Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Just wondering.

How many rooms did you reserve and how easy was it to make your reservations? Did you get the hotel you wanted?

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Man you guys are organized! Coming from a first time scheduling Championships person, when do we need to have these reservations made by?

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I just reserved 26 rooms at the Mariott Marquis for Team 1114. We were hoping for the Embassy Suites, but at a savings $138 per room, we just couldn't pass up the Marquis. I did have trouble with the online system, so I ended up phoning in my reservation. Getting all the names in the system was a long process, but the representitive from Steele Meetings Inc. was very helpful. Kudos to FIRST and Steele for setting up this system.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Omni is not even on the list this year. We called and the reason is that the Omni is booke with another conference. We do not lk epaying for the party, so we will book outside of FIRST.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Beth:

Travel coordinators for Championship teams should have received an e-mail reminding them that the reservations will be open. Here is the e-mail I received yesterday.
==========================
The FIRST 2007 Championship official housing will open tomorrow morning, December 7th at 9:00 a.m. EST. We have received several inquiries from our first email and hope that the following information will be helpful.

There are three ways you can make reservations: through the FIRST Championship website on the community page, through the call in center at toll free number 866-413-5151 or international at 506-637-0282, or by fax at 506-433-3033.

For those booking on the web-site, when you get to the website, go down to the bottom of the page to ‘Find a Hotel’. In the drop down box ‘Who are you?’ click on Teams. You do not need an access code once you have selected Teams. Then select your arrival and departure dates, the number of rooms (up to 20 at a visit) and the maximum number of people you will have in the room. Then click on ‘Find Hotels’. You will then be able to select which hotel you want. The rate shown is the lowest average nightly rate. We recommend that for groups booking over 20 rooms that they book either by fax or through the call center as they can handle larger blocks of rooms and to ensure that all the rooms are at the same hotel.

Please find below the cancellation policy outlining important dates and deadlines:

• You may make name changes up to 72 hours prior to arrival.
• Credit Cards will be charged March 7, 2007 for any reservations made prior to this date and for which a check has not been received. Your credit card will reflect the charge from Steele Meetings, Inc.
• Payment in full is due March 14, 2007. Reservations not paid for by this date will be released.
• You may make modifications to room type, name changes and cancel any of the packages prior to March 19, 2007 and receive a refund minus a $10 administration fee per package.
• Any cancellations after March 19th forfeit all payments. Any additional requests after March 19th will be subject to availability and receipt of payment.
• Payment must be in the form of one check or money order per Team or by credit card. Credit Card payments will be charged a 3.5% handling fee.

Please find following some helpful links when making your reservations:

Map of Atlanta highlighting the hotels in relation to the Georgia World Convention Center and the Georgia Dome go to: www.steelemeetings.com/atlantamap

A copy of the Fax Registration Form may be found at: www.steelemeetings.com/regform

You may copy the second page to add additional rooms if needed.

A copy of the package rates by room for all hotels may be found at: www.steelemeetings.com/packages

We look forward to working with you and wish Team 365 a very successful FIRST season.

Steele Meetings, Inc
6346-65 Lantana Rd.
Suite 117
Lake Worth, FL 33463
customerservice@steelemeetings.com
===========================

If you have not contacted Steele Meetings yet, I would recommend you plan to do so soon.

Good luck!

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Paul:

I am very disappointed that the Omni was not an option for the FIRST packages. Also, based on our group size, the Embassy Suites was also not an option either.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I'm glad they're still doing the Hyatt Regency; we stayed there in 2004, and aside from a 15-20 minute walk to the Georgia Dome (which I think we can avoid this year with good MARTA planning) it was wonderful (the walk wasn't bad either, gave lots of talking time).

I was wondering why there were 2 hotels on that map that weren't on the price list.

These are good prices for including tickets to the wrap party; I don't think there's a difference in price between getting reservations from the hotel itself (so no wrap party) or through Steele meetings (includes wrap party) in some cases.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

According to our teacher, we got into the Embassy Suites (best hotel in atlanta, imo). The Omni was a little disappointing last year, compared to all the hype. We'll be glad to be back in the huge rooms at the Suites with an awesome free breakfast every morning :)

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

All I can say is: painful!

We have a large team and, according to Steele, there is no room for us anywhere except at the Capitol. How is this possible? I have no idea. I have been on the phone with them for 2 hours and counting (I'm on hold now). So if it is like this for us this early, then how is it going to be for other teams later?

I feel the freight train coming ...

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I believe that teams looking for 5-10 rooms should do okay with this process. However, large teams (MOE is looking to book 38 rooms) will find this to be a difficult process. Many of our choice hotels are not available and we need to make some quick decisions to get in anywhere. Looks like right now, MOE will be in the Hyatt.

SUGGESTION - If you have a large team, please book soon or plan to split your team into smaller groups at different hotels.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

Yup, John has it right. Booking online for a large group is virtually impossible via the online system. I tried this morning and eventually got fed up with the whole process. Thankfully I ended up with a helpful rep from Steele on the phone. I spent 90 minutes on the phone with the rep, and eventually got the rooms booked.

As for the choice hotels being booked, I have a suspicion that those teams who faxed in orders in advance, were given priority. When I got onto the system this morning at 9:00 am, I could not secure any rooms at the Embassy Suites.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I am pretty sure that we do not use FIRST recommended hotels in Atlanta, we stay at the holiday mid-town north, they are pretty good to us. Good luck :)

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I toook over 45 minutes to enter in our info for the 19 rooms 1038 plans to use. We'll be at the Wyndham. It was tedious, but problem-free. We were hoping to stay at the Omni, too :(

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

It is confirmed that MOE 365 will be staying at the Hyatt Regency. If any team has stayed here before and has some suggestions / comments, please e-mail me.

I hope your team's Championship Hotel reservation process went well.

Re: Championship Hotel Reservations - How Did it Go For you?
 

I have a feeling that teams who don't qaulify for ATL until the end of March at their regional are gonna have a hard time booking close, convenient rooms.