Anesthesia Continuing Education Seminars
FAQs
Q. What is the cancellation policy of Holiday Seminars?
A. Tuition refunds are subject to a $50.00 cancellation fee when cancellation is received more than 30 days prior to the first session of the conference. The cancellation fee is $100 when cancellation is received more than 7 days, but less than 30 prior to the first session. There is no refund for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the first session of the seminar. Airline and lodging refunds are subject to the policies of the individual properties and airlines.
Q. Why should I attend a Holiday Seminars Conference rather than a program sponsored by a university?
A. Short answer: we do a better job! Read what our attendees say - many who have attended our seminars for years!
A. Long answer: Holiday Seminars is a family business, run by Dr. and Mrs. Wm. O.T. Smith, and their daughter, Jenny Smith. We control and oversee every aspect of every seminar. As a practicing anesthesiologist, Dr. Smith is able to evaluate topics and speakers that best suit the practicing anesthesiologist or anesthetist, and then he handpicks the best speakers on the chosen topics. As experienced professionals, The Smiths know what facilities and catering are necessary to satisfy our attendees. The Smiths try to know every aspect and detail of the resorts they use for Holiday Seminars Anesthesia Conferences, so that they can make accurate answers and recommendations to questions. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, who you talk to on the phone or via email, is who you meet at the seminar you'll be attending, and we will already be familiar with your registration and specific requests or needs. If you call us, you will not speak with a disinterested clerk, but to the owner of the business.
Q. Are the seminars tax deductible?
A. Continuing education seminars that are held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are considered "domestic" meetings in tax law. Domestic seminars that average 4 hours of instruction per day have been upheld as deductible in tax courts. Our seminars are designed to meet these standards. Consult your CPA if you have any questions.
Q. What's the best way to get to our seminars?
A. For the Cancun Anesthesia Seminar, the only realistic option is to fly into the Cancun International Airport (CUN). The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun is about 20 minutes from the airport. Pre-arranged private transfers to the resort can be arranged through the hotel, or taxis and shared shuttles are available upon arrival at the airport. Read more about Cancun Transportation.
A. For the Scottsdale Anesthesia Seminar, most will fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX); the Camelback Inn is about 9.5 miles north of the airport. From the airport to the Camelback Inn, you may choose between rental cars, limos, or taxis. Attendees living fairly close may choose to drive to Scottsdale. For more information about Group Discounts that are available. Read more about Scottsdale Transportation.
A. For the Aspen Anesthesia seminar, attendees may fly to Denver (DEN), Eagle/Vail (EGE), or directly into Aspen (ASE). The drive from Denver is about a 3.5 hour drive, longer in snowy weather. The Drive from Eagle/Vail is about 1.25 hours on dry roads. If you fly into Aspen, most lodging properties offer free transportation to and from the airport, so a rental car is not necessary. Attendees living fairly close may choose to drive to Snowmass. For more information about Group discounts that are available. Read more about Aspen transportation.
Q. Why do I have to stay at the advertised properties to receive the early registration bonuses advertised for all your seminars?
A. These bonuses are actually promotions that all of our featured properties participate in as an attempt to entice our registrants to reserve lodging in a more timely fashion. The recent trends of waiting later and later to make reservations makes it difficult for these properties, and they were willing to contribute to a bonus so that their room blocks are easier to manage. As many of the preferred properties can sell out early, it also helps us encourage early reservations to avoid disappointment.
Q. Why have you moved the Cancun Anesthesia seminar from the Royal Mayan, a Time-Share property in Cancun, to the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun Resort?
A. Our seminar was at the Royal Mayan for many years and we had happy attendees. However, we have changed for a number of reasons. In the last few years we never could accommodate the number of persons that desired to attend the seminar. We were limited by the size of the meeting room, and a shortage of condos. These time-share condos were not purchased, but leased for 30 years, which means the entire complex will close (as we know it) in the next couple of years, and the rental office has been closed already, really limiting the number of condos that were available for our group. So with a forced move coming soon and with the rising number of disappointed people that we had to turn away, it seemed like the time to make a change now. Our seminar last year was at the Hilton, but we decided to move to The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun for 2012 and beyond as the Hilton has sold to another company and many attendees were looking for a more high-end experience. We are extremely pleased with the rates and amenities that the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun offered our group - amenities that were not offered at the Royal Mayan (see Cancun - Lodging section for details). Additionally, The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun quality and standard of food care is unparalleled in Cancun, making enjoying the food a worry-free experience during your stay in Mexico! Read more about Cancun Lodging at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.
Q. Why is the Cancun Anesthesia seminar held at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun rather than at an all-inclusive resort?
A. Despite the overabundance of all-inclusive resorts in the current marketplace, we have not found an all-inclusive resort that has met our standards in terms of overall quality, service, and food. We want everything about your experience with Holiday Seminars to go above and beyond your expectations, and we want your resort experience to do the same. We know our attendees would not be satisfied at the typical all-inclusive resorts, so we chose to host our seminar at the AAA Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton, Cancun - the premier property in Cancun. The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun boasts luxurious accommodations at incredible discounts, exceptional service with warm Mexican hospitality, and the best food of all the Cancun resorts, all at prices that are in line with the other resorts. Additionally, the standard of food care is unparalleled in Cancun, making enjoying the food a worry-free experience during your stay in Mexico, which is priceless! The Club Level Rooms do include some meals and snacks throughout the day for those that are interested in rates that include some of the food expense. Read more about Cancun Lodging at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.
Q. Why are there two different tuition fees for the Cancun Anesthesia seminar, depending on whether I stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun?
A. Our rental fee to use the conference facilities is based on occupancy in the hotel for our group, so we have to pay a higher fee if you are not staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun. It is the hotel's way of recapturing the cost of having our attendees use their conference facilities if they are not staying at the hotel (i.e. for Wifi, A/V, linens, paper pads, pens, and servers to tidy up during and after each meeting, etc.). We try to pass on as much savings to our attendees as possible, and we would rather charge the few that aren't staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun an extra tuition supplement fee than raise the price for everyone.