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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 20, 2011 20:01:00 GMT
I thought there were special rates for AA attendees? Or am I imagining this? I always thought that as well, but I can't see anything on the AA Web site. There are plenty of other hotels nearby at much more reasonable, and consistent, rates. |
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 20, 2011 20:07:10 GMT
I am sure Simon will update us when he is next here.
I'd rather be in the con hotel. Just easier all round.
-Ralph
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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 20, 2011 20:42:05 GMT
I'd rather be in the con hotel. Just easier all round. -Ralph Oh, absolutely. Just not at more than twice the standard price!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 21:10:52 GMT
Depending on the time of year, hotels will reduce their rates a lot from their "normal" room rates if it's a quiet period and August is traditionally a quiet month for the hotel trade. I am shocked about the variance of room rates around the same time as Auto Assembly, but to be honest, nothing would surprise me with the Holiday Inn anymore, hence our relocation. With the rates that we have negotiated for the Hilton... it's a massive hotel and is large enough to hold three conventions the size of Auto Assembly simultanously so they're not the sort of venue to charge different rates when there are events running compared with other weekends. Put simply, expect really good and REAL discounts!!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 22:13:39 GMT
I'm still looking at prices until I can pay for it in a couple months, but I would much rather stay in the actual Con hotel (just makes it easier to drop off stuff and not wander the streets at night)
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 20, 2011 22:17:06 GMT
2012 just isn't on my radar right now. I'm focussed on 2011.
-Ralph
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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 21, 2011 9:25:13 GMT
Depending on the time of year, hotels will reduce their rates a lot from their "normal" room rates if it's a quiet period and August is traditionally a quiet month for the hotel trade. I am shocked about the variance of room rates around the same time as Auto Assembly, but to be honest, nothing would surprise me with the Holiday Inn anymore, hence our relocation. With the rates that we have negotiated for the Hilton... it's a massive hotel and is large enough to hold three conventions the size of Auto Assembly simultanously so they're not the sort of venue to charge different rates when there are events running compared with other weekends. Put simply, expect really good and REAL discounts!! The blighters! It would be nice to stay over in the same place as the convention. I'll have to see how my money goes. But good news about next year if the hotels can be more... ahem... accommodating. |
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Post by Bogatan on Jan 21, 2011 11:21:28 GMT
LAst year I ended up staying the last night at the holiday Inn only booking on the Sunday night and after waiting about 10 minutes to find out if I could get the AA dicount rate I found out the standard price was actually cheaper. Was breakfast included in the AA rate?
Anyway this year it looks as thought my brother and Andy are coming so split the cost three ways so it shouldn't be too bad.
Andy
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Post by Benn on Jan 21, 2011 11:30:28 GMT
Breakfast is at least extra this year. Prior to that, I don't know. Ed will though!
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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 21, 2011 12:33:48 GMT
Are you and Ed staying in the Holiday Inn this year or have you booked at the Aston Uni Kidney Procurement Office?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2011 14:49:33 GMT
Whatever hotel we have used in the past (and future), breakfast is ALWAYS included in the rates we have negotiated with the hotel. Having been to about 30-40 large scale sci-fi conventions over the years, I know how vital a large hotel breakfast is first thing in the morning to keep you going for most of the day so you can try to manage on a liquid diet for the rest of it!
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 21, 2011 14:52:14 GMT
Will the AA hotel rates be included in the booking confirmation e-mails when they are sent? Cheers.
I recall having breakfast last year at the hotel and it was all-inclusive.
-Ralph
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Post by Kingoji on Jan 21, 2011 16:58:23 GMT
The Holiday Inn has been messing me about this time, to be fair. I booked my brother and I in for this years AA as we were checking out of the hotel last year (I know, I know, shame on me), and at that time they told us breakfast was extra.
When we met for the B.I.G., I went in to make sure the booking had been confirmed as they hadn't sent a confirmation email as they usually do, and they had indeed booked us in... but only for one night. And I still haven't had my confirmation email.
Ben and I will be in Brum next month to see Rob Zombie, and I'm thinking I'll go in then and just try and get them to do it over from scratch...
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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 22, 2011 13:45:13 GMT
For the price of one night in the Holiday Inn, I can get two nights in a local hotel. But I would prefer to be in the same hotel as the event. I might just stay over on the Saturday night in the Holiday Inn.
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Post by Mark_Stevenson on Jan 30, 2011 20:53:53 GMT
I'll have to wait a few months to get the money together for 2011, but I'm already skeptical about 2012 if it's at the NEC. Parking is prohibitively expensive, public transport's annoying to get there, and (most importantly) it's right out in the sticks. In other words - no pubs, no shops, no nothing.
As a general comment, I've been to enough concerts and events at the NEC over the years. It's a soulless, overpriced cattle shed and I'm loathe to go there.
Just my opinion.
Mx
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Post by grahamthomson on Jan 30, 2011 21:17:03 GMT
While it is true that the NEC is a soulless cattle shed, it's up to us to FILL IT WITH SOUL!
Though not cattle.
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Post by Benn on Jan 30, 2011 23:07:34 GMT
Cattle don't have souls?
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Post by andrewbcalculating on Jan 31, 2011 9:34:55 GMT
The first thing I thought when I found out about the NEC is what Mark just mentioned, are there any pubs to socialise in there?
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Post by Kingoji on Jan 31, 2011 9:47:56 GMT
There is a Whetherspoons within the NEC building itself, and I think Simon said about three bars within the actual hotel.
My recommendation is to do some proper stocking up of supplies before going to the Hotel/NEC area. That's what I plan on doing, at least.
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Post by blueshift on Jan 31, 2011 10:07:21 GMT
There is a Whetherspoons within the NEC building itself, and I think Simon said about three bars within the actual hotel. My recommendation is to do some proper stocking up of supplies before going to the Hotel/NEC area. That's what I plan on doing, at least. Oh yes, buying drinks in the NEC bars would be tantamount to financial suicide! |
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Post by Bogatan on Jan 31, 2011 10:08:43 GMT
It still won't be the same as being in the city center for shops and fast food in the evening sadly, but if AA has expanded as much as it can in the center there doesn't seem much choice.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2011 8:36:36 GMT
My recommendation is to do some proper stocking up of supplies before going to the Hotel/NEC area. That's what I plan on doing, at least. That's what I'm planning to do as well  (my suitcase will be full of bottles of coke and crisps on the train ride there lol) |
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Post by grahamthomson on Feb 2, 2011 21:56:33 GMT
And full of TOYS on the way home!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2011 22:04:36 GMT
And full of TOYS on the way home! DAMN STRAIGHT! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2011 1:06:04 GMT
I want to point out that AA2012 isn't physically at the NEC... it's being held in the four-star Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel which has a fantastic track record for holding conventions and is - if I remember correctly - the second largest convention hotel in the UK.
The NEC complex (which is what I think you're all confusing it with), is basically a block of halls with corridors joining them all up and a few food / drink concessions scattered around but the Hilton is nothing like that. It has it's own dedicated on-site parking and for public transport... when we did the scouting visit it took us less than 10 minutes to get there from Birmingham city centre.
We know that we are losing the city centre shops, but the pros more than outweigh the cons. We basically had the choice for 2012 of either 1. relocating to somewhere bigger like this, 2. moving to a hall with no on-site accommodation (which would have meant a return to a one-day format as I don't believe that two day events work in non-residential venues) or 3. cancel the convention.
Plus, what other TF convention in the UK has ever been able to offer 3 bars AND the chance for summer pool parties?!
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Post by blueshift on Feb 3, 2011 7:41:11 GMT
I want to point out that AA2012 isn't physically at the NEC... it's being held in the four-star Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel which has a fantastic track record for holding conventions and is - if I remember correctly - the second largest convention hotel in the UK. The NEC complex (which is what I think you're all confusing it with), is basically a block of halls with corridors joining them all up and a few food / drink concessions scattered around but the Hilton is nothing like that. It has it's own dedicated on-site parking and for public transport... when we did the scouting visit it took us less than 10 minutes to get there from Birmingham city centre. We know that we are losing the city centre shops, but the pros more than outweigh the cons. We basically had the choice for 2012 of either 1. relocating to somewhere bigger like this, 2. moving to a hall with no on-site accommodation (which would have meant a return to a one-day format as I don't believe that two day events work in non-residential venues) or 3. cancel the convention. Plus, what other TF convention in the UK has ever been able to offer 3 bars AND the chance for summer pool parties?! Aha! Yes, thats what I was confusing it with! |
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Post by Benn on Feb 3, 2011 8:48:31 GMT
...AND the chance for summer pool parties?! Wha--! Time to get working out then! |
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Post by grahamthomson on Feb 3, 2011 8:53:24 GMT
I don't want my cosplay to get soggy. And maybe we could get the guests to participate in a Hairiest Backs competition? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2011 9:02:06 GMT
...AND the chance for summer pool parties?! Wha--! Time to get working out then! I'll be hiding in the shadows...like a pudgy batman |
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Post by grahamthomson on Feb 3, 2011 9:20:00 GMT
Wha--! Time to get working out then! I'll be hiding in the shadows...like a pudgy batman Maybe we could all go on that Biggest Loser television show. And then appear on the weight loss one afterwards. |
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(my suitcase will be full of bottles of coke and crisps on the train ride there lol)