Lotusphere 2008 or Lotussphere 2008 if you can't spell.
Dates:
Sunday 20th -> Thursday 24th January 2008
Hands on Sessions are in the Yacht & Beach club.
They can be prebooked here: https://www-926.ibm.com/events/lotus/lsph2008.nsf/hndsonlogin
The sessions are Listed here: https://www-926.ibm.com/events/lotus/lsph2008.nsf/hndsonpopup
Extra Sessions
There is an extra Symphony (the free Open Document Suite that comes with Notes 8) development hands on session on sunday afternoon. 1.30-5.30 in Europe5 in Dolphin. Contact Debra Cole at IBM for details.
There is a Symphony Round Table session on Wednesday,January 23, 12:00-1:15 PM . This is by invitation only.
What Do you Get?
4 days (5 if you are a business partner, so you can go on Sunday ) of talks on best practices, new features, code downloads, check out the competition, check out what everyone else is doing.
See http://www.geniisoft.com/showcase.nsf/LS2008_SessionsDB for database of sessions. The list is updated and you can replicate to it. Works with blackberrys as well apparently.
Talk to the developers, ask questions, free codes, new announcements, lots of anti microsft propaganda, feel refreshed and revitialised, feel Lotus loved ; ) Get freebies.
Meet 1 of the 8000+ people who go.
Breakfast and lunch most days, the business partner breakfast on Sunday monring is very nice. Very early though. Most evenings you get your food and drink as well.
Have a few beers, and go to a theme park one evening, the last 2 have been Sea world and Animal Kingdom. For 2008 it is Universal Studios Islands of Adventure on Wednesday night.
Check out the Hulk Roller Coaster and the 3d Adventures of Spiderman. They are excellent.
Costs:
$1895 if paid before 2nd November 2007 or $2095 after that. Click here for Registration.
Hotels
The best hotels are the Dolphin and Swan as that is where the sessions are. Rooms here are $200 a night but are very handy.
The best cheap hotel is the Disney Resorts All Star Sports hotel, as thereis a direct bus from there to Lotusphere. I stayed in the All StarMovies hotel the first year which was about a mile away and the official bus did not go there, which cost me 20mins extra every morning and night. Don't do it. Rooms here are $50 a night
If you are staying at a Disney resort you can get a free bus from orlando airport to the resort, do not buy a bus ticket!
Flights
I fly Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick to Orlando, if you book in October you can get a flight for £299 usually.
Get a flight to Orlando, and if you stay in a Disney resort you can get a free bus trip to the resort, taxis are about $40 if you want to arrive in more style and quicker.
Take in the Sights
Dicovery Cove is superb, swim with dolphins, snorkel with massive Rays and feed little rays, and basically chill out, not cheap but an awesome day.
Universal Studios are pretty cool. I might try Busch Gardens this time.
Parties and drinks sessions:
Sunday
In past years there has been a very nice Breakfast for the business partners on Sunday..
Last Year there was welcome reception 6.30pm - 9pm , which has food and beers. Youcan get extra tickets for guests but no kids are allowed.
Monday
Last year the Penumbra group have some drinks sessions, get an invite by chatting to a member in the sessions. See page for details.
There is a IBM Lotus UK Drinks session usually on the Monday night.
Tuesday
Sherpa Software are having appetizers and drinks to celebrate Mail Attender's 10 Year Anniversary at Lotusphere 2008! Tuesday, January 22 at the Cabana Bar and Grill in the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel in Orlando from 6-8 pm. By Invite only.
Wednesday
2006 we went to Sea World on the Wednesday night, 2007 it was Disney Animal Kingdom. Universal Studio's Islands Of Adventure for 2008. You could get extra tickets for your family as well.
Thursday
Finishes about 4.30pm with a closing general session, Neil Armstrong closed it in 2007 !
Other Links:
Nominate your favourite Lotus Notes product business partner, solution or may be a certain web site fot the Philanthropy award ; )
Official Site for checking messages and etc:http://www.ls08.net
Lotusphere 2008 Beacon Awards Nominations
Lotusphere 2008 Official Site Official IBM site.
Lotusphere 2008 Registration Registration