RE: Congrads John Earl!

John,

>I know that room rates are a big issue for a
lot of folks (especially the independent members), but I don't yet see an
easy way out of that.  As I'm sure you already know, the hotels give COMMON
"free" use of the conference facilities in return for a guaranteed minimum
return based on rented rooms.  If the Hotel doesn't meet its revenue
minimums, then it charges COMMON a fee equal to the shortfall.  So it seems
that the "free" conference facilities have their own costs as well.  

 Although I haven't checked very recently, I think that you can get rooms
or suites for 100-150 / night w/o too much difficulty.  So staying at
Common hotels and paying rack rates means that the member is volunteering
to subsidize Common's coffers "over and above the call of duty."  That's
probably unacceptable for independents.
 

>I'm only a week into this, but I suspect that the die for Orlando may
already be cast.  If you have any ideas on how to lessen this burden,
please let me know.

 Given the state of the travel business today, you *may* be able to
renegotiate the rates.

 -mark


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