Our frequently asked questions are below. Let’s see if we can’t help you find the information you need. Have a not-so-frequently asked question that you couldn’t find below? Feel free to reach out to us.
General Questions
Where and when will SEEK24 take place?
SEEK24 will take place at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Missouri from Monday, January 1 to Friday, January 5, 2024.
What do I get with an Event Pass?
Every Event Pass includes the following:
– Lunch each full day of the conference
– Entrance to all sessions with in-demand Catholic speakers
– Access to evening concerts and entertainment
– Conference resources, such as the SEEK24 app and access to our discounted hotel room block
– A one-of-a-kind encounter with Jesus Christ and the Church through the sacraments
Does my Event Pass include meals?
What food allergies/dietary needs are accomdated for box lunches?
We do our best to accommodate broad allergies and dietary requirements when creating our boxed lunch menu. All boxed lunches will be nut free. You may select additional needs for gluten free, dairy free and/or vegetarian in registration. Unfortunately, with a large audience, we are unable to ensure that all allergies can be accommodated. If you have any specific questions, please reach out to events@focus.org
What time should I arrive/depart?
Will the Impact Session schedule be posted before the conference starts?
What if I'm interested in being a vendor or sponsor?
If I’m not a college student, will there be specific tracks or relevant content for me at SEEK24?
I'm a campus minister or chaplain - will there be content for me at SEEK?
Yes! The Campus Ministry Experience has content to engage campus ministers and chaplains interested in creating dynamic and fruitful campus ministries and parish ministries.
What are the medical accommodations?
How can I apply to be a speaker?
Will SEEK24 offer American Sign Language interpretation?
Will there be options for childcare?
Childcare will be available each full day of conference (January 2 – 4) from 8 am to 5 pm. Childcare services are open to all children aged 18 months to 10 years, while space permits. Additional registration through our partner vendor is required. Details will be sent to those who opt-in during their SEEK registration. Cost: $60 for 1 child, $120 for 2+ children for all 3 days of care. This cost for the service is in addition to the conference registration fee for children aged 3 and up. The cost includes babysitting for all three days. Day passes are not available. FOCUS works to subsidize 80-90% of the cost of this service to ensure our families can experience SEEK.
Can I attend Mass without paying for an Event Pass?
For security reasons, everyone entering the America’s Center Convention Complex (including children) will need an Event Pass. As a private event, you must purchase an Event Pass to participate in any portion of SEEK24. Day Passes can be purchased online leading up to SEEK24, or you can head to the Info Booth to purchase a pass on site.
What should I pack?
“Use the packing list below as a guide. (As you prepare for SEEK24, don’t forget to bring any other essential personal items you may need, such as perscription medication and the like.)
– Mass attire
– Casual attire
– Outdoor apparel (jackets, hats, etc.; please check the weather forecast before you leave)
– Bible
– Toiletries
– Money for some meals, vendor booths, parking, and gratuities for housekeeping and porter services”
Registration Questions
Is group payment available?
As SEEK continues to grow, our event staff cannot accommodate one-off group payments coordinated with our office on a national level. We recommend that each parishioner or student should pay for their own SEEK24 registration. However, you are able to add guests to your registration as you register yourself for SEEK24 if you would like to pay for a group of up to 10 people. If your parish or campus will be covering costs for others, you may also instruct your group to register themselves with their own credit or debit card and then submit their payment confirmation as a receipt to your parish/campus ministry office for reimbursement.
We offer two group incentive options. For adults, we offer the Parish Pack which is 6 Event Passes for the price of 5. This is great for a pastor or parish staff member who will be paying for 5 parishioners to join them at SEEK24! For students on campuses without FOCUS missionaries, the Ambassador Program is a recruitment incentive program just for you. Recruit 5 students to register for SEEK24, and you’ll receive $100 off your own Event Pass.
Can my group register together?
Each member of your group should register separately for their own Event Pass. Your group will have the ability to book individual rooms (or rooms to share) through our housing portal. We have negotiated special rates with our official conference hotels for your convenience. The housing portal will open in fall 2023 and you will receive a link to book your housing within our discounted block in your SEEK registration confirmation email once the portal is open.
Are there discounts or scholarships available?
Can I fundraise to cover the cost of my registration and/or travel?
What if I accidentally registered for the wrong item?
What is the cancellation policy?
Deposits nonrefundable: Deposits for registrations are never refundable.
Registration refund: Apart from donations and deposits, payments made by the registrant toward SEEK24 may be eligible for a refund only as follows:
By December 1, 2023: If the registrant completes the refund process* by December 1, 2023, they will be eligible for a refund.
Between December 1 – December 15, 2023: If the registrant completes the refund process* between December 2 and December 15, 2023, FOCUS will retain $100 of the total ticket price or charge the card on file for the difference.
After December 16, 2023: If the registrant completes the refund process* after December 16, 2023, FOCUS will retain 50% of the total ticket price or charge the card on file for the difference. This means that cancelling after December 2, 2023 may result in a charge on the card on file.
*Refund process: In order to be eligible for a refund, a registrant must log into their account and cancel their registration using the original confirmation number (preferred) OR email events@focus.org.
NOTE: FOCUS assumes a registrant will attend SEEK24 unless they cancel their registration in accordance with this cancellation policy. Thus, FOCUS will charge a registrant’s bank card the full registration balance unless FOCUS is informed of the registrant’s cancellation in accordance with this policy. Unfortunately, FOCUS will not be able to refund a registrant’s payments if they do not attend SEEK24 and did not notify FOCUS in accordance with this cancellation policy, as FOCUS will have used those payments to meet the costs of the event.
When is payment due?
Can high schools students attend?
I’m under 18 (or my child is under 18), and I’d like to come to SEEK24. How do I submit my parental consent form?
How can I register my family for SEEK24? Does my child need an Event Pass?
– Spouse and Guests: $399
– Child aged 0-2: $0
– Child aged 3-12: $65
– Child aged 13-18: $200
– Child aged 18+: $399
I’m a member of the media, how do I sign up?
Will my card be charged for my remaining balance before the conference?
We reserve the right to charge your card after the final payment deadline. This is included in the Cancellation & Payment Policy, which you are required to read and accept during the registration process. The payment deadline is December 15, 2023. Additionally, according to our cancellation policy, we reserve the right to charge your card for the full amount or a portion if you cancel after December 15.
Will I be able to purchase an Event Pass + Room package for SEEK24?
Why can’t I find my confirmation email?
I’m a FOCUS staff member. How do I register?
Staff registration is not on the SEEK24 website. Staff registration will open in the early fall, be on the lookout in the Pilot or ask your SEEK team liaison for more details.
How much does registration cost?
Details about different types of Event Passes available and the price per each can be found on the Registration Information page.
Can my registration be transferred to another person?
Event Passes can be transferred to another person of the same registration type as the original registrant. These substitutions can be requested by emailing events@focus.org with your name and confirmation number and the name and email address of the person who will be taking your place.
Please note the SEEK hotel portal will close on December 15th, after which the new registrant may not be able to book accommodations.
FOCUS students will need to work with their campus missionaries to see if it is possible to utilize housing booked for a student of the same gender or if the previous registrant will be responsible for the accommodation booked in their name.
Accommodations
Where will I be staying?
Students who attend a campus with FOCUS missionaries will be housed with other students from their FOCUS campus. Be sure to ask your missionaries for more details on your assigned hotel, costs and to make sure you are included on your campus rooming list.
Can I book my housing now?
Can I book directly with a hotel?
Are special hotel rates available? How much will my hotel cost?
You can expect to pay $120-$150/night plus taxes and fees for a standard room depending on the hotel you select.
How are roommates assigned?
If you are on a FOCUS campus, your missionaries will arrange your rooming assignments. If you have specific needs/accommodations, please let your missionaries know so they can roommate you accordingly. Other attendees will have the ability to book their own housing through our housing portal. Attendees booking their own housing should coordinate their own roommates if they would like to share a room at SEEK24.
How do I book housing for my group?
FOCUS has negotiated a discounted rate with various hotels in St. Louis. Hotel rooms and blocks will be available for booking through our SEEK24 Hotel Portal in early fall of 2023.
Our hotel partners are only able to offer this discounted rate through the SEEK24 Hotel Portal. When reaching out to our hotel partners, attendees will be redirected to our SEEK24 hotel portal to ensure their reservation and rate are associated with SEEK24. You will be able to select the hotel that best matches your needs based on price, amenities and distance from the convention center. You can also reserve blocks of rooms for your group through this process.
I want to arrive early and/or stay late. Can I reserve extra night(s)?
SEEK24 Event Passes do not include housing, attendees will have the option to book additional dates when reserving their rooms through the hotel portal. Dates outside the scheduled SEEK24 dates are subject to availability and may vary across hotel property.
I was contacted by a housing vendor for SEEK24. Is this legitimate?
HPN Global is the only approved, official housing vendor for SEEK24. We understand that unauthorized housing companies may contact you and advertise cheaper rates, or they may imply or claim an affiliation with SEEK24. Unfortunately, some past attendees have fallen prey to these companies and were unable to recuperate the money they spent on rooms that did not exist. If you are contacted by any company that is NOT HPN Global, please notify the SEEK24 Housing Management at seekhousing@hpnglobal.com before providing any information to a secondary housing vendor.
I have a special housing request. How do I make sure it is fulfilled?
To accommodate the many specific needs that individuals or families attending SEEK24 may require, all attendees are able to book their room through the housing portal via their registration confirmation email. On the housing portal webpage, attendees can send any special requests and will be able to reserve a room at the SEEK24 conference rate. For other attendees in single or shared rooms, please contact HPN Global at seekhousing@hpnglobal.com to make your request known.
Do I need to stay at the hotels within the SEEK block?
FOCUS has negotiated a discounted rate with various hotels in St. Louis. Hotel rooms and blocks will be available for booking through our SEEK24 Housing portal. However, if you would prefer to book alternate accommodations, that is acceptable.
Our hotel partners are only able to offer this discounted rate through the SEEK24 Hotel portal. When reaching out to our hotel partners, attendees will be redirected to our SEEK24 Hotel portal to ensure their reservation and rate are associated with SEEK24. After completing registration, you will be given the option to continue on to the SEEK housing portal or you can access it in your SEEK in your registration confirmation email.
When will I hear about my housing assignment?
Attendees should receive an acknowledgment email once they have booked their accommodations through the SEEK24 housing portal. If you did not receive an acknowledgment upon completing your booking in the SEEK24 housing portal, please reach out to seekhousing@hpnglobal.com
If you are a student on a campus with FOCUS missionaries, the missionaries will be booking your room on your behalf. Once it is booked, students will also receive acknowledgement emails that list the hotel and roommates. Feel free to connect with the missionaries on your campus for more details on the hotel property you’ll be staying at and costs associated with your stay.
How much is hotel parking?
Hotel parking varies from property to property. Most hotels in the area closest to the hotels average around $30/day. Please reach out to your hotel directly or visit their website for specific rates.
Travel
How will I get to St. Louis?
There are several ways to travel to and between the Convention Center, the conference hotels and downtown St. Louis.
(Please note: Travel costs are not included with registration and should be calculated separately based on your individual needs.)
The closest international airport is St. Louis Lambert International Airport. It is approximately a 20-minute drive between the airport and the convention center.
The airport is connected to the MetroLink, St. Louis’s metropolitan light rail system. The ride from the airport to the Convention Center stop downtown takes about 45 minutes. Please refer to the MetroLink website for the schedule and pricing.
Additional transportation options from the airport can be found here: https://www.flystl.com/parking-and-transport/transportation