HOTEL FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1) Why didn't I get my first or second hotel choice?

Hotel rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. That's why we urge attendees to send in their forms as soon as we open housing. If you picked a hotel that doesn't have a lot of rooms, it will fill very quickly. When assigning rooms, the housing bureau goes right down the list until they find a hotel that has dates that match the ones you want. Some times, you may request a longer stay (just in case you want to come in early and stay longer) and the extra nights may not be available in that hotel so you're moved to a hotel that has those nights available.

2) Why aren't there more hotel rooms across from the Convention Center?

The hotels across from the Convention Center are usually very small or boutique properties. They often have only 50 to a hundred rooms, fewer restaurants and other amenities. They fill quickly because they're close to the Convention Center. However, because they're so small, they just don't have a lot of rooms available. Remember that while they may be closer to the Center, they are further from downtown, the larger hotels, restaurants, and night life. We booked as many rooms as possible in this area, but the majority of our room blocks are in the larger hotels.

3) How do I get to the Convention Center if my hotel isn't within a block or two?

If you're staying at one of the IDDBA hotels, there will be shuttle buses to the Convention Center on show days. Almost all hotels are in walking distance but you might be more comfortable on the bus. Of course, if you're carrying anything, you might want to take the shuttle or a taxi. We urge people to wear comfortable shoes (for the show and if you want to walk to your hotel). This is a walking town and there are lots of activities nearby.

4) What hotels have the biggest room blocks? Where will the attendees stay?

As we mentioned, the hotels across from the Center have a limited number of rooms. Some exhibitors will prefer their proximity to the Center but others will prefer the larger hotels where most of the attendees are staying. The larger hotels are on or near Canal Street and offer a variety of restaurants and hospitality suites for buyers.

5) Do I have to stay in an IDDBA hotel?

No, we know that you have choices. We just hope that once you understand how the housing block works, that you will want to stay in one of our hotels. First of all, to make sure that there are enough quality hotel rooms, the IDDBA has blocked thousands of rooms in the city. That means that we've signed contracts to make sure that you'll have a room. In an IDDBA hotel, you'll be in the heart of the action and able to network with other attendees and visit hospitality suites, etc. Also, on show days, we provide shuttle bussing to the Convention Center but only from selected IDDBA hotels. If you choose to stay somewhere else, you're responsible for your own transportation to the Center. Right now, all of the hotels we've blooked are in a 2-10 block radius. We hope you'll come to the show and that you'll choose one of the blocked hotels.

6) Tell me about the hotels.

The hotels in the IDDBA housing block, and for that matter, almost all of the hotels in New Orleans, have undergone major renovations in the last 2 years. Just one example is the New Orleans Marriott, which underwent a $38 million renovation. The hotels and the city look better than ever! You can go online with the various properties and see photos of the properties.