More information regarding the 2024 BIG Idea Competition Forum will be released after finalists have been selected.
Hotel
More information for the onsite forum will be made available to finalist teams.
BIG Idea Host Hotel
Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel Convention Center & Spa
1700 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
- Deadline to make reservations is 5 PM EST on Saturday, March 23, 2019
- $94/Night + tax (Rooms with 1 King Bed or 2 Doubles available)
- Breakfast is included in the room rate for up to 3 people
- Please plan to arrive at the hotel by Monday, April 22 in time for a 7:00 p.m. Forum registration/check-in in the hotel lobby (followed by an icebreaker/networking reception for students). The BIG Idea Forum ends on Wednesday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. - please plan your outgoing flights and hotel reservations accordingly.
Reservations
- To make reservations online, please visit our BIG Idea group reservation page.
- Deadline to make a reservation at the Group Rate is 5 p.m. EST March 23, 2019.
- If the group block becomes full or if you have any trouble with your reservation at all, please email Stacy at stacy.dees@nianet.org and she will assist your team in obtaining reservations at the Embassy Suites.
Transportation
From Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Get on I-64 West from Norview Avenue
- Stay on I-64 West for 17.4 miles, through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (No Toll)
- Take exit 263 B toward W Mercury Blvd / Hampton Coliseum.
- Merge onto West Mercury Blvd. Keep right, and turn right onto Coliseum Drive.
- Turn left toward the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel Convention Center & Spa. Your destination will be on your left.
From Newport News / Williamsburg Airport (PHF)
- Head east on Bland Blvd. Keep left to stay on Bland Blvd.
- Use the left lane to turn left onto Jefferson Avenue.
- Use the right lane to merge onto I-64 East toward Hampton/Norfolk. Keep left at the fork.
- Take exit 263 and keep right toward Coliseum. Merge onto Mercury Blvd.
- Turn right onto Coliseum Drive
- Turn left toward the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel Convention Center & Spa. Your destination will be on your left.
From Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- From Richard E. Byrd Terminal Drive, take a slight left onto S. Airport Drive
- Use the right lane to merge onto I-295 S/Norfolk/Rocky Mt.; follow & merge onto I-64 East for 64 miles
- Take exit 263 and keep right toward Coliseum. Merge onto Mercury Blvd.
- Turn right onto Coliseum Drive
- Turn left toward the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel Convention Center & Spa. Your destination will be on your left.
From Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel Convention Center & Spa (~15 minutes)
- Turn right onto Coliseum Drive toward Mercury Blvd.
- Turn right onto Mercury Blvd. Get in the left-hand lane.
- Turn left onto North Armistead Avenue. Follow it ~2.5 miles. Keep right at Commander Shepard Blvd.
- Turn right into NASA's Langley Research Center. Turn right immediately toward the Badge & Pass Office.
Registration
The BIG Idea Judges will review proposals and notify selected finalist teams to move onto the 2020 BIG Idea Forum in February.
Registration for the 2019 Forum is only open to the 5 university teams selected to advance to the final round of the competition. Teams are limited to 8 student registration and 1 faculty registration, for a total of 9 people per team.
Breakfast is included with your hotel rate. Lunch and dinner is included in your registration fee on the 23rd. An awards luncheon is included on the 24th. Teams are responsible for making all their own travel arrangements, including hotel reservations.
The deadline for Registration is 11:59 PM EST on March 23rd, 2019.
Agenda
Coming Soon!
You can find the 2019 BIG Idea Program Book by clicking the button below.