PagodaFest 2025 - Great Smoky Mountains - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

[mdsalemi]

Hello Members!

Registration for PagodaFest 2025 is now open! Click the link here to be taken directly to the registration page:

https://tinyurl.com/PagodaFest2025

Summary: PagodaFest 2025 will be held in the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, near Knoxville in the vicinity of some of the greatest driving roads in the eastern USA, and the gorgeous Appalachian Mountains. We'll follow a program similar to past events: A day of technical sessions, plenty of hands-on time with cars and friends, meals, a banquet and a driving event. The event runs from Thursday, September 25th through Sunday September 28th.

There is NOTHING like a PagodaFest to meet your fellow members, see dozens of Pagodas with dedicated enthusiasts, get your questions answered or lend your expertise. If you are a new member or have not been to a club event in the past, be sure to include this one, everyone is waiting to meet you!

Host hotel is Courtyard Knoxville Airport Alcoa where we've negotiated a special rate of just $139/night.  Here is the link to secure this room rate. Be certain to double check your planned CHECK IN and CHECK OUT dates when making a hotel reservation.

https://tinyurl.com/PagodaFest2025-Hotel

Registration cost of PagodaFest is $300 per person and includes the club program and banquet. Your hotel and incidentals are extra. When you register online, please ensure you provide an email you use regularly as well as your mobile phone. The link to take you directly to the hotel registration is also provided on our registration form.

Typical driving times to Knoxville, from:
New York: 11 hours
Washington DC: 8 Hours
Atlanta: 3:40
Chicago: 8:40
Columbus: 5:20
Raleigh: 6 Hours

Your planning committee is working on program details now so expect updates periodically. Some may choose to arrive earlier or stay later, and take advantage of some of these great driving roads such as Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway the latter of which is celebrated by Hagerty as the road of the year for 2025.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/driving/hagerty-road-of-the-year-2025-cherohala-skyway/
https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/tail-of-the-dragon-in-the-smoky-mountains/#google_vignette

Hope to see y'all there!

[Garry]

Unfortunately, due to the political situation and now long standing travel warnings by our Government, I am going to pass on this one for the first time in 20 years.


Pretty sad about that but wish everyone the best for what I am sure will be another successful gathering.


Garry

[mdsalemi]

Unfortunately, due to the political situation and now long standing travel warnings by our Government, I am going to pass on this one for the first time in 20 years.
Pretty sad about that but wish everyone the best for what I am sure will be another successful gathering.

Garry

Garry, you missed Chicago, too.  That being said, the official Australian government position on travel for its citizens to the USA, is pretty much the same as it's been. "Exercise normal safety precautions in the United States of America."

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/united-states-america

The smart advice on the same Aussie website says "Avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring due to the potential for unrest and violence. Monitor media for information, follow the instructions of local authorities and abide by any curfews." That's sound advice for anyone, INCLUDING Americans. I steer clear of these kinds of protests and gatherings. It is unlikely you would encounter such things around Knoxville or our event, or even getting to it no matter how. Curfews are exceedingly rare in the USA.

One thing that may have changed over the past few years is the entry requirements; they are strict. US authorities have broad powers to decide if you're eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law. Check US entry, registration, transit and exit requirements. Whether you're traveling on a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, ensure you understand all relevant terms and conditions before attempting to enter the United States. [This isn't part of the new administration; early in 2024 my friend in Austria was initially denied an entry VISA waiver because he had traveled to Somalia some years earlier.]

One of our members from Italy just came to the USA for a two week long holiday in May, and he had to apply and get ESTA visa waiver. It was a formality granted quickly and his travel was easy and safe.

Most Americans and surely all American Pagoda Group members are quite welcoming of international visitors, and for those of our international members who want to come to PagodaFest, PLEASE DO! Aside from perhaps getting the Visa or Visa Waiver, which you get at home, your trip will be easy. It won't be an uneventful trip because PagodaFest will be memorable!

[twistedtree]

Maybe it's just me, but the Marriott reservation process seems pretty messed up.  When I select the Pagoda rate, it switched the check in date to tuesday the 23rd rather than thursday the 25th, and charges for 2 extra days.  There doesn't seem to be any way to change it.

[Martijn]

This is great! I'm in.
My thanks to everyone who helps organize it.

I look forward to meet old friends and making new friends.

Martijn

[Garry]

Michael,

Certainly not wanting to get in to politics but maybe what I access and see is probably not what you are able to access.
The only time in my life I have been initially unable to get a visa to enter the USA was to come to a PUB when Trump was previously the President due to me having (as a Military Officer) worked in a Middle Eastern country whilst integrated in a US operation and the President banned any one that had been to certain countries. 
After an extensive interview at the US Embassy here in Australia, I was given an exemption to the Presidents Executive Order and attended the PUB.  My normal 5 year US Visa expired this year. I am not going through the renewal process at this time again. ETSA has never worked well as an option for me. I have a US Social Security card as you know, but that doesn’t count for much for a foreigner any more.
2023, we, as in Australia, still had a Covid problem re travel but I did attend a Euro Tour to make up for it. 😎

[mdsalemi]

Maybe it's just me, but the Marriott reservation process seems pretty messed up.  When I select the Pagoda rate, it switched the check in date to tuesday the 23rd rather than thursday the 25th, and charges for 2 extra days.  There doesn't seem to be any way to change it.

I had no issue changing check in day from Tuesday to Wednesday. Same rate. If that doesn’t work for you, just call the hotel directly.