Just what is a Con Suite?

A Con Suite is a Hospitality or party room hosted by the staff of a convention where the members of that convention (like the upcoming Omaha Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival or OSFest in Omaha, July 11-13, 2008) can sit down, relax and just enjoy themselves.

• There are free sodas and snacks.
• It is a place to get away from the fast pace of the convention and slow down to talk with friends for awhile.
• It is a place where special events happen that are more intimate than what is going on in the main function rooms, like author readings and "Coffee with the Guests of Honor."

It is available at virtually all hours of the convention. Barely closing during the wee hours of the morning to allow for restocking and letting our volunteers get some sleep. For you to party, they have to be working!

What a Con Suite has to be is a place where fans can go to meet friends in a relaxed atmosphere and talk about subjects that interest them; it is the party room that the convention committee has put together for the members of the convention to kick back and just have a good time. It is available to every member of the convention. Since it is a low key activity, you have to know that one exists and sometimes even seek it out. Often it is not even listed in the program book, because “everybody knows where the Con Suite is”. I attended almost a dozen conventions before I ever heard of one.

OSFest, July 11th through 13th, will be creating its own take on the Con Suite. We will be getting in a keg (or two) of 1919 Root Beer as our specialty drink. Munchies or hand snacks will also be available, free of charge to all attendees, which just means anyone wearing their name badge. We will also be having our authors doing their readings in the Con Suite, as well as our informal “Coffees” with the Guests of Honor. Just so you don’t have to search, it will be located on the 3rd floor of the Comfort Inn & Suites, right off the elevators. The third floor has been designated our "Party Floor" where in addition to our Con Suite various room parties will be hosted by various fan groups both Friday and Saturday night. You can also find additional function space there such as a video room, and game rooms - so you can't miss it!

Come, eat, drink and be merry with like minded friends this summer at OSFest, The Omaha Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival, July 11-13th, 2008 at the Comfort Inn & Suites at 7007 Grover Street Omaha, NE. 3-day memberships are available on line or by mail, with the form available on our website. I hope to see you there.