P3D Mesa Convention

[Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell <vmmasell@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell wrote:
> 
> > Just wanted to be sure and remind you that we have
> > a limited number of rooms in our host hotel this
> > year.
> 
> We're going to have to have a chat with the convention
> chairman.  Didn't we have *unlimited* rooms in prior
> years???  ;-)

You can only have a certain percentage of any hotel's
room as every facility has what is referred to as "house"
accounts -- airline staff, etc.  They have to keep so
many rooms available separate from what we can block.
This also happened in Green Bay last year -- hence
overflow hotels were used.
> 
> > You want to be sure and stay there (at $68
> > a night, why not...right???).  Tell them you
> > want the NSA rate so you get the best price.
> 
> Actually, this is not at all true.  First, I have been
> offered a $68 per night rate when just calling inquiring
> about rooms in general, specifically denying affiliation
> with any group.  (I have also been offered a rate of
> $99, so it's hit or miss.)
> 
> More importantly, there are ways to get a much better
> rate.  If you have a AAA membership, ask for the AAA
> Special Value Rate.  It is $55 per night.  If you are
> an AARP member, request the AARP rate.  It is also $55
> per night.  Both of these rates are capacity controlled,
> so you must act early.  As of earlier today, rooms at
> these rates were available.  (But all suites, except the
> honeymoon suite, are already reserved, no matter what
> rate you request.)
> 
> There may well be other ways to get the $55 rate (or
> lower???).  If you already have a room reserved at the
> NSA rate, the hotel will not reduce your rate.  You must
> make a new reservation.  If you do, be sure to cancel
> the old reservation afterwards.

This is NOT true.  We have a contract with the hotel
that NO rate will be lower than the NSA rate.  If they
are offering something cheaper give me the name and
title of the person making this offer and I will
contact the hotel about this.  We make the best deal
we can for our members!
> 
> Be forewarned, however, that if everyone reserves
> rooms at the lower rates and the NSA does not fulfill
> its contractual obligations, there could be adverse
> financial consequences for the organization.  I'll
> leave it to those closer to the NSA to explain in
> more detail, if they so choose.

We do have a contractual obligation to meet but we
have the guarantee of no lower rate so no one will
suffer -- neither NSA or our members.
> 
> > Also, you want to send in your convention
> > registration as well.  If you wait too long, you
> > will miss out on the $10 early registration
> > incentive!  This incentive discount only applies
> > to folks who pre-register early.
> 
> Sound good to me!
> 
> Paul Talbot

The NSA (myself in particular) has work many tireless
hours to provide our members with the best facilities
at the best rate.  In the past, some of our members
have tried to "go around" the group rate and save
themselves a few bucks while the club has to pay a
big penalty for not meeting the room commitment.  

It is obvious that these people don't know the ins
and outs of hotel negotiations.  You have to commit
to a certain # of room nights at a pre-determined
price to get the facility.  On top of that, you 
have to negotiate everything else, from banquet
costs to space rental for the meetings and trade
fair, etc.  It is an endless and tiresome process.
At the end, we try to get a rate considerably less
than the hotel's normal rate and that makes the
price fair for our members as well.

I will check with the hotel this am and remind them
about the assurance that the $68.00 we have is the
lowest rate possible.  

Thank you for your support,

Mary Ann Sell
President Elect, NSA