Davis Conference Center — Attraction in Layton

The Davis Conference Center is very nice and has lots of space for a medium sized conference (2500-3000 people). The rooms and restrooms are clean and well maintained.

The problems I have are due to the restrictions they place on attendees...

There is no outside food allowed, but their concessions are somewhat limited in time available and offerings. They have upped their game recently and now have personal pizzas cooked in a pizza oven (they are very tasty) as well as sandwiches and a few other more nutritious offerings, but there's only so many hot dogs, pretzels, and nachos one can eat in a 4-day weekend event.

The cell reception /Wi-Fi stinks! They charge $5-$10 per day for Wi-Fi access. If you just want to use your own phone, forget about it! The cell reception is awful. They recently installed a Verizon network extender and that just makes it worse. Your phone automatically connects to it and will not connect directly to the tower. They are blocking internet access through the extender, and that's just extra frustrating because it looks like you have 4 or 5 bars but nothing will load and apps tell you that there's no internet connection. This seems like another way to try to get you to buy internet from them. 😡 You used to be able to step outside the building to get a signal, but now have to walk into the parking lot.

As for parking, there are not enough spaces. If you are staying at a nearby hotel, you should plan to walk. Even with their extended parking lot across the street, there are not enough spaces.

These negatives don't keep me from attending the conference, but they do make life more frustrating and difficult...

When I attended the 2023 Utah Quilt Guild annual conference (Quilt Fest) there were grumblings about the facility we gathered at. I heard about the Davis Conference Center for the first time and it's overwhelmingly favorable comparisons to the 2023 space. Apparently the Guild has been there before and this year (2024) they returned to DCC even though they had to meet a month earlier because the facility was already booked for their usual October date. I could see for myself why it has such a fine reputation for a gathering spot. The facility is beautiful and the staff is efficient and friendly. There is an enormous room that holds all the vendors as well as a large quilt show. Middle sized rooms were set up for meals and lectures and smaller rooms are available for workshops and classes. Bathrooms were ample and clean. Parking is free compared to last year's parking garage. The only controversial comment I heard from a few ladies is that the inside temperature was too cold (in August) for summer attire. Regulating a building's temperature to suit all body types is impossible so...

A nice sized space with a lot of adaptable rooms and area. However there are ongoing problems with the food service policies. At odds are the center's rules against outside food and drink, their complete failure to offer options, and putting the responsibility on organizers to enforce the policy (with stiff financial penalty if they don't.) The facility has a Grill and food service area, but instead chooses to serve poor attempts at sandwiches and teriyaki rice or noodles bowl for few hours a day. This is especially egregious when hosting a capacity crowd of gamers for 4-full days of 24-hour gaming!! If the conference center is concerned about mess, simply designate limited appropriate space for outside food and drink (and not outside in the snow as we've been told last winter.) If it's simply about profit gouging, perhaps it's time conference organizers look start looking at...