Does price of Hotel determine if you will attend a conference?

[casinobonusguy]

This is a general question to all affiliates on the forum .Would you rather attend an event at a cheaper hotel than the usually 4-5 star hotels that are $250+ a night?What would it take for you to justify spending that amount on a hotel?
Do you care about the view from a meeting room/?

How about affiliate managers?Would you star at a nice 3 star for $150 a night where the meeting rooms does not have a nice view and the menus are more budget conscious?Or would you rather pay higher prices for a big splashy impression?
We are down to the final 2 venues for our Toronto 2010 Event and the choices are $169+ tax per night vs $280+ a night for double rooms.The high end hotel has beautiful meeting rooms ,options for us but we don't want the price to affect the attendance.
Here are our choices http://www.grandhoteltoronto.com/
or http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/.We plan to go with the majority vote on this one

Judy

[TheGooner]

No. Hotel choice and cost does not really factor into it for me.

Mind you that's because nearly every event is a trans-continental flight, and 24+ hours travel each way, so the land accomodation costs are relatively small in comparison.

Typically when I'm going on holiday or to a sporting event then a 3-star hotel is ample for my needs, a place to sleep is all that is required.

However, at conferences, where you are working and around the hotel much more, then things like break-out rooms, and easy access to good food, a decent bar, and room service (at all hours) become more important ... so often 4-stars for conferences pays off.

[dhayman]

Hotel, airfare, and timing for me. Actually, I've never attended any of these conferences - not sure why - I guess I'm just not a sociable enough person, and prefer the anonymity associated with sitting behind my computer screen. Also, not sure my wife and kids would appreciate me hanging out with gorgeous women all week

[ironman2000]

This is always a question that I have been asking myself over the years.

Firstly, If I were going to the conference as an affiliate account manager representative then I would expect to be housed in the hotel of the conference............not only becasue its usually a 5 Star Hotel,but for me to have easy access to the conference and to arrange meetings in a warm and friendly enviroment.

Secondly, If I were and independent webmaster/affiliate then the price of the hotel does come into the equation of cost and I would always look for alternative accommodation close to the conference..........wether it be a 3 or 4 Star hotel. Just so long as I have a warm room and within easy walking distance of the conference center.

Happy Trading to all throughout 2010

Keith

[Chips]

I prefer to stay at a reasonable priced hotel when traveling for pleasure, in the states I don't recall ever paying much over $100 usd a night.

Going to a conference is a luxury in my eyes, after a long flight and being in a European city, I prefer to stay in a top notch hotel, this is an extravagance of sorts. I still attempt to find something reasonable and to be close in to the event. When you factor in the additional fees like transport to the venue, it is sometimes a wash if you save 30-40$ a night as you are giving it to the cabby.

In this case, if there was a comparable hotel saving me a tidy sum that is close, I would most likely choose to stay there and walk to the event. Personally, for Toronto, I would choose $169/night. The view from the meeting is not a factor.

[casinoranking]

'Also, not sure my wife and kids would appreciate me hanging out with gorgeous women all week'

You've obviously never been to a casino conference if you think that. All the pictures are taken of the women but it's a meat fest with easily 4 times the number of men. This is especially true once the conference is over and the women go home. Kind of sucks and partially the reason why I have not bothered to go lately.

As for the price of the hotel... I think a lot of times people pay just for the sake of paying more and the associated prestige. For example the mexico hotel was the biggest crap of an all exclusive I have ever seen, and it cost over $300 a night. For mexico you can great amazing all inclusives for far less than that.

If you're going to choose a high end hotel at least make sure its surrounded with reasonably priced 3 and 4 star hotels for the rest of us. I am sure most people can just hotwire toronto and get a 5 star hotel for $70 and drive 5 minutes if they want to so it's not quite as big of a deal.

[casinobonusguy]

Thanks for all the feedback. There are plenty of hotels to choose from here but we have certain criteria so not all will meet our criteria.I also wanted to point out although it may be few dollars cheaper to stay at another hotel venue ,if you plan on drinking by the time you may for a few cabs may actually cost you more to stay at the cheaper hotel The view is nice for sure but also Four Seasons includes free breakfast where the other hotel will set you back $30 bux a person.We want to have a Casino night with Blackjack ,Poker Tables Roulette etc so we are VERY limited on Venues ,I am speaking to just these two now .Four Seasons seems willing to work with us on this as long as we let them get the rentals and charge us a hefty price hahaha.We plan to update the website towards end of january and will have venue and most fo the planning done by then.Last year was a learning experience for me but I promise this summer event will be much bigger and better.We had quote a few poker affiliates last summer so working on stuff for them too
Gooner/Paul I sent you an email about your flight

Judy

[matted]

I enjoy staying in really nice hotels - just not having to pay.

For example, for Affiliate Summit in Vegas next month, I got a great deal on a suite at the Encore... $109/night. Had I not gotten a deal, I would have found the best hotel I could for about that rate. I know Vegas though - going to a "new" city I would be far less confident finding a close hotel room at a reasonable cost.

Cost of the hotel is a factor - for example, the conference hotel for CAC Amsterdam is insanely expensive.

Going to conferences (at least one per year) is worth every penny - but the value increases when the cost of the trip is kept in check.

[casinoranking]

When is the conference this year? Do you have a website?

[Shaun O'neill]

I agree with many the cost is a factor, as an operator i have to justify every €€ i spend but with the credit crunch you can get amazing hotels for unreal prices, for example we are just in the middle of relocating from Estonia to Malta so we gav ethe apartment up and my wife and i decided to spend a night in the best hotel in Estonia http://www.swissotel.com/EN/Destinat...el+Description

it cost €131 a night with breakfast and late check out now in my mind 2 years ago you would have paid at least €250 a night, a frined of mine just came back from Moscow and stayed in the number 1 5 star hotel in Moscow the cost just months ago was €500 he got the room for just €150 as it was mid week and this year has been crap for them.

Also when Alex sets these events up he gets a great discount the hotel in Budapest was sick and around €130 a night.

Anyway i still need to book for LAC.

Thanks

Shaun

[thepokerkeep]

I vote for the 4 Seasons.
Yorkville is awesome for shopping and sight-seeing.
The location is central for doing tourist stuff - CN Tower, Harbourfront, etc...

[TheBoyMitchell]

Cost is a factor for me, but not as important as location.

If I have to spend more on a room at the event hotel, then that not only saves me money in cabs to get there and back (and then back out aagain in the evening), but also means I can set up my lappy in the room, and in quite periods nip up and check emails etc.

In London, even having a hotel just a couple of miles from the venue could mean an additional spend of £50 on taxis per day (2-4 journeys a day), so I factor that into the hotel cost and pay more to stay in the event hotel.

If that makes sense

[Dominique]

For me, criteria are:

Having the conference in the Hotel itself. I spend much more time at the conference that way.

Quiet rooms - Hotels with thin walls are out, no matter the price.

Clean, good matresses.

Good internet connection.

Room service at all hours.

Good location, can I go to interesting places on foot? Step out of the conference for some fresh air and a stroll?

A lot of things that make a Hotel 5* don't interest me - do I need orchids in a vase when room service brings breakfast? Do I need a bowl of green apples by my bed? Do I care if the waiter wears a $50 suit or a $500 suit? Do I care if the pics on the wall are expensive originals or knock-offs? No.

Nice hotels are fun, no doubt, but I can be just as happy in any hotel meeting the above criteria.

[GamTrak]

The price does not determine it for me. I always try to stay where the event is being hosted due to not wanting to be out alone at night and deal with cab, etc.

It's also nice to be able to unload material frequently in my room and go out for more. I don't really care if it's 5 star or not, but that my room is cleaned daily, has internet connection and room service 24/7 with basic American options to choose from.

[casinoranking]

Even if the price of the hotel was the same I would choose a 3.5 star instead of a 5 star. I resent not having the freedom to park my own car, and then having to pay retarded parking fees. I also resent how with 5 stars you often cant order food in, you have to pay $20 to watch a movie, pay $40 to order toasts in the morning, or $30 for a salad that that tastes like crap. They even charge for internet which is comped at all the cheaper hotels.

But I guess I am weird as I just don't see the value or the point.

Also, I can understand why Toronto was chosen due to international flights and ease of access, but for the record I think out of Canadian cities it's probably the worst of the bunch. I don't know many Canadians who like Toronto. Montreal, quebec city, vancouver, would be way better.

[casinobonusguy]

Casinorankings ,
I live and work in Toronto Area and we started having these mini events for local affiliates.Last summer we had people from 6 countries attend and probably more this year.I am happy to go to Montreal or Vancouver for an event if anyone wants to put one on lol.
In any case thanks for your feedback , I will work on getting the valet parking covered hahaha.

[Renee]

I dont care about the hotel I stay in.. In fact, as long as it has a bed, a shower and an internet connection its fine for me...
I was only in my room in Barcelona for a total of about 10 hours last time, so I dont see a need for a fancy room.. Id rather spend the money on a nice meal with some affiliates...

We will be staying at the main hotel in London so that we can mingle with the other people staying there..