[Deptheads] Hotel news and update

[Eric M. Aldrich I]

At this point we've received the contracts from the Westin and the  
2011 contracts from the Sheraton (we're waiting on 2012 and we're  
still haggling over 2010 -- see below). We're going to go with the  
Sheraton, and here's why:

1) The general consensus is if we can get everything equal, the  
Sheraton is better for us as far as layout and public perception.  
We've essentially gotten the contracts equal now.
2) The Westin is still doing the Park & Fly -- we know what this will  
do to parking and we do not want to experience that again. The  
Sheraton has contracted for 700 spaces with Easy Park (? or was it All  
Star -- I need to check this) and has 150 spots on site. The Westin  
has 1100 spots total but we won't be able to use them all.
3) Both hotels have developed cold feet over us moving in 2010. With  
that in mind, if we're going to move in 2010, it will be far easier to  
pull off with the Sheraton due to the same ownership. I'm not happy  
about the fact we may not move next year, but I'm going to try like  
all heck to get it to happen. Hopefully the Radisson double booked  
again :-)
4) The staff seemed better overall there than we have dealt with at  
both the Radisson and Westin. It's not a training hotel.

The downside is the rooms and parking are going to be more expensive  
for our patrons and us and food options not as plentiful.

We still have some details to work out with the Sheraton, but as of  
tomorrow I'm going to tell the Westin we won't be going there.

If you have any last second comments, send them to me privately. I  
still have the option of signing on with the Westin, but unless I hear  
something overwhelming, it's not going to happen.

Eric