I’ve called you all here today to tell you a little something about the location for Kscope15. This year ODTUG returns to the beach: Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood (Florida). The Diplomat is a fantastic property with an attached convention center. In addition to the largest exhibition hall Kscope has ever seen, the wide variety of meeting-room sizes will accommodate all of our sessions without feeling overcrowded or lost in space.
The room amenities include a sleeper sofa and refrigerator. Many rooms have a balcony and views of the beach or Intracoastal Waterway.
The multi-level pool area is pretty special. The upper, zero-depth-entry pool has a window in the middle of it that allows natural light to penetrate into a grotto-like area of the lower pool, which is curtained by twin waterfalls cascading from the upper pool. The lower-level pool is huge with plenty of deck space and lounge chairs for sun worshipers and umbrellas for when the Florida sun gets to be too much.
Down another flight of stairs you’ll see the beach and Atlantic Ocean, which during in my visit was a refreshing 55 degrees F, but it should be about 30 degrees warmer in late June. On the beach you will find a great deal of sand and sun. If you want a bit less of either, lounge chairs, beds, umbrellas, and cabanas can be rented. If you're a bit more adventurous, sea kayaks and jet skis are also available for rent.
Not all the rooms have this view…
…but a lot of them do.
The Diplomat has several on-site dining options including a deli, beach bar, buffet, and fine dining. For the more athletic guests, the Diplomat offers a well-equipped health club that looks so cool I might even have to check it out. And, of course, there is a spa if your day at the pool, beach, or in sessions is too stressful.
Fancy fitness
Even with all of its amenities, this fine hotel might start to feel a bit too limited to you. If so, downtown Hollywood, with its eclectic mix of shops, dining, and night life, is just a short cab ride away. Also nearby are several options for casino gambling, if that’s how you roll.
Above all, this location is special to me because it was just up the beach, in Fort Lauderdale, that I attended my first ODTUG conference and a year later gave my first presentation – two events that in a very real way changed my life. While I can’t guarantee a life-altering experience if you attend Kscope15, I can guarantee high-caliber technical content and an overall conference experience that is second to none.
See you in Hollywood!
