Everything You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions

Directions North America 2024 (Sunday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 17) Full Conference registration includes attendance at all General Sessions, keynotes, track sessions, town halls, Computer Workshops, Welcome Reception on Sunday, Expo Reception on Monday, and Partner Celebration on Tuesday. It also includes breakfast and lunch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and morning and afternoon breaks during the Conference. To attend Computer Workshops, arrive at the workshop rooms to receive your session logon information. Workshop spaces are limited, first-come, first-served.

​Day ​Passes ​include access to all sessions, meals, and Welcome Reception, Expo Reception or Partner Celebration for that day only. ​

Expo Only Passes include access to General Sessions, ISV Sessions offered by the registrant’s company (if applicable), Welcome Reception, Expo Reception, and Partner Celebration. No admission to food and beverage services not offered during these events, nor to any other Conference Sessions, Workshops, Premier Booths, and activities.

As a Full Conference Attendee you will have breakfast and lunch on Monday (April 15), Tuesday (April 16), and Wednesday (April 17), and morning and afternoon breaks. Welcome Reception (April 14), Expo Reception (April 15) and Partner Celebration (April 16) offer both food and beverage service including hosted bars.

Meals will include a variety of food selections, including gluten free and vegetarian. Food ingredients are labeled at the buffet tables. Your well-being is important to us. If you have special dietary needs, please note your dietary restrictions on your registration form. Let us know preferably 4 weeks prior to the conference so we have time to make arrangements.

Know that there is a grab-and-go market and restaurants onsite should you wish to order specialty beverages, snacks, wine and beer, and other food items.

Networking will be available throughout the Conference, starting with the Welcome Reception on Sunday (April 14), Expo Reception on Monday (April 15), and Partner Celebration on Tuesday (April 16). Plan to visit the Microsoft team and Premier Sponsor Exhibit (Silver Pearl Foyer and Silver Pearl 2) throughout conference hours, and all Exhibitors during the two Expo Receptions and lunch on Monday (April 15). Take advantage of Directions Connections networking hubs with tables equipped with power and USB charging stations located in the conference area that are ideal for ad hoc meetings with other partners. No reservations required.

There are lots of reasons for you to attend Directions North America! For just a few examples, check out Justify Your Trip to Directions North America! (PDF)

Your best bet to get the Directions room block rate at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is to reserve your room through our direct link listed on the Venue page when it opens. The room rate is $229 per night plus applicable taxes, and waived daily standard resort fee of $26 applicable to other guests. You earn Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Points and help Directions meet its room block commitment with the savings going back to offer you a better experience. Rooms can be sold out, so be sure to book early and book direct!

Scam watch reminder: Directions has not authorized any reservation agents to approach sponsors and attendees. No company should call, email or contact you directly about your hotel room reservation. Third parties cannot offer you better price and flexibility. Only reserve your room directly with the hotel via the Directions’ link.

Business casual is the accepted attire throughout the Conference, with casual for the Partner Celebration.

Once you have registered and received a registration confirmation email, you will be able to view and update your personal information by logging in to your registration account using the email address and password you entered at the time of registration.

The most common question is: why is Cronus USA Inc. listed on my credit card or financial institution receipts? Cronus USA Inc. is the non-profit organization managed by the Directions North America Organizing Committee that operates Directions North America events. Cronus USA Inc. is correctly listed as the merchant for credit card and financial transactions. We use Stripe as our payment processer, and fees such as credit card transactions and fund transfers via financial institutions charged by Stripe are passed through. If you need any additional help with regard to credit card, fund transfers, and financial transactions, please contact [email protected].

After you have completed the registration form, select the option to register another attendee. You can register as many attendees as you wish, using their email addresses so they can receive registration confirmations and conference communications. This method is straight-forward. Your Attendees will all be registered after you have completed the registration process.

In the event that you want attendees to register themselves and not have to go through the payment process individually, or if you don’t know who will attend but want to have the Full Conference Pass at today’s rates available for them, you can use the Group Purchase Coupon option. You buy Group Purchase Coupons that can be redeemed prior to Directions North America 2024 for Full Conference Passes. After you have made the purchase, the Event Team will send you a Coupon Code, good for the number of Full Conference Passes you purchased. You may then distribute the Code for attendees to register themselves as soon as possible so they will receive conference communications in a timely manner, and no later than March 31, 2024 to ensure completion of the process and their names are on the conference registration list. The minimum is 3 Full Conference Passes.

Important: Attendees must register individually at the main registration site, otherwise they will not be admitted to the conference.

We understand circumstances can change. Please review the Policies section on eligibility, cancellation policy, and transfer of passes (substitutions) about deadlines and how to proceed. Only attendees named on registrations will be admitted to the conference.

We are delighted to offer Guest Passes to Directions North America 2024 social events. Guests are encouraged to join in the fun and tickets may be purchased online or at the event, unless the event sells out. There are two types of Guest Passes. One which allows Guests to attend the Welcome Reception (April 14), Expo Reception (April 15) and Partner Celebration (April 16). The other allows Guests to attend the Partner Celebration only (April 16).

Guests must be attending with a registered attendee and at least 21 years or older. Guest Passes are for participation in social activities only. Individuals who plan to participate in the conference business and/or networking activities and meet the conference eligibility criteria should purchase a Conference Pass, or an Expo Only Pass (if eligible). Guest name badges contain name only with no company affiliations.

Directions 2024 Registration Desk hours are as follows:

Saturday, April 13, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 14, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Monday, April 15, 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Basic High Speed Internet in your guestroom is complimentary when you reserve your room through the Directions room block. Wireless Internet service for attendees will be available without charge in the conference area.

Pets and animals of any types are not allowed in the conference areas. The conference space can be very busy for extended periods of time with people and food services. We wish to respect and support the well-being of those who may have adverse reactions or allergies around animals in enclosed spaces. Attendees who need the assistance of a service dog or animal, properly trained and registered where appropriate, should contact us ahead of time so we can address those needs on a case-by-case basis.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina offers complimentary airport shuttle service to/from the San Diego International Airport which is 0.5 miles away. Shuttle service runs daily every 30-40 minutes from 4:45 AM – 12:00 AM. Confirm next available time with the front desk. Upon arrival at the Airport, proceed to the transportation bay for courtesy vehicles and wait for the shuttle. At the hotel, shuttles depart from outside the main lobby.

A detailed agenda with session rooms and speaker information will be made available shortly before the conference begins.

Executive Roundtable sessions are limited to participation of one person that holds fiduciary and decision making authority for your reseller organization. This generally means owners and senior executives. Your participation in any Executive Roundtable session means you explicitly agree to hold information you learn during each session under full non-disclosure. You may share information as you see fit in the course of each session and respect that other owners and senior executives are also sharing private information about how they operate. As an executive community, we hold ourselves accountable to privacy and respect for our fellow partners.

We understand every business runs in your unique way, so we welcome inquiries to discuss your specific role and if participation is appropriate to the rest of the audience. Email [email protected] for consideration.

Directions NA has full authority to determine who should or can participate in the Executive track. We also have the right to ask someone to leave the session at any time.

We hope this track becomes valuable and thank you for your participation. We highly encourage you all to share your feedback and thoughts so the Directions organizing committee can continue to evolve and enhance this track. Send us a note at [email protected].

Who can register for this track?

This is an invitation-only track for Microsoft Partners for owners and executives (not ISVs this year). You must be registered for Directions NA 2024 with a Full Conference Pass to access this. This includes Day Pass access only on the day of paid registration. One person from each company is allowed in the session unless space is available in the room.

The Directions Connections areas are located in (1) Pacific Jewel Foyer and (2) Coral Foyer. You will find tables equipped with power and USB charging stations where you can charge up your devices and meet up. No reservations required.

Meet up with the Microsoft team at the Microsoft Support Center located in Silver Pearl 2 Ballroom, and at the Microsoft booth during Expo.

Visit and chat with Directions’ Diamond, Gold, and Silver Sponsors in the Premier Sponsor Exhibits located in Silver Pearl Foyer and Silver Pearl 2 on the main floor throughout conference hours. They will be joined by Bronze Sponsors and Expo Exhibitors during the Welcome Expo on Sunday evening, Lunch at Expo on Monday, and Expo Reception on Monday evening. Attend ISV Sessions presented by Sponsors to learn about the value of their products and services. Don’t miss Directions’ top level sponsors’ presentations during General Sessions.

We welcome your questions and feedback! You may find answers to additional questions about polices in the Policies section, and program details in appropriate sections. Additional Agenda details will be published on this website as planning progresses and announced through Directions’ regular mailings. Be sure to sign up for the mailings. We’d love to hear from you, receive feedback, and help you get the best experience at Directions NA 2024.  Please reach out to the Directions Organizing Committee at any time!