NABJ Convention is in Las Vegas Aug. 3–7, 2022

 

Image by lindsayascott from Pixabay

Story by NABJ

In pre-pandemic times, the usual routine when registration was announced for the NABJ Annual Convention and Career Fair was simple — deciding whether to attend or not.

But by the time you finally made the decision, pre-registration had ended, that last-minute airfare was sky high and the room block was sold out. So there you were, sitting at home, watching social media feeds and getting a huge case of FOMO, swearing you wouldn’t miss the convention again.

But this year is different since we haven’t seen our NABJ family in person since Miami in 2019 (which was epic). So of course you’re going to our joint convention — in Vegas, baby — with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists on Aug. 3–7, 2022.

I’ve not done this post since right after the Miami convention, and it’s much later than usual, but here I go again. You need to start saving your pennies yesterday to ensure you’ll be with us in Las Vegas this summer. I’m actually flush with cash, thanks to a convention account that hasn’t been touched since 2019.

Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay.

The host hotel this year is Caesar’s Palace, which may be sold out by the time you read this. But don’t worry — Las Vegas is flush with hotels nearby. Because I’m chasing World of Hyatt elite status, I’ll be staying next door at The Mirage — where my resort fee is waived, I get breakfast for two every day and I have a good chance of getting a room upgrade — thanks to my Globalist status. Other friends are staying at places including The Bellagio, The Venetian, The Cosmopolitan and even Airbnb (link based on 4 adults in a place on the strip), so you do have options.

But I know not everyone is as compulsive as me, so I’m going to share my tips on having your coins in place when it comes time to start paying for this year’s convention.

The Cost

Registration — $275 until April 29; $380 by July 1 and $450 after that. But don’t even think about registering if you aren’t vaccinated. You’ll be required to upload your valid vaccination/booster card to the Clear trusted traveler app before you can register.

Hotel — NABJ has committed to keeping hotel room prices under $200 a night. Ceasar’s Palace will run you $159 a night, along with 13.38% room tax and a daily resort fee of $15. That adds up to $195.27 a night. So four nights will cost $781.08. If you get yourself three other roommates, that drops to a very reasonable $195.27 a night. Find roommates in the NABJ Convention Roommate Bureau Facebook group or tap your network.

Airfare — Aviation Queen here! Be prepared to pay a grip for that flight to Las Vegas. A combination of higher jet fuel prices and pent-up travel demand means the airlines are jacking up fares, especially to popular destinations such as Las Vegas. I’m a big Southwest Airlines fan because they get me from point A to point B safely past a good price.

Photo by Benét J. Wilson

However, as of April 18, 2022, Southwest fares from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport $634.95 roundtrip (including two checked bags). Fares on American Airlines out of JFK airport start at $598 (before you even check a bag). If you’re flying out of Chicago on United, fares start at $551 (again, checked bags are extra). Delta flyers will pay fares starting at $543 from Atlanta to Las Vegas, again, with extra charged for checked bags.

A flight on Spirit Airlines from Orlando to Las Vegas is running at $483.18, but you will pay extra for everything from seat selection to checked AND carry-on bags. But if you play your cards right, it can still be a cheaper option than other airlines.

Check websites such at Kayak, Hopper, Priceline and Hotwire for bargains on hotels and airfares. If you have frequent flyer miles, airline vouchers or credit card points to use, now is the time to cashing them in for your Las Vegas flight.

Map courtesy of Visit Las Vegas.

Transportation — The good news here is that the Strip is mere minutes away from Harry Reid International Airport. If public transportation isn’t your thing, share a cab or rideshare to your hotel. Let folks know when you’re landing and hitch a ride. I’ve met some great NABJ members (I see you, Shaquille Brewster) because they shared a ride with me — and I paid for them.

If you decide not to stay in the NABJ/NAHJ host hotel, there are monorail stations near popular hotels and attractions on the strip. During peak times, there can be heavy traffic on the Strip, so walking or using the monorail is a better option when you’re not attending convention events. Tickets for the monorail are $5 each way; a four-day pass will cost you $36.

This designer suit by Tahari cost me $12 at a thrift shop.

Convention Prep — Up to $300. This covers all the things you may need to get ready for the convention, including clothes (save money by considering thrift shops), business cards, resumes, hair, nails, clothing alterations, etc.

Meals/Bar — You can’t expect to get free meals every day, although I encourage you to sign up for all the breakfasts, lunches and receptions so you get fed. Don’t forget that NABJ members network and socialize at the bar every day. Give yourself a food/drink budget of between $50 and $75 a day.

This all adds up to around $2,000, but your numbers may vary, depending on your airfare, hotel and other costs. You can cut costs by taking advantage of your chapter discount for registration or consider volunteering to get a free one. Your hotel cost will drop if you have roommates.

When it comes to airfares, consider flights to airports offering lower fares, including BWI, Dallas Love Field, Chicago Midway, Oakland International, Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby and Tampa International, to name a few.

Show Me the Money

So how are you going to get the money for Las Vegas? Here are my 10 tips.

1. Start a savings account NOW. Set one up on auto-pay and walk away. My personal favorite is Smarty Pig because it takes out the money automatically and it’s in an account you can’t see, so you avoid temptation. Others include Digital (but it does cost $2.99 a month) Qapital and Chime. Or keep it simple and set up a savings account at your current bank.
2. Happy Birthday/Graduation. Look for these and other celebratory milestones. Ask friends and family for contributions toward convention costs rather than gifts that don’t offer you a return on your future career investment (the convention is an investment — trust). Grandma can pay for a hotel night or two. Mom and Dad can spring for airfare. Auntie can give you a gift card you can use for food and drinks. Uncle can take on registration. Also, keep an eye out on Twitter and NABJ Facebook groups for folks (like me) who offer to help students and early-career journalists get to the convention.
3. Early bird registration. Register now because this is the lowest rate you’re going to get.
4. Ask your employer. Some companies have line items in their budgets for professional development. See if you can get some of that money to help pay for NABJ; if you can’t get it all paid for, ask for airfare or hotel costs. But you must come correct; show your boss the convention schedule and point out workshops you‘ll attend that will help you do your job better. And ask if they’ll give you the time off without having to use your own PTO.
5. Buy your flight early. The earlier you book your flight, the cheaper the fares will be — and those flights will be expensive this year. Sign up for either Hopper or Airfarewatchdog, which will tell you the best times to buy your ticket.
6. NABJ. Check the website and association eBlasts for announcements on scholarships, fellowships and hardship grants that help cover convention costs.
7. Local organizations. See if your NABJ chapter offers scholarships to help students/young journalists. Check for local businesses and nonprofits that offer grants.
8. Facebook and Twitter. Follow accounts for convention information, including ways to fund your trip. They are (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists; National Association of Black Journalists; NABJ Students; @NABJ; @NABJDigital; and @NABJSTUDENTS. Also follow me on Twitter (avqueenbenet) and watch for my plans to help students and young journalists in the NABJ Students and Young Black Journalists Facebook groups.
9. #SideHustle or part-time job. You have skills as a journalist, so start putting them to use now. Check out local businesses that could use skills such as video production, content writing or social media posts. Use the money you earn and put it into your convention bank account. And leave it alone until it’s time to pay for something convention-related.
10. Carpool. If you are within driving distance of Las Vegas, get a group together and take a road trip to Sin City. And don’t rule out Amtrak, MegaBus, Greyhound or FlixBus as other ways to get to Las Vegas.

I have a special message for those of you still in school or are early-career journalists who want to come to Las Vegas. My grandmother always said that closed mouths don’t get fed. For students, talk to your university’s chapter advisor ASAP and create a plan to pay for your convention trip. Then go to your school’s dean and ask for financial help to get you to Las Vegas. It’s not too late to start hosting campus fundraisers, but it’s getting there.

See if your professional NABJ chapter and businesses and organizations in your community can help. If you must post a GoFundMe, make sure you have a compelling story on why you want to go and how it can help your career. And don’t ask for money to cover your entire trip; show that you’re serious and tell people what you’re going to pay for.