Let's talk about traveling to the Championship.

[Madison]

I've had a bit of a time to look over the packages available through FIRST's new travel broker, The THS Company, and I'm a little concerned about the cost associated with traveling to this event.

At first glance it seems to me that the pricing for the packages, especially since they're divided into only two tiers, does not accurately reflect the cost of travel to this event -- even when considering the additional overhead that isn't always evident.

For my comparison, keep in mind a few things -- I'm booking from April 14 - 18 in the cheapest room available, with four adults per room. The number of adults per room doesn't seem to significantly affect the cost, if at all. The cost of meals provided by the package is $54/person (3 @ $8 ea., 3 @ $10 ea.). I'm guessing a number for additional overhead costs as $46 -- making the total additional cost on top of the room per person $100.

The Omni (through www.expedia.com)

• Sleeps 4 per room.

Room cost: $266./night
Room taxes: $42.49/night
Room total: $1233.96
Incl. Meals: $54./ea.
Incl. Meals Total: $216.
Overhead: $46./ea.
Overhead Total: $186.
4 Person Total: $1635.96
Indiv. Total: $408.99
Package Price: $275.
Total Savings: $133.99


Embassy Suites (through www.expedia.com)

• Sleeps 2 per room, it seems, though I've kept the rates at 4 people per room.
• Breakfast is included in room rate, so I've deducted $24/ea. from Incl. Meals.
• Room was available only for 04/14 - 04/15, so I'm using that rate for all four nights.

Room Cost: $164./night
Room Taxes: $27.78/night
Room Total: $767.12
Incl. Meals: $30./ea.
Incl. Meals Total: $120.
Overhead: $46./ea.
Overhead Total: $186.
4 Person Total: $1073.12
Indiv. Total: $268.28
Package Price: $275.
Total Savings: ($6.72)

Marriott Residence Inn Studio Suites (through www.marriott.com)

• Assumed 16.5% Room Tax rate.
• Breakfast is included in room rate, so I've deducted $24/ea. from Incl. Meals.

Room Cost: $139./night
Room Taxes: $22.94/night
Room Total: $647.76
Incl. Meals: $30./ea.
Incl. Meals Total: $120.
Overhead: $46./ea.
Overhead Total: $186.
4 Person Total: $953.76
Indiv. Total: $238.44
Package Price: $275.
Total Savings: ($36.56)

Westin Hotel Peachtree Plaza (through www.westin.com)

• Assumed 16.5% Room Tax rate.

Room Cost: $209./night
Room Taxes: $34.49/night
Room Total: $973.96
Incl. Meals: $54./ea.
Incl. Meals Total: $216.
Overhead: $46./ea.
Overhead Total: $186.
4 Person Total: $1375.96
Indiv. Total: $343.99
Package Price: $275.
Total Savings: $68.99

Hampton Inn and Suites (through www.hamptoninn.com)

• 14% Room Tax as per www.hamptoninn.com
• Priced for King Size room, of which there are 37 available.
• Breakfast is included in room rate, so I've deducted $24/ea. from Incl. Meals.

Room Cost: $134./night
Room Taxes: $18.76/night
Room Total: $611.04
Incl. Meals: $30./ea.
Incl. Meals Total: $120.
Overhead: $46./ea.
Overhead Total: $186.
4 Person Total: $917.04
Indiv. Total: $229.26
Package Price: $275.
Total Savings: ($45.74)

(I'll update this more in the future. I don't have the patience to dig through another eight hotels right now.)

It seems like we can look at this in one of three ways:

• The overhead cost of running the event (facility rental, staffing, pipe and drape, lighting, audio, video, etc.) is unevenly distributed among those attending.
• The overhead cost is evenly distributed, with teams receiving highly varying room types, qualities, and other hotel amenities for the same price per person.
• The overhead cost is far higher than I anticipated here -- though one of the above two points is still true, that might mean a net savings for everyone using a package rather than the potential for loss I've indicated above.