MARC National 2022 Host Hotel July 1st

[msmaron]

Reservations open July 1st 8am

[mercman from oz]

MARC National 2022 Host Hotel July 1st

[msmaron]

Thank you

[sawzall]

any details on daily activities?

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by sawzall

any details on daily activities?

Way too early to post. Thanks

[Will N]

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Looks like the host hotel filled up by early afternoon yesterday. Website was showing no rooms available that week by like 1:00PM. I got my reservation in, though I nearly wore out the redial button on my phone from the busy signals I got. Having been involved in organizing a regional meet, I know from experience that no matter how much you stress to the hotel that they will be deluged with calls as soon as reservations open, they never seem to put in the staff and capacity to deal with the flood of calls. Can't wait for this meet!

[msmaron]

Hmm thats interesting, last night there were rooms available and yes no online booking for the MARC rate..

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by msmaron

Hmm thats interesting, last night there were rooms available and yes no online booking for the MARC rate..

I called several times yesterday morning and finally got thru about 9:30. They said they had been inundated with calls and that they weren't expecting that amount of calls to come in so fast. The hotel only has about 180 guest rooms, and they said they were holding back some for long-term guests and for maintenance reasons. I am guessing they probably are full by now but definitely worth checking because it is a long way (15+ miles) to the other hotels and most would probably want to be at the host.

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

I called several times yesterday morning and finally got thru about 9:30. I am guessing they probably are full by now but definitely worth checking because it is a long way (15+ miles) to the other hotels and most would probably want to be at the host.

Unfortunately we cannot accommodate all at the host which is not that un-common anymore these days, multiple hotels will have to be used. Backroads to the other hotels though, no interstate or anything, there were rooms available as of this AM....Are you planning on attending the meet?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Will N

Looks like the host hotel filled up by early afternoon yesterday. Website was showing no rooms available that week by like 1:00PM. I got my reservation in, though I nearly wore out the redial button on my phone from the busy signals I got. Having been involved in organizing a regional meet, I know from experience that no matter how much you stress to the hotel that they will be deluged with calls as soon as reservations open, they never seem to put in the staff and capacity to deal with the flood of calls. Can't wait for this meet!

This is very true. My wife, my two teenage kids, and myself hosted a national Model-T club event back in 2009 by ourselves (-no local club for help) and it was as you say, the hotel staff was overwhelmed. I still host an annual Model-T event and because of this, I started a special chapter within the national MTFCA club called the TEHO chapter. That stands for T Event & Host Organizers ...and is a chapter whose members are organizers and hosts of national Model-T events held around the country. Its purpose is for us to mentor local chapters on how to host a local event that might otherwise seem overwhelming.

I have always thought that the national club should have someone on staff to assist planning these events and the national club could own the software to handle the registration of the event. Hotels are VERY difficult to work with when there is an event of this size, -and most local clubs do not have the experience in dealing with them. I know that with my event, I had to sign a contract that I would guarantee one night of lodging for each room count that I blocked. (i.e.: 250 rooms at $110.00 per night!!). I also had a cancellation clause for the banquets and meeting rooms for the event that would have been over $25k in addition to the room block. At that time, the only reason why I agreed to do this was because the national club said they would underwrite me if something catastrophic happened.

The difference that can/could happen with a national club staff person handling all of the logistics & negotiations vs. just the local club, is there is local and state tax money that is available for large groups and conventions. (Think; Grant Money!) This money is generated in the form of a special tax placed on hotel room rentals throughout the year. The local Chamber of Commerce can funnel that money to large groups as incentives for a large event to come to their area depending on the local economic impact that national event would bring to their area. This incentive money can easily pay/offset a salary for a staff person to handle the registrations and logistics for a national and membership meet around the country. This would be the perfect job for a retired couple who just wants to work part-time and travel around the country seeking new venues to host a meet at. This can also lessen the financial risk that many local clubs cannot afford to take the chance on in the event something went wrong that would cause the event to be poorly attended. A few years back, there was a national event that was VERY well planned and organized however the event was very poorly attended. The result was the event lost a significant amount of money. Had it not been the result of a large donation from an individual, this likely would have been a huge financial burden on local club members to overcome. IMO the national clubs should look at stepping-up and try to underwrite these events so take some of the burden off.

[Jeff/Illinois]

HOLY COW

And if another 'planned-demic' is rolled out that will be very expensive for the planners of these size events.

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

HOLY COW

And if another 'planned-demic' is rolled out that will be very expensive for the planners of these size events.

We take precautions for that and you obviously don't have any loved ones that died from this or you would not have made the comment!!

[Will N]

Brent, your suggestion of having the national club back the local club hosting the event financially and with expertise is what the Buick Club of America does. The local club has no financial risk from hosting the event. They provide the manpower, the BCA takes the risk. I looked on the MARC webpage and couldn't find information related to how MARC supports the host club. There may be support provided, I just couldn't find it on the web page.