P3D Re: NSA Convention at the Marriot

[Tom Deering <tmd@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>How come the "regular" discount rate for a
>Thursday-Saturday stay at the Richmond Marriot is
>$84 per couple (call the 1-800 number and they
>offer this special)...but the great NSA discount
>rate is $89???? Looks like they saw us coming!

As someone who has set up a big conference like this, I can assure you that
this is a mindbogglingly complex thing.  And it's only five bucks. Their
regular rate is $125. Plus, you're comparing apples to oranges.  One day
price versus a package price.

>And, how come when I called to make reservations
>on Friday, the hotel said they were booked up-no
>regular rooms and no NSA rooms left???   I guess
>the NSA didn't reserve enough rooms to accommodate
>all of those customers (and dealers) hoping to
>make it...and it's still only May...

Again, this calculation is not as easy as it sounds.  The size of the room
block is a tough call, happening a year or more in advance.  If they guess
too high, then the prices for the meeting rooms and other accomodations
will go up, which will wreck the budget.  You need to set up your own
national show before you will understand.

Would you rather they raise the cost of admission $15 to make sure there
will be unlimited rooms?  I don't think so.  I have nothing to do with the
NSA, I just know how difficult this can be.

Tom




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