Minimum Night Stay RestrictionsMinimum night stay restrictions are in effect for all downtown hotels. Requests for downtown hotels must consist of four or more consecutive dates and must include the nights of Wednesday - Saturday, July 30—August 2, 2025. Minimum night stay restrictions will remain in place throughout the housing registration period. Room assignments at suburban hotels are not generally subject to minimum night stay restrictions, though some exceptions may exist.

Additionally, a five-night minimum stay (Tuesday – Saturday nights, inclusive) will be in effect for the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown Hotel on a trial basis in 2025.

Would we be eligible for the Marriott Downtown if you were staying Wednesday - Sunday? It is a 5 night stay which fits our schedule better as we stay to take down and pack up the vendors booth we help with.

Just the Tuesday - Saturday is what is required for the Marriott. No other configurations will be allowed.

Mike

I'm curious as to the reasoning behind this change.  I would assume this is to give attendees who are there all 4 days a better chance at the downtown hotels.  As someone who almost always gets a 4-day badge, I can appreciate this.  I just wish it was a 3-night minimum (Thursday-Saturday) instead.  I would imagine that quite a few people like me try to save 300ish dollars by getting to Indy Thursday morning, though I've experienced the benefits to being there Wednesday night.  Do you think this is how Gen Con will handle housing going forward, or is this more of a trial run to see how things go under these restrictions?

It is impossible to predict how Gen Con will handle it next year, but if all goes well then you can expect it to be a permeant change. The trial run is on the Marriott 5 night stay.

Previously there already was a 3 night minimum.

The demand for housing outstrips the amount of housing available downtown specifically. Especially connected rooms. 

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The rule is nuts the high badge prices was already pushing it, we got to buy badges, then there event tickets,gas, food, and hotel and that's not counting if you actually want to buy something. Hotels are pricy and to be expected to get 4 days instead of the 3 days we already have is asking a lot.  All this does is make it nearly impossable for anyone that's not rich to get decent rooms, 3 days was resonable considering we be there thursday, friday and saturday anyway but this policy expects us to get an extra day that we don't need or afford.

I been going to this event for at least 10 years and i always have a good time but this fells like a kick below the belt. 

Get ready for a 5 night minimum in the future.

But if a few hundred dollars truly breaks your budget then it is far better for you staying outside of downtown where its cheaper. Because you should have financial priorities.  Dont ruin your finances over a game convention hotel room downtown.

In the future, it would be helpful if you put "MINIMUM 4 NIGHT STAY" at the top of the Downtown hotel listing, so it is not missed.   I'm glad I checked the forums before tomorrow's lottery.

People don't like the change from 3 to 4 you are really not going to like it if they go from 4 to 5.   Marriott is that trial balloon.  And they will probably still sell out quickly.   

My concern on the trial of five nights at Marriott is that it is Tuesday-Saturday. It seems geared toward industry professionals instead of the gamer attendees. I do stay 5 nights, but it is Wednesday-Sunday. I know several gamer attendees that stay these five nights, but have never met one staying Tuesday-Saturday 

I'm sure hotels have historical data on if it is better to do Tu-Sa or We-Sun to maximize occupancies rates.   Is Gen Con going to lean Tu-Sa because of vendors?  Probably.

Personally (and this will not be popular) I think whomever commits the most night stays should have priority.  You want to stay 7 days downtown for GC?  You get first shot.   Then 6.. 5.. 4.