Of course there will need to be subsidies but people are forgetting that OKC has already subsidized a hotel before in the past (the Renaissance).

If the GSA rates lowball OKC's convention hotel then government employees can drive from the convention center to the nearby cheapo hotel in Del City or wherever. I have a feeling that it's not really going to matter for the government if this is how their regulations are in the first place.

yeah....not really how it works. nearly all convention organizers wont book a place if they cant get the whole group together, and to do that they need the government rates...

The government is already raising their per diem amount for OKC during peak times (to $124 I believe). Hopefully that will become permanent. As it is, government conferences don't make up a huge chunk of our convention business and the downtown hotels don't offer the per diem rate of $84 unless the room is being paid for with a government credit card.


Isn't part of the cotton oil mill still in operation? Are they ready to shut down and sell if it is?

They've already purchased land in the Western Heights area to relocate.

I believe the Sheraton is only $120/night anyway..downtown hotels can be a lot worse. So that would be within the government rate.

Just pulling up Fort Worth's Omni, looks like rooms there are $149/night. That would definitely be one of the nicer convention hotels, too.

I believe the Sheraton is only $120/night anyway..downtown hotels can be a lot worse. So that would be within the government rate.

Just pulling up Fort Worth's Omni, looks like rooms there are $149/night. That would definitely be one of the nicer convention hotels, too.

Just did a general search on the Sheraton - $155 is the lowest rate for a Sunday - Thursday night stay in late January 2010.

In June, the lowest rate is currently $165.

Hey, keep in mind the normal rate at the Gaylord Texas is over $300/nite tho I did get a great deal for $150/nite for the OU/BYU game. It could be a LOT more expensive.

by "normal rate" do you mean the "rack rate"? Similar in concept to MSRP (this is what they would like to get for it, but realize that they probably won't). Plus a high rack rate or MSRP can be just a marketing ploy to make someone think they are getting a bargain. Over the holidays heard a local car dealership announcing 60% off MSRP on USED cars and trucks. That wasn't a typo, they were selling USED cars (some 2 or 3 model years old). Never heard of any manufacturer making USED cars so how could there be an MSRP? Blue book value, sure but MSRP? LOL

Probably, but was the cheapest I'd been able to find the previous 2 years when we visited Dallas. I'd not been able to find less than $349 previously.

Special Offers - Sheraton Oklahoma City Hotel (http://specialoffers.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton_oklahoma_city/so.htm?IM=SI_Search_US_SI_1046)

For NBA game nights -- $99 (th-su) - $139 (m-w) per night
Weekends -- $105 per night

Destination Oklahoma: Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma (http://oklahoma.destinations.starwoodhotels.com/portal.htm)

Average is $129 per night.

Never heard of any manufacturer making USED cars so how could there be an MSRP? Blue book value, sure but MSRP? LOL

Manufactures Suggested Resale Price. Was this a GM dealer by chance?

I seen the plans for the new convention place on the news. I don't see why wouldn't want to put it downtown. That would be good for downtown!

Manufactures Suggested Resale Price. Was this a GM dealer by chance?

Hmmm, had always heard it as Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price and always in the context of NEW products. "Resale" can imply used but Apple retailers are known as authorized "resellers" and aren't selling used computers. But regardless, how does the manufacturer set the cost of USED cars? Didn't catch the dealership, sorry.

I seen the plans for the new convention place on the news. I don't see why wouldn't want to put it downtown. That would be good for downtown!

Never in a million years would they build the new convention center outside of downtown.

I seen the plans for the new convention place on the news. I don't see why wouldn't want to put it downtown. That would be good for downtown!

I seen yur english teacher. she be lookin to take yur duhploma back.

I seen yur english teacher. she be lookin to take yur duhploma back.

I'm not sure that was necessary.

I heard the convention center was to be built on the back 40 outside of slaughterville!

Seriously though,has there been a date announced when the project is supposed to start?

No, because the world will end in 2012 anyway and none of these projects will ever be finished.

Kerry, it's just an online chat grammar lesson quickie, no offense was meant by it!

Just pulling up Fort Worth's Omni, looks like rooms there are $149/night.

That's cheaper than the Skirvin or the Colcord on a normal night.

Since nobody has corrected me on it yet, you know it must be true, too..lol

Seriously though,has there been a date announced when the project is supposed to start?

No new info that I am aware of. They can't really start anything until they get a site selected (last I read, it was narrowed down to 4 possible locations). Though personally think they have already settled on the site that was shown in the MAPS 3 renderings (just as nothing was settled as far as what was going to be in MAPS and there was going to be public input, etc...none of which ended up being the case). The Mayor has said repeatedly that he wants the Convention Center "staged last" and the general time frame is completion in 10 years. One early Chamber estimate was 6 years but late in the MAPS 3 campaign also read 12 years. Even the 10 year time frame makes no since to me as the C.C. is THE economic engine of all of the MAPS 3 projects and we need all the jobs that it is going to create sooner rather than later IMO