I'm Planning a Party in San Diego!
by Anita Pagliasso

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It was decided that, since the Original Home-Based Agent Show was going to be in San Diego in April, we would work with the show promoters and the host hotel to see if we could offer OSSN members an additional one-day regional conference. San Diego happens to be one of my favorite cities in the United States, so I was excited to bring this opportunity to our members to see this beautiful part of California. I met with the producers of the Home-Based Agent Show in San Diego to do some site inspections and look for a reception venue for the conference participants.

I have to admit that, at first, I was hesitant about the hotel -- The Town & Country Resort and Conference Center -- but after seeing the major renovations and conference facilities, I was very impressed. What I really liked was the convenience of the location. When you walk out of the back of the sprawling facility, there is a short walkway that takes you to the "San Diego Trolley" and transit station to go to Old Town, Downtown, or all the way to Tijuana, Mexico. And, right beyond the transit station is a huge shopping mall called Fashion Valley Mall which has movie theatres, restaurants, and most major department stores.

I decided to try the trolley system myself to go to Historical Old Town. The round trip cost was only $3.50 and, after two trolley stops, it took me to the entrance of Old Town. When I got off the trolley, I could already hear the mariachis playing, and I started to smell the fresh tortillas being made by hand by the ladies in the windows of the wonderful Mexican restaurants.

When I looked for a reception facility, I found the Jolly Boy Restaurant and Saloon, which was under complete renovation to bring it back to its original look from the 1800s. It is located in Plaza del Pasado in the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, only one block from the Old Town Trolley Station (with restaurants, one-of-a-kind shops, and live musicians at this must-see cultural oasis). The Jolly Boy has a unique story -- it was originally opened in 1854 as the Jolly Boy Saloon & Restaurant and was the favorite haunt for the merchant seamen that brought goods to the settlement and traded them for cattle hides. "Jolly Boys" were their names -- and fun was their game after fighting the rugged life aboard the clipper ships, freighters, and fishing boats. It is actually one of San Diego’s oldest "watering holes," and many of Old Town's legendary characters frequented the Jolly Boy! The smaller boats that were lowered from the big ships in the harbor were called Jolly Boats, and legend has it that's why it was named the Jolly Boy Saloon & Restaurant. The Jolly Boy will have its own unique music and entertainment and is going to be quite a fun venue. Remember, this reception is by invitation only and open to those who attend the OSSN Western Regional Conference.

What a wonderful opportunity to soak up some sun, get a lot of education under your belt, and get double the value because of the two back-to-back conferences. Please join us for BOTH shows so you can come home with the maximum amount of new information that will help you build your business!

I did want to take this opportunity to clarify that there are two separate conferences coming up in San Diego. Two separate registrations are therefore required. I have included a link to both of the registration sites below, so you can be sure you are not left out of any of the wonderful training and fun activities. Be sure to look for the great special rates for the Town & Country Resort when you register.

OSSN Western Regional Conference: Sunday April 27, 2008 (8:30AM-1:30PM) -- Town & Country Resort, San Diego -- Registration = $39 for OSSN Members or $49 for Non-Members -- Go to this registration page

The Original Home-Based Travel Agent Show & Conference: Sunday April 27, 2008 (Begins at 2:30PM and closes Wednesday afternoon, April 30, 2008) -- Town & Country Resort, San Diego -- Registration = $49 for OSSN Members and $69 for Non-Members -- Go to this registration page for full details

Note that the OSSN conference's exclusive reception will open at 7 PM on Monday, April 28th, in the historic Jolly Boy Saloon & Restaurant in Old Town San Diego (only two trolley stops from the back of the Town & Country Hotel). This reception is open ONLY to those registered for OSSN's regional conference (see this page to register and get full details).

(Credits: Anita Pagliasso; Stan Shebs)