Upcoming Festivals

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I have been able to secure space for our upcoming Spring Festival at the Embassy Suites in Tempe, AZ. We have been at this beautiful venue in the past, but the great news is that they have totally remodeled all the two-room guest suites in the past year. YES, I DID SAY SUITES! 

The rates are $139 per night for the King Suite w/ sofa sleeper, or $139 per night for the Double Suite w/sofa sleeper. These rates are plus tax. Book your room here:  

www.my-event.hilton.com/phxtpes-bp5-26afce26-e80f-4dbb-9219-05d4efe62c8e/ 

If you choose to book by phone, call (480) 897-7444 and mention BQPA barbershop group to get the special rate. Our cut-off date is April 18th 2022. PLEASE BOOK EARLY. If you book and need to cancel, you can do so without penalty with a 48 hour or more notice.

The many amenities include: FREE MADE TO ORDER BREAKFAST, COMPLIMENTARY EVENING RECEPTION WITH 2 DRINK TICKETS PER DAY, PER REGISTERED GUEST- GOOD FOR BEER & WINE, ON-SITE RESTAURANT, FREE WI-FI, FREE PARKING, NON-SMOKING ROOMS, DIGITAL KEY, CONCIERGE, OUTDOOR POOL, FITNESS CENTER, BUSINESS CENTER, MEETING ROOMS AND NO-PETS ALLOWED. 

There are many restaurants and ample shopping within walking distance or a very short taxi ride or Uber. The hotel does NOT have an airport shuttle (people have been incentivized to stay home instead of working), but it is only 6 miles from Sky Harbor Airport, so transportation can be had for about $20. 

Our Friday and Saturday events will be in the Tempe Ballroom A, a 1200 sq ft banquet hall. The room will be set up theater style with a small stage as in the past. We will also have the Upper-Foyer Space outside the Ballroom to congregate. The hotel will not allow us to host food or drinks in the ballroom unless we purchase said food & drinks from the hotel (the nerve of them). We can bring individual drinks, “purchased from the bar” into the Ballroom. There are no restrictions on having cocktails in your suite or even hosting a happy hour or two in YOUR ROOM or Gerry’s. Who knows, you may even be able to find three of your newest, closest friends to join you in a song or two?

Registration will be in the main lobby near the waterfall. We expect to have most attendees pre-register online, as we did last fall in Hillside. We have access to the boardroom for our BOD meeting on Thursday. There are also break-out rooms available for Wednesday and Thursday if needed. We will have plenty of room to meet and sing. I have not been made aware of any special requests or requirements related to Covid by the hotel. I will keep everyone posted should this change. Use common sense as always and you should be good.

I am in the process of arranging our Saturday pre-show dinner. We are considering going back to Four Peaks Brewery. We have been there at least three times and most seemed to enjoy the venue. It is early enough in the planning to consider alternatives if someone is willing to step up and find something suitable for a sophisticated group such as ours. Please email me with input on this. b@esberner.com

I have spoken with Adam Kaufman and he will gladly Chair the Show Talent position! Adam has Chaired our last two (I believe) Spring Festival Events very successfully! I am looking forward to seeing and hearing our upcoming spring lineup! 

I am very excited about this upcoming event and getting back to the Embassy Suites! Join us!

Bernie Esberner – VP West, Vice President and Webmaster (too many jobs, don’t you agree)?