RootsTech 2025
Strategies for in-person attendees gathering at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City March 6-8, 2025.
Genealogists LOVE getting together and talking about their favorite subject - family history. RootsTech is arguably the world’s largest in-person and virtual genealogy conference. Expect about 30-40K in-person attendees and over 1m (million!) different virtual attendees on any given day. Ol’ Myrt here has only missed one in-person RootsTech — the year we got Mr. Myrt through his radiation & chemo.
During RootsTech’s first five or six years, I thoroughly enjoyed being on the live-streamed main stage and classroom panels with colleagues. I served as an official blogger, later called ambassador - to help promote the annual conference. I’ve presented classes and coordinated a computer lab. It was easy since we lived 20 minutes away from the Salt Palace.
Nowadays, I prefer to have an independent voice, and I will likely spend most of my time networking with people and finding out what’s new in the Exhibit Hall. I expect to meet up with my fellow GeneaBloggers at Noon on Friday near the RootsTech media booth.
If you arrive early, join Mondays with Myrt LIVE streaming at 10am local (Mountain) in the 3rd floor glass-enclosed nerve center at the FamilySearch Library. (It’s across from the elevators. During RootsTech later in the week, I hope to catch up with attendees and vendors for DearMYRTLE’s AmbushCAM video shorts.
Suggestions for in-person attendees:
If you aren’t local, stay at a hotel as near to the Salt Palace as your pocketbook can justify. Now that we’ve moved to the Pacific Northwest, we are staying across the street near the southeast entrance to the building. I can easily drive my Jazzy electric wheelchair. Even on snowy winter days, the city and the venue staff clear sidewalks and streets ASAP.
Wear layers for warmth. There are no lockers to store your overcoat. I suggest a small rolling suitcase if you aren’t into wearing a backpack.
Go for comfort. Wear your most comfortable shoes to facilitate getting from one end of the exhibit hall, up an elevator or stairwell, all in time to be seated for the next session in a distant classroom.
Download the RootsTech App Android or iOS
Plan your schedule in the app. If there are any last-minute changes or cancellations, you’ll receive an immediate notification.
This is particularly helpful for navigating the Salt Palace.
Food If your hotel room has a fridge, Harmon’s City Creek is the closest, and it has a fantastic deli department. 135 East 100 South. 801.428.0366, open 7am-10pm daily. Pharmacy hours: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.
Medical issues can be assessed in the Salt Palace, as any of the local volunteers can call for assistance. The nearest hospital is Intermountain Health LDS, 8th Ave, C Street East. You’ll need to take a cab or Uber unless an ambulance has been called.
Pharmacy Walgreens is the closest to the Salt Palace at 72 South Main Street. 801.531.0583. The store is open 7am-8pm, the Pharmacy from 10am-6pm.
Watch the keynote from your hotel room, then head across the street to the building. This cuts down on the rush of about 8-10k people trying to crowd into the main-stage viewing room all at the last minute.
Shuttle Services FamilySearch provides a shuttle to and from the Salt Palace to the FamilySearch Library. More distant hotels may offer a shuttle.
Prioritize two things:
Attend in-person classes that are not recorded for viewing later. RootsTech features a tool for in-person attendees: https://cvent.me/gDekAG
Visiting the exhibit hall - your one chance to interact with vendors, software developers and websites. Print out a map, even though you have the app. The exhibits are spread out, so you’ll want to map your route to save doubling back.
Got mobility issues? Ol’ Myrt has her own electric wheelchair, but if you need anything, look to these resources:
Abby Home Medical https://abbyhomemedical.com/home-medical-rentals/
Alpine Home Medical https://www.alpinehomemedical.com/categories/power-scooter-rentals/
Cloud of Goods https://www.cloudofgoods.com/
Next Day Access https://www.nextdayaccess.com/salt-lake-city-ut/wheelchairs/
Salt Palace - Order Services 385.468.2222. Hurry, their mobility rentals sell out quickly. The Business office is where you’ll find the lost and found.
Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt
DearMYRTLE, your (not so retired friend in genealogy.
Thanks for all the tips! I hope to catch up with you in a few weeks