This evening, we’d like to share with all of you an issue with our facility, the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel, that we were notified about earlier today, which will impact our attendees: the escalator down from the hotel lobby, widely used by everyone, is out of commission due to a mechanical issue.  The escalator up from the convention center to the lobby is unaffected.  Please read on for information that will be important for everyone attending this year.

For a visual guide to these changes, see the image at the bottom of this post.

Convention Registration: Now on Lobby Level

Convention Registration, which normally takes place on the convention center level at the bottom of the down escalator, has been moved up to the hotel lobby level, where it will be located during regular Registration hours: Thursday 4pm-9pm; Friday & Saturday 9am-7pm; Sunday 9am-1pm.  Registration is located in the Aviation Ballroom, between the hotel’s lobby bar and the JW’s Steakhouse (regular attendees will know this as the former site of Program B prior to the COVID pandemic.)

Please check in for your badge and program on the Lobby level
BEFORE making your way downstairs to the convention center!

Convention Photo Shoots will also have their table at Convention Registration on Thursday, where you can purchase photo ops, receptions or other add-on items. (As of Friday morning, all add-ons can be purchased at our Photo Studio on the convention center level.)

Convention Center Access

After picking up your badge and program, you have three options to access the convention center level, in the basement of the hotel, where all of our programming and events, our Dealers Room, Art Show, video room, gaming and more is located:

  • Stairs from the front of the building directly into the convention center, which we have not previously used, will be available this year; to access them, you must exit the building out the front doors of the hotel lobby, then turn right at the valet parking area, and head toward the stairs (signs will be posted).  This option, while outside, is very easy to manage and will lead you right into the convention center.
  • Elevators will be fully in operation; be warned that the elevators can suffer from delays at peak times, especially on Friday & Saturday afternoon and evening.
  • The circular ramp in front of the hotel, which includes the valet parking area, curves around and ends at the lower convention center patio, outside the glass doors where you can enter the event.

Convention badges will be checked on the convention center level at all three entry points: the alternative stairwell mentioned above; at the elevator landing; and at all of the glass doors leading into the convention center from the patio.  Make sure you get your badge from Convention Registration before attempting to access the convention center, because you will be turned away.

As noted, the escalator from the convention center to the lobby is unaffected by this situation; it’s only the escalator down that is an issue.

Due to expected additional reliance upon the elevators this year, we encourage everyone who has tickets to our evening guest receptions on both nights to give yourself plenty of time to get up to the 16th floor.  Freight elevators are still not accessible to the public.

Other than these layout changes, Gallifrey One will continue as normal in all other respects, including all of our programming and events, guest appearances and much more.  Even with this last-minute change to our setup, we know this will be a fabulous year for everyone, and we thank you for your understanding!