Frequently Asked Questions

A: Ace Hotel, New Orleans

http://www.acehotel.com/neworleans

600 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Just blocks from bustling Bourbon Street, a 1928 Art Deco building has been reborn as the Ace Hotel, which recently opened last spring. The hotel sits at the corner of Carondelet and Lafayette streets, a few blocks in either direction from the Superdome and the Mississippi River. It’s also a 15-minute bus ride, or less than a mile’s walk, to Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. (Translation: you are close to all the FUN!)

A: Wednesday, March 8th – Friday, March 10th

Regular run of program concludes at 4pm on Friday, with optional evening activities to follow. You may either go home after 4pm on Friday or on Saturday morning.

 

 

 

 

A: Pre-event registration can be done from the event website at 

http://invision.executivegrouptravel.com/registration

 

A: Yes – for a couple of important reasons:

1. We want to make sure you arrived safe and sound.
2. You’ll need to fetch your badge. This is your ticket for meals and entry into our social events planned for the week. Don’t leave home (er your hotel) without it.

 

 

 

 

 

A: Come say hello and grab your badge at the Ace Suite, room number #902

 

A: Please slack Jessi Thorp and she'll get you set up with a new one. You can pick it up at the Info desk in the pre-function space. 

A:  InVision has negotiated a group rate for our stay at the Ace from Wednesday, March 8th - Saturday, March 11th (unless otherwise noted by your manager). To secure these killer rates, we are submitting a master rooming list to the hotel by Monday, 2/13. If you need to extend pre/post event, we can help you make those arrangement at the Ace, but you will need to personally cover those expenses. Please do not book your rooms directly with the hotel. If you have questions about your stay, please instead contact danapake@invisionapp.com or sadie@invisionapp.com

 

A:  The room rate is for Saturday night is a steal of a deal at $289/night plus applicable taxes. Rack rate at the Ace for Saturday night stay is currently sitting at $489++.

A:  Sure thing. If you would like to change the dates of your stay at the Ace Hotel, please contact danapake@invisionapp.com or sadie@invisionapp.com and we'll button things up for you.   Friendly reminder that you are responsible for the room fees for extensions not otherwise approved by your manager.

A:  Check-in time at the Ace is 3pm. If you arrive before that time, you can check to see if they might have a room available earlier for you. If not, you can store your bags with the bellman and either work/hang-out in the hotel lobby or one of the restaurant outlets. Checkout time is 12pm - with late checkout at 2pm (when available).

 

At check-in you will be asked to provide a credit card for incidentals.  If you choose to use a debit card for incidentals, a hold for a small amount will be taken at check-in and released at check-out.  If this will be a problem, please reach out to Dana Pake @ danapake@invisionapp.com to discuss an alternate solution before arrival.

A:  Hotel confirmations and final roommate assignments should hit your inboxes no later than Wednesday, February 22d.

 

 

 

A: You can still opt to upgrade to a single room at $338 for the 3 nights (at your expense). We would need your final decision no later than Tuesday February 14th or the assignment you received will remain unchanged.

 

 

 

 

A: Tipping is at your discretion but highly recommended. A suggested $1-$5/day should be left daily in the "Maid Tip" envelope supplied in your room. 

A: Hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, tea kettle, mini-bar, robes, iron & ironing board, full size fridge and freezer. 

A:  Airfare needs to be booked no later than Thursday, 2/9. If you are traveling from the SFO or NYC area, Aby Marco is your lady to help you finalize those details. Folks traveling from all other parts of the country (and the globe for that matter!) will book tickets on your own and submit for reimbursement. Please book your travel to arrive no later than 6pm to the hotel on March 8th and depart after 5pm on Friday, March 10th.

A: You can choose to fly to/from alternate destinations on the weekend before or after but any additional flight costs will be your responsibility. InVision is covering to/from your home location, which is what is allocated in the budget.

A:  Don’t feel bad. Everybody has some. But for the kind you need to check, we ask that you try to keep luggage to the carry-on type to help save on cost. If you need to absolutely check luggage, please let Sadie and Dana know so we can track this in the budget.

A: It’s easy peasy in the Big Easy - catch a ride with either Uber or Lyft to get you where you need to go.  You will catch your uber or Lyft at the Transportation Center across from baggage claim 6.  Be sure to try and find three other buddies to ride share with and order yourselves an XL car.

A: InVision will cover the change for cost of flights missed due to acts of God, emergencies or accidents beyond your control and family emergencies.

A:  Good news! InVision has you covered! Everything from your hotel to airfare, ground transportation to meals and snacks and even coffee – it’s all taken care of for you. You really shouldn’t have to pull your wallet out for anything. But we know some things may come up. You have an additional per diem of $25/day to cover incidentals.  (Don’t be tempted by those mini bar munchies - one bag of chips will just about eat up your allowance for the day.) Anything above and beyond that $25/day spend will be your responsibility. Have something extenuating come up? Please ask your manager for an exception and notify Dana and Sadie of this extra spend.

Make sure to note IRL17 on each expense for your report. 

A: Typically, if expenses are submitted by the 5th of the month, managers have until the 8th to approve, and your dough is included in your 15th paycheck. Due to the anticipated high volume of expenses, reimbursements may be a little delayed.

Make sure to note IRL17 on each expense for your report. 

A:       Itinerary

 

A: Friday is completely optional.  If you opt out of social events for Friday, no need for you to stay until Saturday. Go ahead and book your return ticket home for 3/10. If you can’t make the other evening events due to illness please let your manager and Dana and Sadie know. Remember that the point of this event is to create alignment across the organization as we lay the plan to crush 2017, and it’s a unique opportunity to get to know your teammates. We have planned these events with a guaranteed number in mind. Should you opt out for any other reason other than illness or manager approved scenario, you won’t be able to expense your meals or drinks for that evening.

A: We promise we won’t leave you in the dark. And we promise we won’t share fake news or #alternativefacts. Keep your peepers open for updates via the InVision IRL Google Group, the #invision-irl-nola slack channel, emails as well as the latest updates on the website section.

A:  

Wear your badge at all times to all events and meetings. If it's around your neck, you won't lose it!

Meetings: Why, your InVision tshirts and socks of course! But really, wear what makes you comfortable and ready to learn and connect with your teammates.  Meeting room temperatures are cool, but March in New Orleans can be on the warmer side. Think layers so you can be comfortable no matter the conditions.

A: Wish we could say, “the more the merrier” in this case, but InVision IRL is an employee-only event. We want to make sure you get the most out of this event and are 100% focused on program activities.

A: We love kittens and puppy dogs as much as the next guy. If you have a service animal, let Dana or Sadie know. Otherwise, fur babies have to stay at home with the real babies, too.

A:  Pack clothes for cool and warm weather and a light weight jacket or sweater, comfortable walking shoes (we’ll be hoofing it to some offsite events), your laptop, power supplies and your favorite mechanism for taking notes. And don’t forget to pack your positive attitudes and radiant smiles, too!

A: CVS | 939 Girod St Suite 160 | 504.581.6959

A: Tulane Medical Center | 1415 Tulane Ave | 504.988.5263 (.7miles away from The Ace)

A: Only 1 Block Away!  Rouses Market - 701 Baronne Street || Food, Wine and Spirits Open 6am until Midnight.

A:  There is an ATM on site at the ACE but it will take an extra $8 out of your checking account per transaction. Please plan accordingly and show up with cash to save yourself some hefty fees. 

A:  Yes, the interwebs is at your fingertips – free of charge – both in the meeting spaces and in your sleeping rooms at the Ace NOLA.

A: For any outstanding questions, please contact Dana Pake or Sadie Short.

A:  We are so stoked to have you in NOLA for this first-ever IRL kickoff event! We need your help in making this a knock-your-socks off program in order to bring more face-to-face internal meetings to InVision. So, help us out by showing up on time, being prepared, being present and engaged and sticking to the schedule. Don’t be selfish - freely share those helpful thoughts and ideas. And spend your time getting to know your teammates - both immediate and extended. Above all - take it all IN.  

A: Why?  Because we like all of you and want you all to work at InVision for a long, long time!  But we've all got a pocketful of unfortunate stories about people who went on a company trip, drank too much and did something that they'd live to regret the next day.

A: I'm glad you asked!  It's simple: Be respectful.  Be inclusive.  Be professional.  Have as much fun as you possibly can without moving away from the purpose of the trip.

That's it.  We know you're all adults and don't need a laundry list of what to do or not to do.  We're just gently reminding you that for the period of time that you're in NOLA you're still on a work trip.  Work rules still apply to conversations, behaviors and choices.

Please don't be the next unfortunate story we have to use as a word of warning for the next InVision trip. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun!