Remember, a relatively decent portion of rooms from the main hotel went to other
groups trying to co-exist in our happy con world. That is NOT going to happen
this year... so you can add a few rooms to our tally, also, the exec was not completely
full, or as you could say... fully utilized. We have options around us, the Heathman is
one, and like you said The Nines is another. However, when trying to get group
discounts for these hotels we have to remember that we need to justify it. Group
bookings only get discounted rates when you block off a good portion of rooms, it
also has to be in the interest of the hotel to give us a discount and allow our crazy
convention goers in their hotel space. This is feasible but only if we really need the
other 50 or so rooms. We get such good rates with Hilton and the like because it's
exclusive and because we almost guarantee to fill it up.
It'll be worth looking into but honestly I don't see too many people wanting this option,
making it not a very easy one to provide, obviously, we can get some kind of
discount, the question would be how much and how many rooms. We have to think
of our relationship with the Hilton first though, unless we are assuring that we will
be selling out ALL the rooms we plan to, it would be a slap in their faces to provide
an alternate option, with all the are giving us apart from rooms.
~Allykat
