Various suggestive notes/thoughts

[Technowraith]

I was gonna suggest the possibility of catered food but that would be a prohibitive cost for the con. One option that might be viable: in the industrial park where i work, there are these "mobile catering trucks" that have all sorts of food - from hot food to cold cuts, to all sorts of drinks. Their prices aren't too bad - cheaper than the vending machines in some cases. Perhaps recruit a couple of those trucks to stop in at set times to supplement the food vendor from the convention center? Just a couple thoughts for solving "the lack of variety" issue.

These could be somewhat expensive options, so research and shopping around is certainly required.

[Ramothhe]

I was gonna suggest the possibility of catered food but that would be a prohibitive cost for the con. One option that might be viable: in the industrial park where i work, there are these "mobile catering trucks" that have all sorts of food - from hot food to cold cuts, to all sorts of drinks. Their prices aren't too bad - cheaper than the vending machines in some cases. Perhaps recruit a couple of those trucks to stop in at set times to supplement the food vendor from the convention center? Just a couple thoughts for solving "the lack of variety" issue.

These could be somewhat expensive options, so research and shopping around is certainly required.

yeah we are waiting o hear back from the convention center about the food options. I bet there is a way for them to carry more variety.

[Technowraith]

More of a question than a suggestion:

I'm assuming you're working with the Valley Forge and the Scanticon to provide a block of rooms for next year. Are you going to get a negotiated discount rate, or are we just going with standard rates? Now that a date is available, i'm thinking of booking a room now.

We otakus are poor because of things like dealers rooms and copious amounts of pocky and ramune. LoL ^.^

[Ramothhe]

More of a question than a suggestion:

I'm assuming you're working with the Valley Forge and the Scanticon to provide a block of rooms for next year. Are you going to get a negotiated discount rate, or are we just going with standard rates? Now that a date is available, i'm thinking of booking a room now.

We otakus are poor because of things like dealers rooms and copious amounts of pocky and ramune. LoL ^.^

Yea, here is the thing though. We are looking at room blocks but we dont know how much interest there is in getting rooms and along with that, then we are not sure how many rooms to put in said block. If we get too many rooms and not enough are filled, the hotel will make US pay them for the empty rooms heh. >< The actual room prices are 119 /129 a night though which isnt that bad imho.take 119/4 and thats what 29 per person?

[Technowraith]

Yea, here is the thing though. We are looking at room blocks but we dont know how much interest there is in getting rooms and along with that, then we are not sure how many rooms to put in said block. If we get too many rooms and not enough are filled, the hotel will make US pay them for the empty rooms heh. >< The actual room prices are 119 /129 a night though which isnt that bad imho.take 119/4 and thats what 29 per person?

Yeah... That could a sticky situation. Given the attendance trend, i would assume that you're only going to have more people attending. But that may not necessarily mean that everyone could attend. The convention is occuring during the school year on a friday, so many of the school age attendees will most likely not be able to attend on friday. (Unless i misread the dates) I was hoping the con would be on a saturday and sunday, that way i wouldn't have to take day off on friday from work. (Unless you've already booked the dates for the scanticon, or are unable to book for that sunday, then it's understandable).
In the end, you may need to put up ablurb on the website that gives hotel info, namely the cost. That way people have an idea of what that cost is. $119-129 a night is a relatively good rate, and once people find out how cheap it is, they will discover it gets cheaper with more people in the room. If you've opened a Zenkaikon 2008 thread at cosplay.com, you could mention that there. Otherwise i can open one and add a poll to see the interest people would have in getting hotel rooms. It won't be scientific by any means, but it will at least see that there's enough of an interest. Judging from number of responses, it may be possible to predict the size of the room block needed, but again, it will only be an approximation.

[Ramothhe]

Yea, here is the thing though. We are looking at room blocks but we dont know how much interest there is in getting rooms and along with that, then we are not sure how many rooms to put in said block. If we get too many rooms and not enough are filled, the hotel will make US pay them for the empty rooms heh. >< The actual room prices are 119 /129 a night though which isnt that bad imho.take 119/4 and thats what 29 per person?

Yeah... That could a sticky situation. Given the attendance trend, i would assume that you're only going to have more people attending. But that may not necessarily mean that everyone could attend. The convention is occuring during the school year on a friday, so many of the school age attendees will most likely not be able to attend on friday. (Unless i misread the dates) I was hoping the con would be on a saturday and sunday, that way i wouldn't have to take day off on friday from work. (Unless you've already booked the dates for the scanticon, or are unable to book for that sunday, then it's understandable).
In the end, you may need to put up ablurb on the website that gives hotel info, namely the cost. That way people have an idea of what that cost is. $119-129 a night is a relatively good rate, and once people find out how cheap it is, they will discover it gets cheaper with more people in the room. If you've opened a Zenkaikon 2008 thread at cosplay.com, you could mention that there. Otherwise i can open one and add a poll to see the interest people would have in getting hotel rooms. It won't be scientific by any means, but it will at least see that there's enough of an interest. Judging from number of responses, it may be possible to predict the size of the room block needed, but again, it will only be an approximation.

Yes we have a thread on cosplay.com and yes there is some interest there.. . but not sure how good an estimation that is. Yes we start on a Friday BUT the events start at 4, 5 pm and later which is after school and some work hours. the hours on friday go at least until 11 pm or later and there will be tons of stuff going on. Cons like otakon that have friday hours starting at 2, 3 and 4 pm too..and ya the scanticon is so heavily booked that the available dates were pretty limited.

[Technowraith]

Oh... ok.

Didn't know what time the friday stuff started. Either way, I migh book the room now anyway (or at least see if i can). The one question i have is:

The scanticon is just the name of the convention center, right? When i look to book, i'll actually book at the Valley Forge? Dunno exactly where to contact for booking the room.

[Ramothhe]

Oh... ok.

Didn't know what time the friday stuff started. Either way, I migh book the room now anyway (or at least see if i can). The one question i have is:

The scanticon is just the name of the convention center, right? When i look to book, i'll actually book at the Valley Forge? Dunno exactly where to contact for booking the room.

Ya!No worries, we all have jobs or school and we took it into consideration with the Friday hours. Well, the full name is "Scanticon Valley Forge Hotel and Conference Center" so you will want to go to scanticonvalleyforge.com for more infos abt rooms. Additionally we are working on another press release that is just about 2008 info with more info about hotel, daily activities and whatnot so be on the lookout!

[MamaSkull]

I also took the hotel options post out of "2007 suggestions" and posted in "rides/roommates" forum. Take a look there as well. We'll most likely be posting a better updated version on the website soon.

[chessimprov]

hm, if the dates get filled up so quick, maybe it would be worth it to reserve 2009 dates now and aim for the weekend if possible, and if you do not have to put out too much money or could get most of it back in case of necessary cancellations.