It was interesting to watch an event that started 17 months ago with Dallas, Nashville, and Denver submitting applications to the be host city, a long selection process, a long site selection process, and then all the rest that lead up to a successful event this week. I know that a lot of work went on during that time – a lot! Thank you to the volunteers and staff, and to the speakers (who are undoubtedly volunteers as well) for providing a very nice experience for all of who attended this week.

Some more thoughts:

• I liked the sponsor/lunch area in Dallas a lot. It’s nice to have an area where you can sit during the day to chat, and it was a great place to hold the end of day raffle (which can get tedious if you’re standing in the Orlando sun!).
• Having Gelato at the Thursday night sponsor expo was nice, close to compelling. Quick to serve, easy to carry, and it drew people back to the room.
• The bus to Karaoke was a win, I wish we had done a bus in Orlando to our evening event.
• I liked the Orlando location better. Nicer facility,rooms closer together,felt slower paced and intimate. Walking in Dallas was close to Summit scale.
• Orlando didn’t have a volunteer wearing a jacket (Sri habitually wears one)
• I see more and more people using the Guidebook on their phone. It was amusing to see an update titled ‘session cancellation’, and then later another update titled ‘reverse session cancellation’! I wish it included more info on the schedule about meals and events.
• I was disappointed that there was no announcement or forecast on when and where the next SQLRally will be held. Last year we started late due to venue struggles and a first time selection process, I had hoped this year it would be smoother and would announce at the end of the event.
• I’m heading home less tired than from the Summit. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the Summit; I do. But a week in Seattle and the flight from Orland and back, by the time I get home I’m done.