Microsoft Ignite 2018 Early Registration Opens
Early registration for Microsoft Ignite 2018 opened today at 9 AM Pacific. If you preregistered for Ignite, you should have received an email today from Microsoft inviting you to register for Ignite. If you did not see the email, don’t worry, you don’t need any codes or special links. Just head over to the registration site , and logon with the same credentials you used to preregister. You have until 11:59 PM Pacific on April 2 to complete your early registration. General registration opens to the public on April 3.
Keep reading for additional info from the registration site about passes and hotels. There will be another post about the Pre-Day Workshops and the Diversity and Tech Pre-Day sessions.
Passes
~~The list of pass types is reduced from last year. This may be because they are not relevant for early registration and will reappear on April 3, or Microsoft may be simplifying things. In any case, the~~ The current options are as follows.
| Full Conference Pass | $2,395 | Provides access to all sessions, content, The Expo, and Microsoft Ignite celebration, and includes all conference meals and conference swag. |
| Academic Faculty & Staff Discount | $1,395 | Same access as the Full Conference Pass. Limited availability for current, full time primary-secondary school (K-12), college or university employees. |
| Student Pass | $995 | Same access as the Full Conference Pass. Limited availability for current college or university students. |
| Day Passes (Tue-Thu) | $695 | Access to the sessions and Expo for selected day only. |
| Convenience Pass | $495 | Add-on to a full conference registration pass while rooms last. This pass is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Offers access to rooms at Hyatt Regency Orlando, badge & materials pickup at hotel, and express luggage check on Friday at OCCC. |
| Microsoft Ignite Pre-Day Workshops | $500 | Pre-day training on Sunday, September 23 as an add-on to your completed registration. |
| Diversity and Tech Pre-Day | $199 ($99 with Pre-Day Workshops | An afternoon of personal and professional inspiration on Sunday, September 23. |
| Celebration Companion Pass | $200 | Access to Ignite Celebration for a guest (21+). |
The Hyatt Regency Orlando is a great hotel right in the middle of all of the action, but the $267/night rate plus $495 for the pass is more “convenience” than my travel budget can afford.
Hotels
It normally takes a while before Ignite sells out, but hotels are a different story. Every year it seems like the preferred hotels sell out faster and faster. If you are picky about where you stay, register sooner than later. Especially if you want to be close to the OCCC and avoid spending time on the buses.
If you want to see info about conference hotels (e.g., rates, availability, and more) but you are not registered already, you’re in luck! Head over to my (unofficial) Microsoft Ignite Hotels page to get the scoop.
I have been posting this list every year for a while now, and it is a quick and easy way to see what is available in the hotel block without logging on to the registration site. The table is interactive, letting you sort columns and filter on availability, neighborhood, and the hotel brand. Please note that this is not live data. That’s only available on Microsoft’s site. Be sure to read the disclaimers for the list.