Dear Members and Friends:
On behalf of the IBF/USBA, I am glad to finally inform you that our 32ndAnnual Convention will take place in Montreal, Canada at Le Centre Sheraton from May 17 – 21, 2015. During our past convention in Atlantic City there was a great deal of discussion regarding the convention potentially taking place in Wonju, Korea. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we could not make this a reality for 2015. However, Asia is a region of great interest to us and we hope to host our convention in 2016 either in Korea or another country in the region.
We are optimistic that our convention in Montreal will be as successful as those that have taken place in the past few years. Montreal is an exciting city with so much to offer. It is a city full of culture and history with something going on at all times. There are continuous festivals, shows and museums to visit. You can stroll the cobblestone streets of old Montreal or shop the latest fashions in new Montreal or the Underground City. If you want to get away from the busy city you can visit Mount Royal and enjoy a beautiful view of the city in a tranquil park setting. The city of Montreal is also a hub for sports in Canada, with boxing being extremely popular there. Lastly, with over 6,000 restaurants serving food from all over the world, you can’t go hungry in Montreal.
Le Centre Sheraton, located just a few blocks from the well-known Bell Centre, is easily accessible from Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport. Depending on the mode of transportation you choose, it is a 30 to 40 minute ride. You can take a taxi from the airport to the hotel for $40 CDN. All taxis leaving from the airport and the hotel accept credit cards. You can also take the 747 bus from the airport, which cost $10 CDN one way, and drops you off right by the Le Centre Sheraton. Additionally, for those living in the northeastern United States, or visiting the area at the time, getting to Montreal by car is easy and not a very long drive depending on your location.
The room rate at Le Centre Sheraton for the convention is $189 CDN (approximately $169 US) per night for single and double occupancy. Club Level rooms, which include breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres, are $239 CDN (approximately $214 US) a night for single and double occupancy. Both room rates include complimentary wifi, 24 hour access to the health club and 2 bottles of water in room daily. These room rates are not inclusive of taxes and fees. If you choose to participate in the hotel’s Make a Green Choice Program by forgoing housekeeping any time during your stay, you will get a $5 CDN rebate per room per night to use on food and beverage at the hotel, or 500 SPG points if you are a member of their loyalty program. The discounted room rate at Le Centre Sheraton will be available from May 14 to May 24, 2015.
We are currently working on obtaining airline and car rental discounts, as well as additional travel and transportation information for Montreal. This information will be sent to you in the coming weeks along with hotel booking instructions and a tentative schedule so that you can begin to make your arrangements. We are also looking into the ABC certification again for judges during this convention and will keep you informed on this.
I thank you again for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the convention in 2015.
Sincerely,
Daryl J. Peoples/President