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Lodging & Local Information
Hotel Arrangements and Driving Directions for the 2006 IASPM-US Annual Conference

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IASPM-US’s 2006 meeting will be held February 16-19 at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The primary venue will be the Bragg Mass Communication Building on the campus. Two nearby auditoriums will be used for plenary sessions, and there will be social/music events at the host hotel (Thurs. night) and at a Nashville club (Fri. night). The host hotel (now a Doubletree) and campus facilities are the same as they were for our 1999 meeting.

Transportation

Murfreesboro is some thirty-five (35) miles southeast of Nashville, easily accessible by Interstate highway. Unfortunately, Nashville Airport does not have a well-developed shuttle van system. Taxis are available, but one company quoted sixty-five dollars ($65) for a ONE-WAY trip to Murfreesboro. Renting a car or coordinating your ground travel with other attendees will be your best bet. The MTSU campus is about a fifteen minute drive from the hotel. If you plan on getting up to Nashville, having access to wheels is pretty much a must.

Ground Transportation Information:
Visit the Ground Transportation page at Nashville International Airport's web site for information about cabs, shuttles, rental cars, etc.

Cabs do wait at the airport at most hours, but making a combined advance reservation with other IASPM attendees, or booking a round trip in advance might result in a better rate. Visit the Ridesharing page to connect with other conference attendees.

Conference Shuttle:
There will be limited-capacity shuttle bus service between the Doubletree hotel and campus at the start and finish of each conference day. The shuttle will also run to the Friday night music event and back to Murfreesboro, once in each direction. Check the conference program for all shuttle departure times.

Lodging

The host hotel is Murfreesboro Doubletree, 1850 Old Fort Parkway - just off Exit 78B of Interstate 24. The conference rate for King or Double rooms is $72. Be sure to reserve before January 16th, after which our block of rooms will be released. The phone number there is (615) 895-5555. The group name is: MTSU/IASPM-US

The hotel has a Business Center, Fitness Center, swimming pool and whirlpool. There is complimentary hi-speed wireless; voice mail and data ports in the rooms. Refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board are also supplied in the rooms.

Nearby Lodging Alternatives:
(info from AAA)

• Comfort Inn (615) 890-5951
• Hampton Inn (615) 896-1172
• Microtel (615) 904-2000
• Super 8 (615) 867-5000
• Wingate Inn (615) 849-9000
• Holiday Inn Holidome (615) 896-2420

There are other options as well. This is a pretty typical American interstate exchange. It is frequented by many “snowbirds” on their Florida and return excursions. Any lodging located off Exit 78B will be just minutes from the Doubletree.

Driving Directions

From the Airport to Doubletree Hotel: 
Follow signs at the Airport for Interstate 40 WEST. Within five miles of the Airport on I-40, watch for signs for I-24 EAST. They will say “Chattanooga.” Mileposts will ascend as you drive southeast. Exit at 78B. The “B” is important! This exit will put you on Old Fort Parkway, headed toward the hotel. The Doubletree will be on the left within the first mile.

From the Doubletree to MTSU:

• Get back on I-24 EAST, heading AWAY from Nashville.
• Go three miles to EXIT 81B. Again, the “B” is important.
• The first major street after the interstate is Rutherford Blvd. (Wendy’s on right), TURN RIGHT. You will stay on Rutherford 5-6 miles. You will wind through cotton fields, through a commercial/ residential zone, etc. before reaching the campus. Watch for a Wal-Mart on the right.
• The second traffic light AFTER the Wal-Mart entrance will be Main Street, GO STRAIGHT.
• After Main Street, you will see a strip-mall shopping center, a Shell gas station, then Fraternity Row and the campus on the left. TURN LEFT at the campus entrance traffic light.
• Go to the first stop sign and TURN LEFT. At the first stop sign on this campus street, TURN RIGHT. The Bragg Mass Comm. Building will be just ahead on the right. Park.

Parking will be tight on Friday. You may have to backtrack to find a space. Allow extra time for this! By comparison, Saturday and Sunday will be a breeze.