Re: [AGA SC] Holiday Inn proposal

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

--- Neil Frank <nfrank@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Do any of the hotel deals under consideration include a
> nice hospitality
> room. 

I know GWAPA has in mind that folks have more time to tallk
and meet (Shmooze time, I've been calling it).

How many meeting rooms we have will depend on the
economics. All of these hotels have large rooms we can use
for hospitality. Affording them is not clear yet.

Getting a whole suite in Dallas had more to do with Larry's
negotiating skills as anything else. We didn't even have to
pay for the suite, even though it included and "sleeping
room" for one of the speakers.

We're not likely to get a deal like that again.

> Although the sleeping rooms at the Dallas Marriot
> were great, one of
> the things that made the last convention really nice was
> their Hospitality
> room. The hotel also seemed to have a really good layout
> for interaction
> among attendees

I wasn't as taken with the layout. It was okay but not
great -- too many hallways, imo.

. . Those are intangibles that may not be
> easy to see in a
> written proposal. 

I agree with that point whole heartedly.

> Are the DC folks going to make the
> final hotel choice,
> based on an onsite inspection. 

They've been to each hotel more than once. The trip is an
all day affair for Ghazanfar and Rick.  They've done a lot
of on-line searching to be sure they are getting good rates
given the market, the hotels under consideration have all
been seen, touched, felt, smelled, etc. The intangibles
apply to staff as well as the quarters.

Re intangibles for quarters, the Marriot comes out on top
but the Sheraton is a good second. The Holiday is so and
the the Best West somewhat unlikeable.

Re intangibles for staff, the Sheraton comes out on top
with the Holiday Inn and Marriot both a distant second.

> I was also wondering about the Balt Harbor hotel? Is that
> out of the
> question because of cost and shuttle fees. 

I'll ask them.

> Sure would be
> nice to be in
> walking distance of the inner harbor & aquarium? 
> However, probably further
> from the aquarium shop tour. 

> Another hidden cost factor is restaurant choices.
> Although Dallas lodging
> was cheap, many of us without wheels ending paying
> premium price for food.

On or close to the airport limits choices, especially for
folks without wheels. In Dallas there was little time to
travel anyhow.

This is why Larry insisted on the discount for all food and
beverage the convention folks bought at the Marriot. Even
with the discount, hotel food is pricey, unfortunatley. 

I've talked with them about restaurant choices on the Field
Trip (there are lots) but haven't brought it up re the
hotel. Wish I had -- I passed question on to them.

Thanks, Neil,
sh

=====
S. Hieber

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