TOPIC: GENCON Hotel Block Times

I’ve only been attending since 2014, but I’ve never heard of the ENTIRE block selling out. Downtown, yes. But the worst case scenario was getting one of the outlying hotels and driving/Lyfting in.

Entire block, and then some, sold out solid for 50year anniversary

After last year they probably did not secure a bunch of extra. That means attendance is up (which they should have looked at all the badges bought and done stuff then)

i wonder how many groups got multiple rooms and after coordinating will be dropping some of them?

I got 1:12, and a friend for 1:05. Even that early all the connected hotels were sold out, but we ended up 2 blocks away - not bad.

smakdown wrote: i wonder how many groups got multiple rooms and after coordinating will be dropping some of them?

I think that always happens.

There were 5 in our group. I was the lucky recipient of a 12:17 portal time, every one else got after 2pm. We've been at the Staybridge so much in the past we went with the familiar and 2 + blocks of exercise each way daily. Looking forward to seeing everyone for local install (if selected of course). John Ohlinger is already getting his salsa ready for the trip.

Spud (and Salsa John)

BeLinda Mathie wrote: I’ve only been attending since 2014, but I’ve never heard of the ENTIRE block selling out. Downtown, yes. But the worst case scenario was getting one of the outlying hotels and driving/Lyfting in.

That's why they sold out - they contracted with fewer outlying hotels since it had always been cheaper to go through those hotels directly, resulting in those rooms sitting in the block unused.

Downtown hotels lasted considerably longer this year than in the "Before Times" - between 2017 and 2020, downtown rooms would sell out after somewhere between 25% and 35% of the assigned times had gotten in, whereas this year it was a bit above 50%.

As for me, I got the last room at The Alexander - still not decided on whether I want to keep it, because I'm not sure trading "the drive from the airport" with "the walk from The Alexander" is worth doubling the cost.

Allen John wrote:
That's why they sold out - they contracted with fewer outlying hotels since it had always been cheaper to go through those hotels directly, resulting in those rooms sitting in the block unused.

Downtown hotels lasted considerably longer this year than in the "Before Times" - between 2017 and 2020, downtown rooms would sell out after somewhere between 25% and 35% of the assigned times had gotten in, whereas this year it was a bit above 50%.

I thought the entire block was sold out at just above 50%. I thought downtown hotels were sold out a good amount of time before that. Did they not say they were entirely sold out around 2pm? Which would be 50% of the time?

After looking at what Dave posted, that is super interesting.

This was shared on Facebook regarding how hotel sales stacked up to prior years.

Also, in the Gen Con Forums Mike Boozer made the following comment.

Less properties at the beginning this year. More rooms will be added. Keep checking back.

50% of the time from 3:30 (the best estimate of the end time) would have been 1:45.

I had 1:42 and definitely got a downtown room, so I can confirm they lasted at least that long. There were a couple rooms still available at the new IUPUI hotels as well at that point.

I had 1:44 and got a downtown room, a friend had 1:48 and didn't get one, he saw Home2Home and click it and it told him sold out and then after that closest was the 2.8 mile hotel. So downtown was gone right about 1:48.