Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:26:12 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: A DC hotels question
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

> nelson_mr at yahoo.com 10/30/2006 1:21:03 PM >>>
>--- Eva Whitley <eva.whitley at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> So now I'm *really* confused. Why were we bidding these hotels
>in the
>>
>> late 80s? It's not like Worldcon was really small back then, or
were
>> we
>> planning to announce a 3500 person cap if we won?
>
>I don't know, Eva.  I wasn't involved with the bid and
>don't recall many details.  I *think* they were bidding
>three hotels:
>
> - Omni Shoreham Hotel (834 sleeping rooms)
>
> - Marriott-Wardman Park (1,335 sleeping rooms)
>
> - Washington Hilton Hotel & Towers (1,119 sleeping rooms)
>    - Approx. 8/10 of a mile from the other two hotels
>
>So, they could potentially have gotten enough sleeping
>rooms blocked.
>
>Each of the hotels has an exhibit hall and a "grand"
>ballroom.  Does anyone know how they were planning to
>divide up the major fixed functions and big events?  I
>assume they planned to use the Hilton just for sleeping
>rooms since it's nearly a mile away from the other two
>hotels.  Or maybe they planned to use the Hilton for the
>evening stuff like parties and the masquerade/Hugos?

Hilton was probably goingto have some major night events.  I recall
during our walk through atthe Hilton, when the whole thing about the
masquerade was explainedto the salesmanager, his response was: "Oh, we
dothat all thetime here.  We call it a fashion show."

Which makes sense...

mjw