General Information

We're delighted to welcome you to Beyond Commodity: Customer-Focused Strategy for Digital Media.

To help you prepare for the seminar, we've posted the conference schedule, the advance reading assignment, class and lodging locations and information about the getting to Northwestern's campus in Evanston, IL.

Conference Location
The sessions for the Digital Strategies seminar will be held at the James L. Allen Center, a conference center on the shores of Lake Michigan on the Evanston Campus of Northwestern University. The Allen Center is equipped with computers and printers for your use at any time. If you're bringing a laptop, the classroom has wireless internet connectivity and tabletop power outlets. Click here if you'd like more about the Allen Center computer system and wireless capabilities.

Meals will be in the dining room at the Allen Center. Class sessions and meals are informal, so we suggest that you dress comfortably and casually. If you have any special dietary needs, please send us an email and we will be happy to relay this to the Allen Center chef.

James L. Allen Center
2169 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Phone: 847-864-9270
Fax: 847-491-4323

Lodging
Hotel rooms have already been reserved for you at the Hilton Garden Inn in Evanston from Sunday, October 5 through October 9. For those of you who are driving, parking is available at the hotel. (Cars are not necessary, however, since a daily shuttle to campus is provided.)

The Hilton Garden Inn
1818 Maple Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone 847-475-6400

Daily Shuttle
A daily shuttle service will provide a ride to and from the hotel and the classroom each day of the seminar. If you prefer to walk, it's a brief 15 minutes to campus. A walking map is linked here.

Participant List and and Schedule
The seminar begins at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6. The participant list and schedule are posted to the right. Both are subject to change as participants are added and sessions rescheduled. Please note that you will have free nights on Tuesday and Thursday.

Advance Readings
Many readings appear on the schedule and they will be in your class notebook when you arrive. Prior to your arrival, you should read the articles listed in the Advance Readings section of the site. We also provide a set of links of our Media Management Center's research and we suggest you familiarize yourselves with the content.

Mail and Faxes
Mail, FedEx packages, and faxes can be sent to you either at the Allen Center or the Hilton Garden Inn. Packages sent to you at the Allen Center should be addressed to: Your name, c/o Media Management Center Digital Strategies, James L. Allen Center, 2169 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. Packages sent to you at the hotel should be addressed to: Your name, Hilton Garden Inn, Evanston, IL 60201.

Transportation
If you're driving to campus, you'll need a permit to park in the Center lot until 4 pm each day. These will be available at the reception desk just inside the Center's lobby. Without a permit, you're bound to get a ticket, so please be sure to ask at the reception desk when you arrive.

Our transportation page includes information on transportation to and from the airports, as well as driving directions to the Hilton Garden Inn and the Allen Center.

Health and Fitness
There is an exercise room at the Hilton Garden Inn, as well as workout equipment and showers at the Allen Center. You may also want to take advantage of the running path behind the Allen Center; it has beautiful views of the campus, Lake Michigan, and downtown Chicago.

Northwestern University
Please visit Northwestern's Web site to find information about the campus - a history of the University, a map of the Evanston campus, photos of campus, and a general feel for what's going on at Northwestern.

We look forward to seeing you at Northwestern, October 6!