***This email is sent to all Advisors in the Texas FFA Roster System***

Please do not reply directly to this email. Complete Staff contact information can be found here.

Advisors:

As a reminder, the Texas FFA Convention Housing Website will be LIVE on Wednesday, March 6 at 4 pm. 

A list of convention hotels is posted on the Texas FFA website here so that you can determine your preferred hotels and be ready when housing opens on March 6.  Hotels will not accept reservations directly, all reservations for rooms in the convention housing block must be made through the housing website. Instructions for booking through the Orchid system have been added to the convention housing page.

Texas FFA Staff and Stacey Jones from SAM will be available from 4-6 pm via this link to assist with any questions/issues you have while booking your rooms. 

We are pleased to report that we have added additional rooms to the block this year and we have a great selection of hotels in Houston-many of which are within walking distance of the convention center, along with a variety of hotels in the surrounding areas of the city. Please be conservative in your room reservations in order to help ensure all schools have an opportunity to book hotel rooms for their chapter. 

Reservations made at non-headquarters hotels can be canceled or changed without penalty until May 17.  Rooms canceled after May 17 will be subject to a charge of 1 night room and tax for each room canceled. Reservations made at Marriott Marquis, Hilton Americas, or Hyatt Regency Houston are non-cancelable and non refundable after March 15, 2024.  Rooms canceled at these hotels after March 15 will be charged 1 night room and tax for each room canceled.

Here are some helpful tips when making your hotel reservations:

1. Review the hotel list before housing opens to know your top three or four hotel choices.

2. Do not book Sunday rooms unless you are certain you will need them – Sunday night can usually be added to your reservation when your plans are firm later in the spring. 

3. A “waiting room” feature will again be utilized on the housing website that will control traffic and allow maximum speed once you are in the housing site. You may see a screen that tells you how much time you have to wait before booking, much like a hold feature on a telephone call.  DO NOT exit or refresh your screen – this will only delay your access to the housing site.

4. Online reservations are faster and the housing website reflects the available inventory more accurately than over-the-phone reservations with Orchid – book online!  Orchid’s Customer Service Call Center will be available, but staffing is limited.

5. Choose “1 guest” per room when prompted in the housing website (more details in the instructions page linked above and found on the Texas FFA website.)

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 6 at 4 pm and be sure to review all the information found on the Texas FFA Convention website before you access the housing website.

Please contact the Texas FFA office if you have any questions.