Quick NJC Planning Question
- Thread starter derg
- Start date
NewYorkophile
Fly Casual
By "lower hotel rates", do you mean down from $200/night to $100/night, or are we talking north strip mid-week rates of $25/night?
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
What is later in week? Thurs/Fri\Sat?
No, I haven't voted
Wouldn't you get more hits with a locked thread in general pointing to this poll?
No, I haven't voted
Wouldn't you get more hits with a locked thread in general pointing to this poll?
Cessnaflyer
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Being a pilot I'll take the cheapest room with the free breakfast. 
Still in October?
Still in October?
Or don't!
But it's 24 hours and if you fail to complete the request, that's going to color my response to any "@Derg! Why didn't we do (whatever)" you may have at a future date.
Some that are viewing the thread will understand that when you talk to Event Coordinators, they emit a long, breathy "sigh" when you tell him "...the group is comprised of aviation professionals... All sorts... Well, mostly pilots"
To all:
Here's a little more information. This isn't a Q&A or a discussion, just a "The More You Know" and "An Open, Honest" moment.
Rates vary widely with throwing events. We've overgrown the "Ehh, lets just get a large room and smuggle in some Costco liquors" style as we've seen and if we're going to have an event at all, we're going to have to officially coordinate it with the venue. That's what it is as it's 2014 Jetcareers and not 2004 Jetcareers.
Late in the week events benefit people who are more 9-to-5 that can make it a long weekend or just an early friday. However, availability is tighter as well as hotel costs are higher.
Mid- and early-week events have better availability and hotel costs are lower.
OMG, Derg said hotel costs.
This is the way event planning works. You issue an RFP through the CVA (Convention and Visitors Authority) with basic budgetary information, how many rooms you need, the space of the venue you want, etc. Then interested hotels will download that information and offer you an "RFP"/Request for Proposal with the best they can do with your meeting requirements.
The RFP generally comes back with the minimum amount of rooms that need to be occupied in order to get the event space you want and also a food and beverage minimum.
OMG, Derg said "hotel rooms" again.
If the minimums aren't meant on moving enough hotel rooms, the venue space is no longer contingent on meeting your food and beverage minimum and you either have to (a) pay a percentage of the lost revenue from not booking the rooms or (b) pay a potentially exorbitant cost for the venue space.
Remember, 100% of this is financed out of my pocket and very partially from the banner ads that some of you block (the internet should be freeeee!/I'm a commie/server lease should come out of your pocket, bro) so I have a hugely vested interest in the event coming off as a success so I can at least attempt to break even.
My challenges:
a. Finding a time of the week where most of us that want to attend, can attend.
b. Making sure that time matches up with a time where people that match (a) can afford to attend and still have a great time and meet their expectations.
c. Costing the even so people that match (a) and (b) still find it a value and I can pay the costs
d. Making sure the event stays on budget and also presents a great value that will make it worthwhile.
e. They're offering us discounted hotel rates so I can get them sold. We're in negotiations with one of the larger Casino groups and it's going to include rates at not only the venue, but also some of the more "budget-minded" properties and also some of the more "luxury" properties.
Any room you book under our event code helps towards meeting our booking targets. And in the unlikely event that you find a room at any of our properties at a lower rate, the hotel will match that. If you stay somewhere else off the rate code to save $5 because you're a cheap bastard, you may be costing us hundreds depending on booking. Again, this is the real world of event planning.
Most other real world (read: Non Aviation) events charge an exorbitant price and a "take it or leave it" perspective. I don't want to roll like that because my goal is to budget "X" for the event and have "X" be the revenue from sales because it's solely about having a great time and making sure you guys get yourselves networked.
I, personally, bear 100% of the financial burden and responsibility for throwing the event so all you've got to do is vote.
Here's a little more information. This isn't a Q&A or a discussion, just a "The More You Know" and "An Open, Honest" moment.
Rates vary widely with throwing events. We've overgrown the "Ehh, lets just get a large room and smuggle in some Costco liquors" style as we've seen and if we're going to have an event at all, we're going to have to officially coordinate it with the venue. That's what it is as it's 2014 Jetcareers and not 2004 Jetcareers.
Late in the week events benefit people who are more 9-to-5 that can make it a long weekend or just an early friday. However, availability is tighter as well as hotel costs are higher.
Mid- and early-week events have better availability and hotel costs are lower.
OMG, Derg said hotel costs.
This is the way event planning works. You issue an RFP through the CVA (Convention and Visitors Authority) with basic budgetary information, how many rooms you need, the space of the venue you want, etc. Then interested hotels will download that information and offer you an "RFP"/Request for Proposal with the best they can do with your meeting requirements.
The RFP generally comes back with the minimum amount of rooms that need to be occupied in order to get the event space you want and also a food and beverage minimum.
OMG, Derg said "hotel rooms" again.
If the minimums aren't meant on moving enough hotel rooms, the venue space is no longer contingent on meeting your food and beverage minimum and you either have to (a) pay a percentage of the lost revenue from not booking the rooms or (b) pay a potentially exorbitant cost for the venue space.
Remember, 100% of this is financed out of my pocket and very partially from the banner ads that some of you block (the internet should be freeeee!/I'm a commie/server lease should come out of your pocket, bro) so I have a hugely vested interest in the event coming off as a success so I can at least attempt to break even.
My challenges:
a. Finding a time of the week where most of us that want to attend, can attend.
b. Making sure that time matches up with a time where people that match (a) can afford to attend and still have a great time and meet their expectations.
c. Costing the even so people that match (a) and (b) still find it a value and I can pay the costs
d. Making sure the event stays on budget and also presents a great value that will make it worthwhile.
e. They're offering us discounted hotel rates so I can get them sold. We're in negotiations with one of the larger Casino groups and it's going to include rates at not only the venue, but also some of the more "budget-minded" properties and also some of the more "luxury" properties.
Any room you book under our event code helps towards meeting our booking targets. And in the unlikely event that you find a room at any of our properties at a lower rate, the hotel will match that. If you stay somewhere else off the rate code to save $5 because you're a cheap bastard, you may be costing us hundreds depending on booking. Again, this is the real world of event planning.
Most other real world (read: Non Aviation) events charge an exorbitant price and a "take it or leave it" perspective. I don't want to roll like that because my goal is to budget "X" for the event and have "X" be the revenue from sales because it's solely about having a great time and making sure you guys get yourselves networked.
I, personally, bear 100% of the financial burden and responsibility for throwing the event so all you've got to do is vote.
SpiceWeasel
Tre Kronor
I would like to suggest that you tie in the NJC with the hotel. Similar to the early purchase deal, but more along the lines of "for an NJC ticket, stay here".
Being a pilot I'll take the cheapest room with the free breakfast.
Still in October?
You do mean the price of the breakfast rolled right into your rate so you have the illusion of it being free?
I would love to. But it would present an automation nightmare, unless, of course, the hotel group has the automation. I offered a tiered rate to the 2010 event where if you stayed in the hotel, your event cost was X and if you didn't, your even cost was X+Y, which is most likely what we'll do this year.
Most groups have Event Coordinators that will just sell packages, but they're basically acting as the intermediary between the hotel and the attendee.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
I didn't vote because time of week doesn't really matter to me. I usually stay a whole week in Vegas every fall, anyway. My issue (and probably the issue of a few other regular posters) will be a certain organization's board of director's meeting in Florida in October. I've got to be down there from the 17th to the 24th, so hopefully it isn't then!
Learn craps. We'll have a go.
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