
FLEXIBLE LUNCH SCHEDULE – Concurrent sessions run throughout the entire day. As a result, lunch is available over a two-hour time period. Attendees have a choice to attend EARLY LUNCH at 11:45 am or LATE LUNCH at 1:00 pm, alleviating a lunch rush. The intent is to create a more pleasant experience allowing attendees to enjoy a leisurely lunch and more time for face-to-face interaction with exhibitors. If you wish to obtain the maximum 16 general recertification credits, you must attend 7:00 amsessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, sessions during both lunch hours each day and keynote sessions on Monday and Wednesday. There is a minimum of 15 minutes between each session, so it’s possible to grab lunch on the go. You must have a ticket for lunch which is included in your registration. Extra lunch tickets can be purchased at the registration desk onsite or click here to purchase online.
TUESDAY NIGHT “LATIN NIGHT” – Get ready to relax, let your hair down and get your party on ! Please join us Tuesday for Latin Night in The Salsa Room at the HR Florida Conference sponsored by Right Management. Don’t know how to salsa – no problem. We will have dance instructors for the novices and a dance contest for the pros! Select your dance partner and perfect your moves now! DJ Jim is back and the newest & most exciting entertainment collaboration has arrived – Latin Ambition!!! From Canada to Latin America, from the West Coast to the East these entertainers have been featured on some of the most prominent stages in the industry including the Rio, Beau Rivage, Island View, and Tropicana Casinos, Miller-Coors Superbowl events, Pleasure Island, GTMO, Disney World, & Atlantis where the audiences could be sure of one thing – Latin Am¬bition leaves them wanting more! So whether you are a natural on the dance floor, or just coming for the entertainment, we hope to see you Tuesday for all the fun and excitement you have come to know at HR Florida. You must be 21 years old or older to attend. Additional tickets are available for $85.00, click here to purchase.
EXPO HALL ONLY – Badges can be purchased for one day, expo hall only, for $50 at the registration desk onsite at the conference or click here to purchase online.
CHARITY/HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA – Each year, we partner with a charitable organization in order for our attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors to have an opportunity to give back. In 2015, we are proud to partner with Harbor House of Central Florida. Harbor House opened its doors in 1976 as a safe haven for survivors of domestic abuse and is the only state-certified shelter operating in Orange County, Florida. The agency has evolved into one of the most comprehensive domestic abuse centers in the U.S. and is considered a national leader in domestic abuse intervention, awareness and prevention. In addition to the Emergency Shelter, the Outreach program provides services including counseling, safety planning and community-based housing for hundreds of families. It is the only domestic abuse center in the state of Florida with both a licensed daycare and a kennel, which aligns with the holistic approach of wrap-around services that ensues all family members can be safe and can heal and thrive.Click here to donate.
EXPO HALL – We’ve assembled an array of vendors exhibiting a wide range of innovative HR-related products and services to make your work life easier. Visit the Expo Hall on Monday beginning at 11:00 am, stay for lunch and come back often!
HR FLORIDA BOOTH #133 – Visit with some of the Executive Council, District Directors and our Conference Team in the HR Florida booth this year. Find out more about local chapter membership, make a donation to the Harbor House or just stop by to network with us!
SHRMStore – The SHRMStore will be conveniently located in the Bonnet Creek West Foyer outside of the General Session. Visit the SHRMStore for the latest collection of HR-specific books, DVDs, software, accessories and more! Take advantage of conference specials and attend author book signings. A book signing schedule will be posted in the bookstore area. Once you’ve made your selections, get free shipping on all orders of $25.00 or more. (Cannot be combined with any offers. Online and onsite orders only excluding signed copies of books. For online orders, enter HRFL15S at checkout. Domestic shipping only. Expires September 3, 2015. Not valid with Learning System orders.)
SOCIAL MEDIA – Tweeting from sessions is encouraged, #HRFL15.
HR FLORIDA MONDAY NIGHT SOCIAL – After the Grand Opening Reception in the Expo Hall from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, head over to the Beech Bar for the Monday night social from 8:00pm – 10:00pm. It is a time to relax, unwind, have a drink and a bite to eat with friends old and new. Our own Conference Emcee Jim Knight will be there to hang out with us. Remember to bring his book & he will autograph it for you there. Also, DJ Jim will be taking requests so you can hear your favorites! Beech is the pool-side bar & grille featuring appetizers, fresh salads and sandwiches
BLOG – Tweeting from sessions is encouraged, #HRFL15. Follow the HR Florida blog atHR Mouth of the South http://
DINING OPTIONS – The Hilton offers 6 dining outlets and bars and the connected Waldorf offers 6 additional options plus in-room dining for breakfast, coffee, snacks and dinner. Learn more: http://www.hiltonbonnetcreek.
THEME PARK TICKETS – Bringing the family or interested in hitting the theme parks while you are in town? Click here for discount ticket information.
SPEAKER EVALUATIONS – This year we are proud to partner with EventMobi for online speaker evaluations on our mobile app at http://eventmobi.com/hrfl2015/
On behalf of the entire Conference Team, thank you for choosing to attend the 2015 HR Florida Conference & Expo! So many speakers, sponsors and volunteers come together to make this a premier event for HR professionals – we hope you enjoy it!
Your 2015 HR Florida Conference & Expo Team