Back from nice breakfast meeting with Sheila.
As follows, set out nice and simple: Rooms are block-booked. We'll have a three-week cutoff (with room for last minute deciders, so no worries there). People wanting to reserve will be able to do so directly by calling the HI's 800 number. The rooms, special rates, will be under "buffistas". erika, bebe, for your room, if you're doing the hotel? You get VIP treatment; you will have your very own events coordinator to work with directly. We have, as I say, a pencilled-number of blocked out rooms, and will be expected to cover 85%. Knowing that in advance, I kept the minimum nice and low, with total upward ability at the high end. Major room to move around.
The hospitality suite will be done up to our specs: beds removed, fridge and extra tables/chairs brought in. It's a two bedroom suite with big living room and nice sizeable TV; I believe there's already a DVD player in there, and if not, they have no trouble with us bringing in our own.
For credit card stuff, I'll be pinging Laura later today.