Hotel Rooms are Being Reserved

Good Afternoon Comic-Con-ers!

I should think of a better name for us... I'll put that on the to-do list. Anyway, this morning brought the sparkle and twinkle of Christmas morning to many a fan in the most surprising way. While most people were still marveling over there beautiful and yet generic "request received" e-mails (boy those things broke the tension of the day yesterday) some of the earliest amongst the goers were opening the in-boxes to discover...

ACTUAL RESERVATIONS!

Needless to say, a lot of people are very happy, a good deal more of them are very very nervous now.

So, props and kudos and cookies to the teams at Travel Planners, and their team from Comic-Con who probably worked tirelessly into the days and nights and are working still to keep this system on the fast track. Everything seems to be running effortlessly smooth for them, which, while historically unusual, shows just how much Comic-Con is working to change the perceptions surrounding their event from the hysteria that happened last year.

I am gonna start working out who coordinates Hotel and Venue activities on Comic-Con's behalf and give anyone who is happy with how this year has been going on the Hotel Housing side the ability to send them a very nice thank you letter! Trust me, they will appreciate it!

Third Party Booking Companies & How The Work

A lot of Twitter messages coming up are wondering about the "Confirmation" numbers and what they mean.

We've heard people say they have numbers in the 1,000's 10,000 and then billions.

What does it all mean? Who is 1st priority? Why are there 72 billion confirmation numbers? Does the number matter at all? How are these numbers decided?

A lot of worry and time and energy goes into picking a hotel for your "top xx" list and so when the confirmation that they've received your request seems off or weird, people tend to get a little anxious. Thats understandable and completely normal. But at this point I say don't stress any of the numbers, and here is why;

First of all, let me preface this by saying, while I was the Facilities Liaison for a convention in Oregon last year, I am -in my day job- a Front Desk Agent for a local franchise of a large West Coast Hotel chain. Out of respect for my company, and my own privacy I will not name the hotel here as of yet, but I will say that I enjoy my job as it gives me a great insight into the world of hotel bookings as well as a unique perspective on how Conventions are run.

So what is a confirmation number? Well, for any normal given reservation it's the code for which we can easily look up your stay and access any change that needs be made. For group bookings it can be a signal of your group and your status in the group. And for bookings that happen directly with the hotel it can be a straight up signifier of how what number reservation you are for that hotel since it's current ownership and franchise installed the system it uses.

For example; My hotel has been owned by the same people for the past 3 years. When you call our hotel directly (aka talk to me) to make a reservation, you will get a number that is currently around 210600. This means that in the past 3 years we have had roughly 210,600 stays at our hotel (give or take the amount of cancellations).

However, the online reservation system for our website (done corporately) has numbers well into the millions for reservations. While you might be able to tell how many reservations have been booked over our entire company since it's beginning of use of its current system, things like edits, third parties and cancellations affect that number greatly. And then there are 3rd party reservations, which use more of a confirmation code, than a number. Truth be told, you get all three numbers when you book with my hotel if you book on say Priceline or another 3rd party company's website. But you will most likely only ever see the one from the travel company/agency. That number for them is not an indicator of the number of reservations made, it is more of an indicator of your place in their system at any given time. When you disappear, so does that number. It can even contain letters to signify things about your reservation. In that sense it is a computer code that signifies your reservation as a whole.

So; why the big discrepancies between numbers? Travel Planners books hundreds of rooms and room types and events all over the place. They are a large company and a great asset to Comic-Con. There ability to quickly sift through thousands of requests and ping them back as data to e-mail addresses world wide is really quite something. The numbers they use to identify us however, really mean nothing at current. A computer system may be using them to track priority on different hotel locations and orders (lets say for instance, everyone who picked the Hard Rock as their #1 choice has a confirmation of 11,000 while people who chose The Westgate have a 43,000,000,000 confirmation number) but since we have none of that data in our hands, it's pure speculation. The wide variety of numbers however, does not account for "placement" in line. Something else must be telling Travel Planners that data.

Third party companies take all the data given them and compile it into math equations. Basic algorithms are now tirelessly working through all the data entered to find the optimal entry path for each request and execute it as seamlessly as possible with each and every hotel. More than likely, when that is done we will all receive new numbers, attributing either to each hotel specifically, or to Travel Planners. However, there is no guarantee we will ever know who was "first" unless we the fans compile that list ourselves :)

Housing Request Received!

Well Huzzah!

Behold! A Screen Shot of My Epic Request Confirmation!

I am full of excitement and joy!

Here is hoping you all get yours ASAP!

Now, the even longer wait begins...

My Top Picks?

I realized just now, I never posted what MY top picks for hotel rooms at Comic-Con are!

And since I am currently sitting at home, biting my nails waiting for my confirmation e-mail, I figured I might give you my top choices (lets see how close I am to the norms?):

note; I omitted the words "hotel" and "San Diego" where ever possible because i hope to the gods that you know where this thing is being held.

1. Hilton Gaslamp Quarter

2. Marriott Gaslamp Quarter

3. Omni

4. Horton Grand

5. Westin Gaslamp Quarter

6. Embassy Suites San Diego Bay

7. Bristol

8. Manchester Grand Hyatt

9. Westin

10. The Sofia

11. Hampton Inn Downtown

12. Best Western Bayside

13. The Westgate

14. Marriott Marquis & Marina

15. Hilton Bayfront

16. Hard Rock

17. Andaz

So thats 17 choices, and I included the option of the closest hotel and to be put on the wait-list for Downtown hotels if none of these are available.

Personally, while I want to be as near the action as possible, the prospect of the lines and traffic and the sheer EXPENSE of being at the Marriott Marina/Hilton Bayfront/Hard Rock are what made me put them low on my list. I will not have more than 1 or 2 people in my room with me (most likely just one) and that means my costs will be quite astronomical without some awesome budgeting. I want to get as much out of my room space and hotel as possible while still spending most of my money and time at the Convention and in the snazzy parties.

The two Gaslamp Quarter hotels, run by Marriott and Hilton respectively are ideal for anyone wanting the best of Comic-Con, with just a little bit of the rest of the world tucked in. Near by is tons of great restaurants (read; expensive) and you are barely a block or two away from the convention space (read; easy transit). While both require you to pay for parking (something one of my party is wanting to utilize) they differ in that the Hilton (my top choice) is the only hotel thats a Hilton I've seen that offers complimentary internet access. While this may change, or may be inaccurate the prices here aren't that bad and the location is central to a lot of the restaurants I have researched and found to be good. Also, the closeness to the Hard Rock allows me to attempt to get into those ultra exclusive parties for the convention - something I really want to try and do!

So what are your top picks for Comic-Con? Are you a loyalist to any Hotel? What are your experiences in the area?

Hotels Hugely Highlight How Happy we are!

Some people on twitter asked; what are the top choices for Hotels for Comic-Con?

Obviously, many people spend a great deal of time worrying over this very quandary! After all, your location at Comic-Con can affect your costs, your time at the venue and where you eat and what you do! The perfect hotel and the bottom rung last-ditch choice could mean the difference between seeing that amazing panel and getting those signing you wanted or standing in line for 5 hours for a panel you will never get into and being that guy in line for swag who gets up to the table just as the last free shirt goes out to the girl in front of you... fail.

Now, there are a few important things to look into when deciding what Hotel you will choose for Comic-Con (or any convention really). Here, let me list them out for you;

1. Location -

Do you want to be in the center of the action all day every day for 5 days?

A lot of people think that being in the Marina Marriott or the Hilton Bayfront or the Hard Rock are the best options ever. And while that may be true for the die hard fans desperate to get autographs and schmooze with the industry elite, remember; those hotels are the right next to the convention halls. What that means;

The extra events held by Comic-Con that can't fit in the convention space, guess where they are held? In your hotel! Parties, Parties and many many more parties go on around the clock at these hotels, which means if you want a good nights rest between your romps around the venue, you may want to think twice about picking these hotels. Something just a few blocks away will be just as nice and convenient, and a little less rowdy in the wee hours of the morning.

But for the extremists and purists, this is the best option for completely immersing yourself in the Comic-Con world. If you have the cash to fork out for food, hotel and tickets and want to stay in Comic land 24/7, your best bet is in the small chain of hotels surrounding the hall.

Do you want the cheapest room with the best location?

For those of us on the cheap, there are many options that feature a shuttle service which, while slightly stressful itself (think Disney World hotel shuttles without the cheery "Characters" driving the bus) it is the best option to get your Con and sleep at it too! Many of the hotels in the downtown area are on the shuttle lines and that means being 5-6 miles away from the convention center is not a death sentence to fans, just a bit of a hurdle on the way to greatness! And if money is your highest priority, you cannot beat the near $200 decrease in rate from 2 miles out to 6 miles out from con-space! Just make sure you pick a hotel with food nearby and shuttle service to the Convention hall and you will be sitting pretty with that extra dough for the Exhibitors!

Do you want to be far from the insanity?

There are many reasons why people stay out in Mission Bay or other surrounding suburbs of San Diego and drive in to get on the trolley (which can drop you off right in front of the Convention). For one, it's cheaper and I mean WAY cheaper to stay as far from the convention space as possible. Food is cheaper, gas and hotel rooms are cheaper. For another thing, there is the convenience of being away from the space when the night ends. Many people like being able to relax, away from the noise and smell of comic-con (yes, there is a bit of a smell). However, remember that what you trade off for in convenience and price is accessibility and events. Drinking and driving is a big no-no in my book, and no one wants to see headlines with "Comic-Con Leads to Death of Nerds by Drunk Driving" in the news.

So when thinking about where you want to stay; decide what you want to get out of Comic-Con. Are you here for the parties and schmoozing and free stuff? Are you here for the early morning lines to get autographs and get into premiere panels? Or somewhere in between? Late nights and drinking mean its hard to get "home" if you are staying far out of town or need to drive back and forth, but would be a perfect setup for someone who wants to get in early, and leave before 8pm or so.

Do you want something in the middle?

If you aren't picky (and then congrats to you for being a very minor part of the Comic-Con attendee populous) finding something that fits your situation should be easy. Decide your priorities and what interests you at Comic Con and you should be able to pick something in the mile radius of the convention center that is economical and convenient but not too crazy and not too far from food and entertainment options. Remember the Convention doesn't stop when the panel rooms close, their are parties and night life and fun to be had all over the Gaslamp/Downtown/Bayfront area and getting a room somewhere in the middle of it all will give you the least pain in your soles for your buck!

2. Cost

How much are you willing to spend?

Everyone has a limit. Remember that for a $280.00/night room there are also roughly 15% in taxes you need to tack onto that cost (or another $42.00). Then include tips for maid service ($5-10 a day is standard), bellhops($2 a bag), valets($3-5 per time they handle your car) and you start talking about a room that can cost about $1700 for 5 nights. The cheaper rooms, the $170.00/night options start looking like $1060 for 5 nights. Obviously it depends on how many nights you stay but for anywhere between $1000 and $1800, Comic Con isn't cheap... but if you got to the hotel reservation making process and didn't already know that, I would be very confused!

Basically, the closer to the convention space you get, the more expensive the rooms. Some of the nicer resorts off away from the Convention halls are pricey, but that is the basic formula. I always recommend deciding a price point and then looking for a hotel in that range. Your hotel room is only one small part of your experience for Comic-Con, don't spend more time and money on it than you absolutely have to.

3. Convenience

What more do you need besides four walls and a bed?

Remember that a hotel is not just about its own location, it is also about the location of necessities around it! If you are flying or training in (probably using that as an incorrect verb!) then you most likely wont have a vehicle with which to get around. While that may be a bummer for some, it can be barely noticeable or a stress saver for others! Your hotel should be in the center of your needs, or close to it. Choose a hotel (well, in Comic-Con's case, choose a list of hotels) that are near by food & drug stores, restaurants, bars and anything else you might want. Do your research and know in advance the types of places you are likely to haunt outside of the convention. That will save you (and your feet) a lot of stress later.

4. Services

Breakfast? What is Breakfast?

Do you need a healthy meal to start your Comic-Con right? (Hint: The answer to this question is a resounding YES!) And what about a fridge? A microwave? A Coffee Pot? Wireless Internet Access? These are things you need to research early, think about in advance before you choose a hotel. Some of the nicer hotels have all these amenities and more... at a first come, first serve basis (or for a fee) while some provide them all at no extra hassle or charge. You don't want to get to con with a bag full of perishables or a computer with a wireless card and realize you have to eat all your frozen dinners right then and there and you can't connect with the world for ALL OF COMIC CON. Preparation, preparation, preparation is the key to getting the most out of whatever hotel you get. Knowing in advance what your hotel will and will not provide and what extra charges may result can be the difference between a stressful check in/check out and a simple and happy one.

And if your hotel of choice doesn't provide what you need, you need to plan your meals, your web access or your dry cleaning accordingly. Mapping out all of this before you get to San Diego gives you a better chance of getting the most out of your time and energy so you aren't wandering around aimlessly looking for a Subway that doesn't exist or trying to gain internet from a coffee shop that stopped providing free wi-fi last week.

5. Location

Wait, didn't you already say location?

Yep. I sure did. And you know what, your location is SO IMPORTANT it is #1 and #5 on my list. Why? Because when you get right down to it, the strategies and the costs and services all come down to one thing; where you want to be. What I find is that people forget that the area around the convention center was built for big conventions like Comic-Con and that they have spent years making sure every area has something to offer people. There are transit options of every shape size and type at your finger tips, as long as you do the research in advance and make the calls necessary, you will never have a hard time getting from point A to point B in Comic-Con time.

Using these tips to decide the best hotel option for you (or once you get your hotel, making the most out of that option) will guarantee that you have a happy convention space just right for you, even if you don't get your top pick! Because you will know how to handle any option to the best of its ability!

Comic Con Lodging of Doom

Next up; Hotels!

Remember how I said I was the Facilities Liaison for Kumoricon (Anime Convention in Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA) in that last entry? Well, here is where that fancy knowledge comes into play;

This morning, about 1 Hour ago, Comic-Con and their partner Travel Planners opened up the request form and application program that will, in theory, streamline and assist in the execution of room reservations for the years biggest, sold-outest convention. (okay, sold-outest isn't a word, but its true none-the-less)

You were given a page which required some basic information on yourself, then asked to choose between 1 & 20 top selections for your hotel at Comic-Con. No one is guaranteed a specific hotel unless you are a Comic-Con guest VIP or staff I imagine. And those rooms have most likely been blocked off for ages.

NEW THIS YEAR: You are also given the option to select what they should do if your "Top XX" choices are not available.

And after that, you basically just have to start praying. They say the confirmations for receipt of your request will come within the next 48 hours. So that means that it's gonna be a long couple days for comic book fandom.

However, I have to say that the system was amazingly smooth and very well explained. Both CCI and TP did a fantastic job at making the system both easy to use and easy to understand. I was right there in the first minutes of availability and was not tripped up by any weird programming or information requests! So, while from what I heard of registration for the actual convention being less than pristine, the hotel reservations system seems to been hugely improved!

A Warm Welcome With Words of Whimsy

Greetings and Salutations fellow Comic-Con Attendees!

And a warm welcome to those who live vicariously through us lucky S.O.B.'s who get to go to the years biggest nerd event; San Diego Comic-Con. Since 1970 the world has let its fascination with Comic Books and their subsequent universes run wild via Comic-Con Internationals convention of what is to come in the years ahead and what everything that has happened really means.

I wont give you a History of The Con: Part 1, but I will say this; Comic-Con wasn't always the center of the nerd universe and the envy of geeks, freaks and Celebs. However, that doesn't change the fact that Comic-Con is now the place to be at the end of July if you want to know whats hot and whats coming up in Movies, Games, Television, Anime and of course, Comics.

This year will be my 2nd in attendance at Comic-Con. Once again I will be representing Kumoricon, an Anime Convention based in Oregon (currently being held in Vancouver, WA) as the Director of Publicity. My time will be spent schmoozing, hunting down swag and trying converse with the famous among my fandom. I'll also be attempting to get into some of the snazzy parties held after hours in the convention area... all while keeping you guys up-to-date on everything that is Comic-Con.

I have quite a unique perspective on convention life and etiquette, as a Director of a convention with about 5k attendees and growing, I see both sides of the coin. And while I may be Director of Publicity this year, last year I was the Director of Hotels (aka Facilities Liaison). My job was hunting down Hotel contracts and communicating with the venue to make sure everything ran smoothly at con. This year, I work on advertising swaps, promotions and publications! So take everything I say as being said by someone who know just enough about the industry to get her into heaps of trouble... okay?

Of course, if you have information, websites, data or news you think I'd like to know or share with the rest of the class - don't hesitate to message me about it! This should be a Blog for everyone who wants to get the most out of Comic-Con in San Diego!