[MooreteP]

In making reservations for our teams, we noticed that the rates being charged by Steele Meetings were in excess of the rates advertised prior to Steele Meetings blocking off most of the rooms available in downtown St. Louis.

Their profit amounts to nearly 20% above the going rate. I have included the local taxes.

In addition, a hotel would allow you to cancel a reservation within a reasonable amount of time prior to your arrival date. Steele Meetings does not.

For our team, this amounts to an increased cost of nearly $1400 for 12 rooms for 4 nights.
Multiplied by 200 teams as an estimate of the number of teams making reservations through them, this is a revenue to Steele Meetings of approximately $300,000. I believe that these are conservative estimates. I would assume that Steele Meetings also gains a financial advantage by reserving in bulk.

Does FIRST gain any revenue from this to defray the cost of the Championship event, or are we being taken advantage of by a third party.

Any thoughts from teams traveling to the Championship Event would be appreciated.