Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the AME International Excellence Inside Conference, the largest lean and continuous improvement conference in the world.
Included on this page is information on what to expect at the conference, along with information about Club NuBee, an orientation session held on Sunday and Monday from 5:00 to 5:45 designed to help new and returning attendees plan their experience in Cincinnati.
Links to Main Events in the Conference Program
Here are links to the main sections of the AME International Excellence Inside Conference website:
• Conference Home Page — Dates, location, highlights, index
• Keynote Speakers — Big ideas that we can use now!
• Practitioner Presentations — Peers sharing real-world experiences and best-practice ideas
• Special Interest Sessions — Deeper dives into important issues
• Tours — Seeing is believing
• Workshops — Learning from experts
• Exhibitors — Tools, materials and services
• Companion Program — Great things to see and do in Cincinnati
Recommendation: With a wealth of knowledge and information to be shared at the conference, we recommend that you skim all the sections above in advance, identify your priority sessions and mark them in the Conference Online App (see Conference Week section below), or in your own note pages. This will help you plan your days when on site.
Book your hotel room
We encourage you to book your room as soon as possible.
Click here to book your hotel room. Special conference rates are available through September 25, 2015 based on availability.
Parking options:
Self-parking adjacent to the Hilton:
Mabley Place Garage is located within the Carew Tower complex and attached to the hotel. Main entrance is at the corner of Race and 5th Streets. Additional entrance and exit also on Fourth Street. This is a self-parking garage with a 24/7 automated pay station offering rates of $1 per 20 minutes or after 8 hours, a flat rate of $15. After 4pm, rate is $5 for up to 8 hours. No in/out privileges.
Guests of Hilton Netherland Plaza have the option of charging overnight self-parking at Mabley Place Garage with in/out privilege to their guestroom at a cost of $20 per night. Just bring your ticket to the front desk with you when you check in.
Hilton Valet Parking:
Hotel valet parking is currently $25 overnight with complimentary in and out privileges with the exception of departure day where there is a $10 re-park charge each time the car is brought around. The clearance into hotel valet is 6’6”. This is important information for oversized vans and SUVs.
Hyatt
Valet parking is $26/per car, per night for registered guests, with in and out privileges available to guests who bill their parking to their room bill.
Millennium
$24 daily parking
Duke Energy Convention Center
Use this link to access a map, check rates and reserve parking in advance: http://www.duke-energycenter.com/exhibiting-at-an-event/directions-parking
What to pack
Attire:
The dress at the conference is business casual: some attendees lean toward a more casual style, and others lean toward business attire. Whatever your preference, we suggest you consider layers; it is difficult to predict the temperature in a room when you have a large number of people gathered. Additionally, most tour sites require close-toed, non-heeled shoes.
October temperatures in Cincinnati range from an average low of 41°F (5°C) to an average high of 62°F (16°C).
Passport, currency and electrical adapters:
If you are traveling from outside of the U.S., you will need your passport and possibly a visitor visa. U.S. currency is required if you would like to pay for dinner or sundries in cash. All major credit cards are accepted throughout Cincinnati. If you will require an electrical adapter, don’t forget to pack one. Information related to passports, visas, etc. can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english.html.
Business cards:
The AME conference offers a wide range of networking opportunities. We recommend that you bring plenty of business cards to hand out as you share, learn and grow with other attendees.
Conference week: What to expect and what to know
Conference badge:
Conference badges are required for admission to all conference events. You can pick up your badge on site.
Conference Online App for your smart phone:
The AME Cincinnati 2015 app will be available in late August! Download it to your Apple and Android phones and tablets by clicking https://crowd.cc/s/ame. Learn more about all of the sessions and speakers and then create your personal schedule by noting what you plan to attend. Note: The app cannot be downloaded to Blackberry phones; if you have a Blackberry it is recommended that you use the web-based version of the app.
Please note: Creating your schedule in the app will not guarantee you a seat in the session; it will simply help you plan your time. Register for tours and/or workshops prior to the conference, on AME’s website, in order to improve your chances of getting your first choice(s).
Sunday:
The registration desk will be open from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Level 2 at Duke Energy Convention Center. You can pick up your conference materials and your badge, register for a tour and/or workshop or stop by if you have any questions about the conference. (The registration desk will also be open throughout the week.)
Monday:
Participate in workshops and tours. Review the schedule on the website and plan ahead. To participate in a workshop or tour, you’ll need to register in advance. We recommend that you register as soon as possible, as space is limited and seats are on a first come, first served basis. You can register on the conference website in advance for one tour, and if you would like to participate in additional tours, you can register on site, space permitting. There is no charge to attend tours. Workshop registration is an additional cost ($200 for a half-day workshop, and $300 for a full-day workshop).
Tuesday through Thursday:
The conference opens Tuesday morning. Daily activities include tours, practitioner presentations, special interest sessions and keynote speakers. Advance registration is required for the tours, but the rest of the sessions are open seating.
Review the program and make a plan for your week based on the topics that are important to you. We also encourage you to get to the room a few minutes early to ensure that you get a seat. The conference ends Thursday afternoon after the closing keynote from John Ratzenberger.
Friday:
Morning workshops, available at an additional cost, end at noon. To attend a Friday workshop, register on the conference website in advance or at the registration desk.
Learning Resource Center Exhibits:
The exhibit hall will be open Tuesday till Thursday Noon. Visit the exhibitors throughout the day and during break times.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks
Special dietary needs
If you have any special dietary requirements of which you have not already notified AME, please email Brooke Kuchuris, bkuchuris@ame.org by October 1.
• Monday – Breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks
will be provided for tour and workshop attendees. Tours that take place during the lunch hour will have food served on the bus or at the tour facility. Contact the Tours desk if you have questions.
• Tuesday through Thursday – Breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks
will be provided for all conference attendees. Tours that take place during the lunch hour will have food served on the bus or at the tour facility.
• Friday – Breakfast and a coffee break will be provided for workshop attendees.
Evening Activities
• Sunday and Monday, Club NuBee 5:00 to 5:45 pm:
Join us for an entertaining conference orientation session designed to help you get the most out of your conference experience. Light snacks are available as well as an opportunity to win prizes during the Club NuBee raffle.
• Sunday and Monday, Dine Around 5:30 to 8:00 pm:
Sign up at the registration desk to attend a networking dinner at one of the restaurants pre-selected by AME. Dine Around is a great way to experience local restaurants and meet new people in an informal, fun atmosphere. Participants pay for their own meals.
• Tuesday – The AME Amazing Race 5:30 to 8:00 pm:
Armed with a camera, you and your team become a member of the paparazzi for the day as you take on a fun team assignment to snap photos of key locations and your team. Explore interesting facts about Cincinnati and its culture. If you don't have a team already, we will create one for you or register as a single contestant. On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, The AME Networking Amazing Race will crown a champion. Will it be your team? Dinner is not included with the Cincinnati Downtown Treasure Hunt, however participants are encouraged to dine together at local restaurants afterward. The event is free. To sign up, visit The AME Amazing Race signup page and The Amazing Race Guidelines.
• Wednesday – Dallas 2016 Party 6:30 to 9:30 pm:
The AME Dallas 2016 conference team will host a kickoff party for next year’s conference, with food, prizes and entertainment. All Cincinnati conference attendees are invited to attend. There is no need to register for this party – simply show up ready to eat and have a good time!
• Thursday – No dinner activities are planned.
We suggest that you make plans with coworkers or with new colleagues you have met at the conference. You can find a selection of local restaurants in the conference app.
At all meal functions, and throughout the week, we encourage you to meet someone new and expand your network. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from fellow operational excellence colleagues from around the globe!
Help at the conference
• Registration questions: Please visit the registration desk.
• Tour or workshop questions: Visit the tours desk or the workshops desk.
• General logistics questions: Look for anyone in a green vest or an orange Cincinnati conference shirt; all of our conference volunteers can help you.
• Networking Lounge: Make new connections, learn about social media and share thoughts and ideas about continuous improvement and operational excellence.
We would love to meet you and officially welcome you to the AME community. We hope to see you at one of the ClubNuBee sessions — Sunday, October 18 or Monday, October 19 at 5:00 pm.
Help before the conference
In the meantime, if you have any questions about the conference, we would be more than happy to help you. Our contact information is below. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
• FAQs page: Frequently asked questions about the conference
• Members’ Network Rep: If you are new to our conference and received a welcome email, Contact the Members’ Network Rep from your home AME region. Your regional rep can answer your questions and provide helpful advice about how to navigate the conference and get best value from it. Plus, your regional rep can help you learn about what’s happening in your local AME community, and how to mine the members network to share, learn and grow.
We look forward to sharing, learning and growing with you at AME Cincinnati 2015!
