Hi all,
Happy New Year to everyone! The 2019 AGPI Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado from Thursday, May 16th to Sunday, May 19th. This email contains details of this year's convention. Please click on the links to view details about speakers and events.
At the end of this email are travel suggestions regarding your visit to Colorado. The good news is the low cost round trip airfares to Denver. The cheapest airfares are on Tuesday and Wednesday. I suggest you plan your vacation to include
some additional days in Colorado to take advantage of the inexpensive airfares. You will want to avoid flying on the Memorial Day Weekend (May 24 to May 27) due to the steep increase in airfares during this time.
Registration is closed for the 2019 convention.
2019 AGPI Convention (Thursday, May 16th – Sunday, May 19th)
The 2019 AGPI annual convention will be held May 16-19, in Denver, Colorado. The Convention Planning Host Team is putting together an extensive program that should have something of interest for everyone. The theme for this year’s convention is “Design”; learn about the designing of games, the designing of jigsaw puzzles, and the designing of mechanical puzzles. The main attraction is a special visit to the Liberty Puzzle Company. Established in 2005, fellow AGPI member Chris Wirth is using modern technologies to help recreate the golden age of wooden jigsaw puzzles. He will also be our guest dinner speaker on Friday evening.
Pre-Convention (Thursday, May 16th)
The pre-convention begins on Thursday, May 16th, with an exciting group bus tour of many sites around Denver. It will include: the natural wonders of Red Rocks and its spacious outdoor amphitheater; a tour of the brewery and home of Coors Beer; and chance to learn about the history of the old west, with visits to the Buffalo Bill Museum and grave, and the Colorado Railroad Museum where you will see the rolling stock unique to Colorado history. Thursday evening has an optional dinner at the “Board Game Republic”. The “Board Game Republic” café has 750+ games or puzzles that can be played while enjoying a delicious meal. [Addition cost for Board Game Republic meal]
AGPI Convention (Friday, May 17th tile Sunday, May 19th)
On Friday, May 17th, the group will visit and tour three locations; Liberty Puzzles for a VIP tour of where they laser cut the wooden jigsaw puzzles; Robert Murch's Ouija Board Collection - “It’s Just a game, isn’t it?”; and Kagen Sound’s workshop where the 2009 Sam Loyd recipient creates and displays his complex secret opening boxes and puzzle furniture.
The program over the weekend is filled with a number of interesting presenters, including current game designer Mike Fitzgerald, Ouija Board historian Robert Murch, JNG Puzzle co-owner, Joy Hess, and the designer of more than 3 dozen games, Keith Meyers. On Saturday evening, the Association will recognize AGPI charter member and avid game enthusiast, John Ellerbe. There will also be opportunity for puzzling, game playing, raffles, table sales, tutorials, and an auction. There will be a 1,000+ square feet dedicated room for game playing and puzzle solving throughout the convention.
Sunday, following the breakfast, will include a panel discussion on Games and Puzzles and the annual raffle. The event will end in time for folks to check out of the hotel by noon. Sunday afternoon has an optional activity of visiting a nearby “Escape Room” for additional puzzle solving. [ Additional cost for Escape Room]
Hotel
The convention will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Denver located at 3203 Quebec St. We have reserved a block of rooms through April 15th. Attendees are encouraged to make their reservations early to ensure you get a room at the block rate of $134 + tax per night; this rate includes breakfast for every night you stay. Reservations are closed.
Ground Transportation
Light rail service from Denver International Airport to the Doubletree by Hilton Denver is $10.50. Seniors 65+ fare is $5.25. Take the light rail from DIA to the Central Park Station. Free shuttle buses run every 15 minutes between the Doubletree and Central Park Station.
Registration is closed for the 2019 convention.
2Checkout.com Inc. (Ohio, USA) is a payment facilitator for goods and services provided by the AGPI.
Sample Airfares to Denver
These ROUNDTRIP airfares were available as of Jan 1, 2019:
Philadelphia - Denver - $119 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Frontier
Ft Lauderdale - Denver - $135 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Frontier
Harrisburg, PA - Denver - $172 Wednesday May 15 - May 21 Frontier
Washington (DCA) - Denver - $177 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Frontier
New York (LGA or JFK) - Denver $186 - Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 American/United
Charleston - Denver - $194 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Frontier
Boston - Denver - $214 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 United
Boston - Denver - $228 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Southwest - 2 check luggage & 1 carry-on
Rochester, NY - Denver - $237 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 United
Hartford, CT - Denver - $239 Wednesday May 15 - Tuesday May 21 Frontier/Spirit
Low cost carriers to Denver include Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, jetBlue
Major carriers to Denver include United, American, Delta
All carriers charge for luggage except Southwest. Southwest includes 2 checked bags and 1 carry-on bag at no cost
Suggestion of things to see while in Colorado
Below are 5 day trips within 2.5 hours of Denver:
1) Day tour of the front range of the Rockies near Denver includes the Georgetown Loop to Silver Plume Narrow Gauge Railroad with optional gold mine tour, Loveland Pass 12,000 feet on the Continental Divide, Central City/Blackhawk mining town casinos, Clear Creek canyon
2) Day tour south of Denver includes Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods park, Cave of the Winds, Air Force Academy, city of Manitu Springs
3) Day tour southwest of Denver features Royal Gorge suspension bridge and park, gondola ride over the Gorge, Zip line ride over the Gorge, railroad ride through the Gorge, white water rafting through the Gorge
4) Day tour north of Denver includes Big Thompson Canyon, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park
5) Day tour in Denver includes the Denver Mint, 16th Street Mall, Unsinkable Molly Brown house, Brown Palace Hotel, Denver Aquarium, Stranahan's Colorado Whisky tour
If you have several days available during your visit to Colorado, a trip to the San Juan mountains in southwest Colorado is highly recommended. Sights to see during your trip to southwest Colorado include the Great Sand Dunes National park, the towns of Ouray, Telluride, Silverton, and Durango. Attractions include Native American Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde national park and the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Bob
