Okay, I am getting some very good offers from some of the best Philly hotels. Is it better to place all offers in one post or in several?

Here is one that looks great to me:

Hotel: RADISSON PLAZA WARWICK HOTEL

Offered: 3/15/10 Rate Type: Direct bid from the Radisson Plaza Warwick Ho. Subject to availability. Location: 1701 Locust St. Philadelphia, PA [Downtown-City Center] Map (0.61 miles from Reading Terminal Market) Rate: $139.00 USD per night + 15.2% taxes Policies: Group must book rooms no later than 30 days before check-in. The group is not responsible to pay for unused rooms in the block. Group members may cancel no later than 6PM on day of arrival. No misc. hotel resort fees or flat taxes No deposit required. These policies are specific to your group request as determined by the hotel. Comments: - We have availability for any of the JULY dates. - All of our guest rooms are newly renovated and feature complimentary high-speed internet access, complimentary bottled water, 32" LCD televisions with high-definition channels, and our signature SleepNumber beds by Select Comfort. - We are happy to offer a complimentary hospitality room, as well as a room for your Saturday party. All catering would need to be through the hotel. This offer is good for 1 Week after 03/15/10.

That does look good.

Another: this one is a near Fairmount Park, a couple of miles from central Philly. But the rates are good, and we were far away from downtown Madison when we stayed there, so maybe we can consider it too.

Hotel: CROWNE PLAZA PHILADELPHIA CITY AVENUE

Offered: 3/15/10 Rate Type: Direct bid from the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia. Subject to availability. Location: 4100 Presidential Blvd. Philadelphia, PA [Downtown-City Center] Map (4.55 miles from Reading Terminal Market) Rate: $119.00 USD per night + 15.2% taxes Policies: Group may book under the block anytime before check-in. Group is responsible to use at least 80% of group room block. Group members may cancel no later than 24 hours before day of arrival. No misc. hotel resort fees or flat taxes No deposit required. These policies are specific to your group request as determined by the hotel. Comments: Free banquet space for 10 rooms booked per night. We have banquet space for 30 people available. Free wireless internet, free shuttle to local area, indoor pool, free fitness center. walk to restaurants. This offer is good for 1 Month after 03/15/10.

I just spoke the someone at the Westin in Providence, who is going to speak to her supervisor and find out what is happening wrt their bid.

And this is a gorgeous hotel in a primo location, but as you can see, they didn't comment directly about hospitality suite and prom. But I can follow up with the res manager if there is enough interest.

Hotel: LE MERIDIEN PHILADELPHIA Rate Type: Direct bid from the Le Meridien Philadelphia. Subject to availability. Location: 1421 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA [Convention Center] Map (0.38 miles from 19107) Rate: $139.99 USD per night + 8% taxes Policies: Group must book rooms no later than 30 days before check-in. The group is not responsible to pay for unused rooms in the block. Group members may cancel no later than 3 days before day of arrival. No misc. hotel resort fees or flat taxes No deposit required. These policies are specific to your group request as determined by the hotel. Comments: One upgrade if 15 rooms per night are booked. The Le Méridien is housed in a 10-story Georgian revival-style structure with intriguing historical flair, located in the heart of the city's business district and one block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, also in the heart of Philly's famous museums, famous architecture, tax-free shopping, and scrumptious dinning. Right out our door you will find yourself surrounded by all of Philadelphia’s most highlighted attractions. In this dynamic city you be wowed by the diversity that surrounds you. At the Le Meridien & Philadelphia the culture is a mix of old & new, historic & hip, traditional & trendy with the promise to give you an experience of a lifetime Every member of our team is dedicated to ensuring an unforgettable stay for each of our guests. From the moment you arrive to the time of your departure, you'll enjoy our attention to detail and commitment to providing exceptional hospitality.

(I am staying at Le Meridien London right now AIFG!)

Okay, one last one for now. I think these are the best offers so far. I got many other offers, but the locations are either airport or on the NJ side of the Franklin Bridge.

Hotel: BEST WESTERN CENTER CITY HOTEL

Offered: 3/15/10

Rate Type: Direct bid from the Best Western Center City. Subject to availability. Location: 501 North 22nd St. Philadelphia, PA [Downtown-City Center] Map (1.18 miles from 19107) Rate: $115.00 USD per night + 15.2% taxes Policies: Group must book rooms no later than 14 days before check-in. The group is not responsible to pay for unused rooms in the block. Group members may cancel no later than 4PM on day of arrival. No misc. hotel resort fees or flat taxes No deposit required. These policies are specific to your group request as determined by the hotel. Comments: One complimentary room per 20 rooms booked per night. The Best Western Center City Hotel is located in Downtown Philadelphia in the Museum District along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Hotel is within walking distance to the Phila. Museum of Art (famous Rocky Statue and Steps),Ben Franklin Museum, Boat House Row and just next door to the Rodin Museum. The Hotel is less than 3 miles to Liberty Bell Pavillion and Historic "Old City" Philadelphia. The Hotel features 183 rooms (interior corridors),2 onsite restaurants including the B&W Sports Restaurant, Outdoor Pool, Complimentary WIFI and the only Hotel in Downtown Philadelphia with Complimentary On Site Parking for our Guests. The Rate offered is for Rooms with 2 Double Beds that will sleep 1-4 ppl. Rooms with 1 King Bed are $125.00 per night. Non smoking and smoking rooms are available. A complimentary Hospitality Room is offered. The Hotel can accomodate a banquet request with various themed buffet menus to meet all budgets. This offer is good for 1 Month after 03/15/10.

I think the free parking is a huge plus for this hotel, as I am guessing we'll have some East Coasters driving in for the weekend...

And Midwesterners!

I have resubmitted the bid request to a different e-mail address for the Westin per their request.

Okay, and I'll chime in now with some actual city pimpage. I am sure Sox and Amy will also add any bits they know, but I need to get this done now because I want to get out of my hotel room and go see some sights.

So, I am going to list my personal favorite things in Philly:

The Reading Terminal Market. It's an indoor, awesome market with everything from beeswax candles made by Amish to dozens of food counters, flowers, you name it. It's old and it's fun and it's perfectly Philly. Free

The Rodin Museum. Home to the largest public collection of works by the celebrated late nineteenth-century French sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris. With extraordinary works of art and spectacular gardens, the Museum offers a calm retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. $5 contribution

Philadelphia Museum of Art. A great museum with the bonus that it's hosting: Late Renoir June 17, 2010 - September 6, 2010 Late Renoir follows the renowned painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir through the final—and most fertile and innovative—decades of his career. At the height of his creative powers and looking toward posterity, Renoir created art that was timeless, enticing, and worthy of comparison to the greatest of the old masters, such as Raphael, Titian, and Rubens. Price of admission is $16. Acting ridiculous in front of the Rocky Statue: free

Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell. Even if you're not a history geek, it's cool. Trust me. Free.

A little out of town, but worth the effort: The Barnes Foundation. The story behind the second largest collection of Impressionist works is awesome: in a nutshell, poor guy gets good education, gets rich, is still shut out of Philadelphia's High Society, so builds a giant "F-you" to the wealthy by acquiring a huge collection of renowned paintings and only showing them to his fellow working-class citizens. Or, at least, that's the story I've been told. $15, reservations necessary.

Elfreth's Alley Elfreth's Alley — popularly known as "Our nation’s oldest residential street" – dates back to the first days of the eighteenth century. Twenty years after William Penn founded Pennsylvania and established Philadelphia as its capital, the town had grown into a thriving, prosperous mercantile center on the banks of the Delaware River. Free to visit. There's a little museum, too, for $5 admit.

I'll do favorite night life things in another post.

FWIW, the Best Western is pretty poorly reviewed on Google Maps, and the Crowne Plaza is nowhere near public transportation. A lot of east coasters (like me) will be coming in on train, rather than driving.