Author Topic: Hospitality? (Read 9836 times)

Runa · « **on:** June 09, 2004, 09:34:54 am »

I was wondering if KumoriCon was planning on having a hospitality suite? Hospitality is a standard for science fiction conventions, but seems to be non-existent (for some bizarre reason) in anime. I truely hope that KumoriCon will be different enough to have its own hospitality. It's a great place for people to gather and of course offers opportunities for silly contests like anime subtleties (make food in shape of anime character), or what does THIS dish taste like (with all the food seen in anime...this has GOT to happen.)

So, how 'bout it?

princessfrodo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2004, 09:45:19 am »

I've never heard of a hospitality suite, can you explain more?

Just out of curiosity, because I've never heard of one at a Sci Fi Convention either.

EvilMonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2004, 10:19:46 am »

Hospitality Suites are pretty standard for Scifi and gaming conventions around here, basically it's a place where the convention provides food and beverage (in a limited supply) for it's attendees.
This isn't something we're prepared to do this year, due to space, budget, and our hotel. Though, it is something that we're not going to rule out for coming years, but that'll have to be up to next year's SMOO.

princessfrodo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2004, 10:22:50 am »

A free food room. Hmmm.... I'm all for free food. ^.^

But yeah, Kumori Con is a little bit too small and too stretched at the moment. ;-;

princessfrodo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2004, 10:30:48 am »

A free food room. Hmmm.... I'm all for free food. ^.^

But yeah, Kumori Con is a little bit too small and too stretched at the moment. ;-;

TomtheFanboy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2004, 09:27:24 pm »

That's the best double post ever!

Free food, yeah.....

Free food, yeah......

:lol:

I think that it'd be cool to do eventually, heck I'd love to take part in working the hospitality suite once we have one.

I think the first step towards a hospitality suite is somebone having a Costco membership.

Runa · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2004, 06:41:57 am »

Quote from: "QEvil"

This isn't something we're prepared to do this year, due to space, budget, and our hotel. Though, it is something that we're not going to rule out for coming years, but that'll have to be up to next year's SMOO.

Bummer.

I'd heard (from people who attended ConComCon) that the hotel contract for KumoriCon was rather...er...scary...I was even going to tell you that I'd found a couple of people who were interested in helping out in hospitality. When I'd mentioned that the anime cons did not have a hospitality, they were totally shocked because it's an expected presence at nearly every con that I've attended (aside from anime conventions...which really SHOULD have the hospitality suite). Oh well.

-Runa

EvilMonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2004, 12:00:30 pm »

Yeah, I think it would be a fun idea, just not something we could plan for this year. And our hotel contract is now a lot less scary. I think I was talking to one of your costuming guild members at ConComCon. We did get several offers from people that would like to run hospitality, so next year we will probably devote room and budget for it.

skyhawk · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2004, 03:36:02 pm »

From Baka 98 to Sakura Con 2001 we tried Hospitality. We discovered that it was more of a burden then a help to the con and, it was a real money loser for SC.

Furthermore, you have to get the hotel to agree to it, and someone has to be willing to transport a refrigerator or ice chests or something to keep food cold. You have to have people with food permits run it or you can get sued. You have to decide what you will serve (usually snacks) but, if you go the meal route, it can get expensive.

In short, SC did away with it because, it was a money loser, it was a real pain to clean up, and nobody wanted to do it after a few times. I can only recall one year it did well and that was in 99. Other then that, we lost on it so it wasn't worth doing.

The hotel is happy because they sell food to people onsite. Pizza or other treats. The restaurants make a lot of money (Denny's offered 10% off food if you showed your badge) and in terms of a place to relax, there were lots of places for that though they were crowded usually.

The SF cons have always done this, but they kind of made it part of their programming the way video and music videos are with anime cons. You don't see much video at a Sci fi con or music videos at all usually. Each con will have it's own thing.

If Kumori wishes to have a Hospitality, I say go for it. But bear in mind, unless you get a lot of donations, you will lose money. Not worth it in my opinion and people get tired of it.

Daniel Harrison
President
ANCEA

TomtheFanboy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:38:20 am »

That's a pretty good point, but the problem with the location is that there are very few restaurants that you can get to without a car. Unless you're willing to walk about 5 blocks then you're going to be relying on overpriced food service.

However, even a hospitality suite wouldn't have REAL food would it? It'd be like a snack bar.

staze · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2004, 09:20:10 pm »

all good points, but as we said, not something we're comfortable doing this year. Being as we're different then sakuracon, it's certainly not something we're going to rule out due to their unfortunate experience with them.

Our contract was never that scary... it in reality was a lot of people getting excited over nothing. As far as the contact goes concerning it preventing a hospitality suite, that could be an issue, but again, something that we will deal with in future years.

Next year, assuming this year goes well, Kumoricon will hopefully step out on it's own and become the con that we are forseeing. But, again, that relies on this con going well... which means people need to start registering if they haven't already. To make a con work we need money... and the way we get money is by people registering.

Register if you haven't... we really want to get 200 people registerd by the 1st of July... and about 500 by the 14th of August, if not more. Our/Your experience is based on it. :-D

SailorNaboo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2004, 10:28:51 am »

Sakura used to do it, but it had to stop when they moved to the Hilton. My guess is that it had to do with food concessions and the hotel profit.

You used to be able to get cup noodles and sandwitch stuff...

zenix · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2004, 11:59:32 am »

5 blocks isnt that far
can we put map to all the food places within 10 blocks

EvilMonkey · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:27:19 pm »

There will actually be a map with the locations of various food locales near the hotel in the program guide (or as a seperate page).

princessfrodo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:55:21 pm »

Udon..... there'll be udon nearby.... ^.^

zenix · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2004, 05:07:12 pm »

good cuase at sakura i didnt know where all the places were and i didnt see a map in the guide

or you could just give me a big knife and point me towards cows

Kei-Kei · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2004, 07:23:49 pm »

The chances of seeing a cow nearby the downtown Marriot... nevermind. He'd manage to find one. Yeah, the lack of a food map was discouraging at SC. Especially since I personally didn't want to spend a fortune on food.

TomtheFanboy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2004, 09:55:08 pm »

Actually, funny thing about cows in Portland.....

We had an art event last year where there were various cows throughout Portland, it was some sort of fundraiser whose style had been done in cities throughout the country (I saw buffalos in Utah). One of the cows is now a resident of the children's section of the the Multnomah County Central Library.

So at the very minimum, 15 blocks.
You're gonna need to tenderize that puppy like crazy though.

zenix · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2004, 07:49:13 am »

like the pigs in seattle yeah we saw them when ever we went to the mall it was 2001 or 2002 right?

i want a steak so rare i can just cut it off the cow then ride the rest home :lol:

alanna_liadon · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2004, 09:22:37 pm »

I love the cows! There is one in the big Mill-End fabric store, and one in a real-estate (?) office on NW 21st. The other day I saw one at Lloyd Center.

One thing about the restaurants at SC that hasn't been mentioned yet: Yes, the Denny's knew we were coming, but the "Happy Teriyaki" place (excellent food despite the stupid name) had no idea the convention was taking place and were completely unprepared for the number of customers they received. In addition to a map, I suggest making sure the managers of all nearby restaurants be warned a couple of weeks in advance. That way, they can be sure to have enough staff (and food!) on hand to handle the otaku.

A hospitality suite sounds interesting - I've never even heard of one before - but it does sound like it would lose money and be a lot of work, regardless of which convention has one.

On a slightly related note: I know it isn't ok to sell food without certain licenses and permits, but is it ok to give food away? Like if I were to bring food from home and give it to random hungry-looking otaku?

Kei-Kei · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2004, 09:37:44 pm »

I have a feeling that might be a bad idea...

TomtheFanboy · « **Reply #21 on:** June 19, 2004, 06:17:30 am »

Pixie Sticks are good things to hand out, plenty of people did last year!

I wouldn't suggest setting up a booth but it'll be impossible to regulate people sharing so go ahead.
(says the man with no authority)

zenix · « **Reply #22 on:** June 19, 2004, 08:30:10 am »

i ate at that happy teriky really bad service we ordered some drink and we never got them then when we were done and went to pay should couldent find our check ended up paying for the drink cuase we jsut wanted to get out of there :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

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Author Topic: Hospitality? (Read 9836 times)