How fast of downtown hotel sellout?
Posted by triad1

How fast do the downtown hotels sell out?  This is my first time risking the housing lottery versus booking out of block which I almost did about a month or two ago.  Fingers crossed.  Not hoping for a lot, but you never know.  I thought I’d at least try for one year.  Any thoughts… anyone?

Posted by zekester

From a useful chart on the Friends of Gen Con Facebook page, in 2024 sellouts were


  • 12:25 - Connected doubles 
  • 12:50 - Connected all types
  • 1:05 - Downtown doubles
  • 1:10 - Downtown all types
  • 2:40 - All hotels

As a point of additional information, I had 1:39 in 2024 and was looking for any hotel room for three people.  There were none, so while 2:40 is no doubt correct, it must have been all one king bed rooms after 1:39.

Posted by triad1

Ah,  I guess I’m s.o.l. then…. I’ve got 1:46 connect time.  Hmmm…. lesson learned.  Next year, I’ll just stick with booking out of block and by the airport.  I could have got a pretty good deal a couple of months ago, but decided to try this out at least once.  Gotta learn from the shaft I guess.

Posted by maijstral2 triad1

triad1 wrote:
Ah,  I guess I’m s.o.l. then…. I’ve got 1:46 connect time.  Hmmm…. lesson learned.  Next year, I’ll just stick with booking out of block and by the airport.  I could have got a pretty good deal a couple of months ago, but decided to try this out at least once.  Gotta learn from the shaft I guess.

I got 3:34 this year so no hope at all so I went to expedia and found some cheap ones at the closer side of the airport and booked the red roof in for 85 dollars a night refundable in case I get lucky. No frills but I just plan on sleeping/ showering there so its okay. One thing you should remember is if possible try and book on the companies website rather than a third party its a better guarantee you won't get hosed. I looked on Expedia but then booked on Red Roof Inn website.

Posted by royrydbeck

The hotel situation sucks. We had 3 different registered people and none of us were able to get an early enough slot to get a downtown hotel this year. I personally won't go without a downtown reservation. The shuttles suck too far away. 

Posted by aldctjoc

Shuttles? From what I understand there haven't been any since years prior to COVID. At least ones provided by Gen Con itself. 

People at airport or other outer area hotels usually either drive or use Uber/Lyft. Public transport definitely sucks too much to depend on. 

Posted by aldctjoc triad1

triad1 wrote:Ah,  I guess I’m s.o.l. then…. I’ve got 1:46 connect time.  Hmmm…. lesson learned.  Next year, I’ll just stick with booking out of block and by the airport.  I could have got a pretty good deal a couple of months ago, but decided to try this out at least once.  Gotta learn from the shaft I guess.

You can still book out of block at the airport, then drop it if you get a good in-block hotel. 

Also: There are airport hotels in-block. You'll have to tell me if they're cheaper than out-of-block, but from what I understand, they should be. 

How long any rooms remain available out there is a whole other issue. 

Posted by rleebyers

Years ago, when I stayed in an airport hotel, the shuttle was great. Of course, I got on at the very first stop, so there was always room. People staying at hotels farther along the route were sometimes disappointed.

Posted by triad1

Just sucked it up and booked by the Airport where I’ve stayed in the past.  Fck It.  Didn’t bother waiting for downtown rooms to possibly pop up.  Missed that downtown closing window by about 15-20min.  Knew it would be close, but kept my fingers crossed.  I figured I had maybe until 1:30 before everything downtown sold out and I guess I was correct.  Oh well.  Hassle free next year.  I’m just going to book ahead of time outside of block like in previous years and hope for a good deal.

Posted by melkor

Yeah, 1:54 PM CT and nothing less than 15 miles out. Generally rely on persistant web stalking, and usually do ok on my own.

Posted by djww19 melkor

melkor wrote:
Yeah, 1:54 PM CT and nothing less than 15 miles out. Generally rely on persistant web stalking, and usually do ok on my own.
I was a little ahead of you (1330) and it was 12 miles for the closest. I wish Gencon would work with the nearby hotels to negotiate more room blocks next year.

Posted by triad1 djww19

djww19 wrote:
melkor wrote:
Yeah, 1:54 PM CT and nothing less than 15 miles out. Generally rely on persistant web stalking, and usually do ok on my own.
I was a little ahead of you (1330) and it was 12 miles for the closest. I wish Gencon would work with the nearby hotels to negotiate more room blocks next year.
I actually don’t think it’s going to matter at all anymore; just too many people going at this point.  

I’m starting to go back to just accepting booking out of block by the airport way ahead of time and avoiding any last minute stress as the preferred way to go. I’ve got my preferred location on the closer side of the airport so it really is a rather real quick one shot down the freeway to the convention centre.  Did that when I first started going to Gen Con, out of sight out of mind, and just concerned myself with the event registration really.   

I only really need to sort out a better parking routine; then I’m gold and can declare a stable level of comfort at least!

Posted by njseahawksfan

As a follow up to this: I had 12:59 time and was able to get hotel for 4 5 blocks out, and there were several options to choose from.

Posted by squirecam njseahawksfan

njseahawksfan wrote:
As a follow up to this: I had 12:59 time and was able to get hotel for 4 5 blocks out, and there were several options to choose from.
yeah if you get in the first 2 hours you usually are OK. 

Posted by shalion

I'm hoping (probably foolishly) that I'll find something downtown in the coming months. I had (also probably foolishly) told my 8-year-old that he could go to GenCon this year but he's just too young to not have a room to decompress in during the day. We're at Keystone Crossing and the struggle to get an Uber/Lyft and get back and forth is just too much. 
I haven't attended since before he was born and wow, the change is pretty incredible.

Posted by notavailableeither

Last year there was a “Quiet Room” on the second floor of the ICC. 

If they have it again, that could be a place for him to “decompress”. 

Posted by squirecam royrydbeck

royrydbeck wrote:
The hotel situation sucks. We had 3 different registered people and none of us were able to get an early enough slot to get a downtown hotel this year. I personally won't go without a downtown reservation. The shuttles suck too far away. 
So i had a bad time and couldn't get anything in the block. But today I was able to use hilton honors points to get a room downtown thursday through Sunday. 

Keep trying and looking and your patience can pay off.

Posted by maijstral2 aldctjoc

aldctjoc wrote:
triad1 wrote:Ah,  I guess I’m s.o.l. then…. I’ve got 1:46 connect time.  Hmmm…. lesson learned.  Next year, I’ll just stick with booking out of block and by the airport.  I could have got a pretty good deal a couple of months ago, but decided to try this out at least once.  Gotta learn from the shaft I guess.

You can still book out of block at the airport, then drop it if you get a good in-block hotel. Also: There are airport hotels in-block. You'll have to tell me if they're cheaper than out-of-block, but from what I understand, they should be. 
How long any rooms remain available out there is a whole other issue. 

This is exactly what I did, been going to Gencon for over 20 years this year my lottery time was 4:34 I didn't even try so I went to Tripadvisor found a decent cheap hotel at the 7-5 mile end of the airport for 86 bucks a night refundable. Red Roof Inn if anyone else wants to try. I will check the housing portal regularly over the next few months but last year I couldn't beat the bots no matter how hard I tried. I really shouldn't complain this year and last are the first times I haven't scored a downtown hotel room although about half the time I did have to pick one up after the initial rush during the few months after when people drop.

Posted by alexasmith
#19

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Posted by squirecam

Sleep inn & suites and conference center has rooms. 1.5 miles from convention center. Available on hotels com.

You can also get the Aloft downtown but it's $600 a night. 

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