And there in lies how that doesn’t make sense. The Hotel Pennsylvania does not need to compete for event bookings. There are enough conventions looking to book in NYC hotels, conference centers and colleges that they frequently spill over into the consolation prize that is New Jersey. If the hotel raised its rates, its because they can command those rates. Because lots of people are looking to book. There’s probably a wait list a mile long.
A nearly 8 hour drive, ~375 miles.
9 and a half hours, at ~462 miles.
About 8 hours. ~385 miles.
About an 11 hour drive. ~550 miles.
None of these places are right near NYC, and all of them are outside what I would call driving distance. More road trip distance. And I’m always down for a road trip, but given that’s where your mind went for “close to NYC” I’m curious how familiar you actually are with the geography of the East Coast. I mean the non-Albany upstate NY areas you mention are harder to get to from the NYC metro than Montreal. And about as far.
The one thing to recommend those places is they’re all fairly well connected to the same regional air hubs as NYC. So if you’re flying. And your coming from somewhere in the North East its gonna be just as easy to fly to.
If proximity to NY is what they’re looking for Jersey is across the river. Accessible to the same airports. Easier to drive to from all surrounding areas excepting Long Island (to the tune of several hours worth of traffic). And has abundant convention spaces at a fraction of the cost of Manhattan. And Philly is about 2 hours away, less than 100 miles. More accessible, significantly cheaper, has a large academic community focused on the subject to hand. Has become a premiere convention location over the last 20 years, so they have the infrastructure. And is conveniently connected via transit to both NYC and DC, as well as most of the surrounding states.
If proximity to NY is not a thing, pick a major city besides New York, San Francisco or LA. Many of them will compete for convention bookings. And not just the hotels or convention centers but the cities themselves.
Not as cheap as you’d think. I grew up in that kind of place. Most of the hotels, restaurants etc tend to shut down for the off season. Leaving slim pickings in the Winter, prices come down but not by much as they need to justify keeping the power on for all those empty weeks.
Also tend not to have convention spaces, public transport and what have. Just 40 different boutiques selling the same god damned bathing suit, and just that one bathing suit, lining both sides of the street.
Its “quaint”.
