Hi all,
Thought that I'd chime in here, on this one.
Conventions and Lodging. It's all about the room nights. All of the
reasons listed so
far, are secondary. In other words, a benefit, a plus.
Convention Facilities are priced on a tier system. The more room
nights the sponsoring
group has, the less they have to pay for the Convention Facilities.
Here's an example: DEF Group plans to have their convention at the
ABC Convention
Center and Hotel. At the start of Convention planning, DEF Group goes
and talks to
ABC Convention Center and gets these Convention Facility use figures and a Room
Rates of $ 100.00 ( Normal Room Rate of $ 149.00 ):
ABC Convention Center Facilities = $ 6,000.00
15 Room Nights, they'll deduct = $ 1,500.00 - Sponsoring group is
responsible for $ 4,500.00 costs
30 Room Nights, they'll deduct = $ 3,000.00 - Sponsoring group is
responsible for $ 3,000.00 costs
45 Room Nights, they'll deduct = $ 4,500.00 - Sponsoring group is
responsible for $ 1,500.00 costs
60 Room Nights, they'll deduct = $ 6,000.00 - Sponsoring group is
responsible for $ 00.00 costs
If the Hosting Group exceeds the number of Room Nights, then the
Hotel is making money, hence
they're happy campers. So based on the final number of Room Nights,
will determine the amount to
be paid to the ABC Convention Center and Hotel, upon settle up time.
Most groups try to price Conventions and such, to break even or with
a little profit. By being able
to count on the Room Nights, keeps Convention and Registration costs
down. Room Nights may
also affect the costs of any potential meals, Banquets / Breakfasts,
that DEF Group may need
from the Convention Center and Hotel.
The bottom line is this:
Stay at the Convention Facility, generally get lower Convention Costs
across the board.
Stay at another Hotel / Motel, generally pay higher Convention Costs
across the board.
Model Railroad Groups that host Conventions, as a rule, do not have
deep pockets to cover the
Convention Costs out right. They are relying on various internal
group costs to come together to
cover the Convention Costs. The Convention Incomes, come from
Registrations, Vendor Table
rentals, Meals, Raffle Ticket sales and in a manner of speaking, the
offset of the Room Nights vs
Convention Costs, all of these things coming together, hopefully make
the Convention affordable
for all to attend and the Hosting Group not to shell out Convention
Costs Difference Money.
Most Convention Hotels will honor their Convention Room Rates for a
week either side of the
Convention Dates, incase one wants to sight see / vacation in the area.
To save money, eat / drink out of a cooler in your room, except for
the Convention sponsored
meals. Use the Conventions tour transportation, instead of your own.
Car pool with other Convention
goers, great way to meet someone new, just pitch in two or three bucks for gas.
Maybe this Convention insight will help in planning your next
Convention experience.
Thanks for your time.
Robert Sherwood, Chairman
NASG Engineering Group
Cheyenne, Wy.
At 03:32 PM 12/26/2008, you wrote:
>For example, during the Wisconsin convention we stayed in nearby
>Waukesha. The convention hotel would have been 4 X $105 or $420. We
>stayed at an "Evergreener" for a total of $60, a savings of $360.
>I agree though that you miss the convenience of staying at the
>convention site. I compensate by just driving to the motel and hanging
>out for as long as the activities hold out. I'm retired and have
>become pretty cheap. Mr. Benny would be proud of me.
>
>Roy
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