Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:53:53 -0500
From: Eva Whitley <eva.whitley at gmail.com>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: A DC hotels question
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Michael Nelson wrote:
> --- Robert MacIntosh <macbuccfo at msn.com> wrote:
>
>>The bid for '92 included the Hilton, which about 1.5 miles further
>>down
>>Connecticut Ave. That hotel has the space for the "Main Tent"
>>functions,
>>allowing us to put dealers and art show in the Omni and Marriot (it
>>were a
>>Sheraton then). Of course, even then traffic at rush hour on
>>Connecticut
>>would have travel nearly impossible. Fortunately, the Sheraton got
>>greedy
>>and saved our collective back sides. Why? Because there was no way in
>>hell
>>it would have ever worked. We all went to MagiCon that year.
>
> So the DC in '92 bid was planning to put the art show
> and dealers' room in separate hotels.  Did they talk
> about where exhibits would go?  Was anyone thinking
> about creating a space for people to gather -- the
> ConCourse concept?
>
> Worldcons are like gypsy caravans -- camping someplace
> for a few days and then moving on.  I like the "central
> campfire" gathering spot idea that Noreascon 3 formalized
> back in 1989 as their ConCourse and wonder if the DC in
> '92 was thinking about that or hoping a "heart" for the
> 1992 DC Worldcon would form naturally.

With all due respect, I don't remember any Worldcon using the ConCourse
idea before Boston, but I do wonder if that concept owes anything at all
to the DisCave. It's not like people from NESFA don't come down to DC
for cons.

>
> And where would the con suite be placed if all the
> evening activities were going to move to the Hilton?
> Perhaps separate day and evening consuites?
>

The first 10 or so Worldcons I went to did not have Con Suites. I'm
still not convinced they serve a useful purpose at the Worldcon level,
but I am in a distinct minority in that matter. (OTOH, a con suite is
vital at the regional level, particularly on Friday night.) --Eva