"So any new updates on the Host?" Topic

Just curious as Cold Wars nears. Anyone visit the Host of late? How are the gaming rooms? Is stuff still scattered around the parking areas? And will I get a room with a TV and phone that actually work? :-)

*crickets*

We have a room reserved for Cold Wars. I will let you know how it was after we have stayed three.

looks like i can book the wyndham lancaster resort and convention center for $900 USD a night from hotels.com…a bargain at twice the price…

All the 3rd party reservation sites list the room rate of $900. USD The Host has several websites. One leads to the golf course only. One leads to "Oops! Reservation Engine Disabled by Site Administrator."

I called the Host twice. The first call dropped. The second went thru and they answered "Wyndham." The rep quoted $124 USD per night for Cold Wars, and you needed to send in a form to make a reservation.

Sigh.

I have a room reserved for two nights for CWs. Just curious if anyone has seen it lately. I hope the BoD gives an update at some point. Better to know what we are heading into than be surprised. I realize it is still two months out though. I thought perhaps a local might have taken a look.

I am curious if any of the stuff scattered around the parking areas has started to disappear.

HG, I am going to head up during the NFL bye week. I want to do exactly what you are asking. I will post my findings. I will try a "daylight raid". I had a decent room last time. I am mostly concerned of parking myself.

Good luck to you. Look forward to hearing about any progress. :-)

I may get by there, too, for a shufti but I rarely go to that side of town -- except during cons! ;-)

Maybe, Officialdom doesn't wish to scare folks away, especially when Registration isn't even open as yet.

Although some will probably always refer to it as "The Host", the facility is now officially called the Wyndam Lancaster Resort and Convention Center.

Some HMGS board members and convention staff have a site visit scheduled in late January to verify the progress that the hotel has reported since Fall-In.

I may actually be in the area for biz in February

Thanks for the update, Brian98.

I realize kept is still two months out, and I'm working furiously on stuff for my games. Just curious where the old Host is at in terms of its rehab.

The Host has set the bar so low recently I'd just be happy if the main entrance was done and Distlefink was fixed.

The Host has set the bar so low recently I'd just be happy if the main entrance was done and Distlefink was fixed.

Don't know about the front entrance, but I believe the Distlefink renovations were finished early Dec., '18.

TMP link

> I just received some renovation updates on the Host from the site visit today. Here are some bullet points, both good and bad…..
>
> 1. Lobby is almost done.
> 2. Starbucks is done.
> 3. Restaurant is almost done and scheduled to open 2/1.
> 4. Bar is done and open.
> 5. All club rooms are done.
> 6. New windows and doors in Lampeter.
> 7. New data cable installed throughout facility.
> 8. Lobby elevator done but not inspected yet.
> 9. Other elevators not even started yet.
> 10. Front entrance not finished yet.
> 11. A lot of the shipping containers are gone, but have been replaced by pallets of landscaping block. They are working on this now, and a lot more should be done by Cold Wars depending on weather.
> 12. They bought a new snowplow.
> 13. New Wyndham sign is up on Route 30.
> 14. Next site visit scheduled for 2/15

Outstanding report. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like the site is making real progress.

Sound like bullet (dodged ) points.

I had heard similar things. Very encouraging.

As long as Fox News isn't displaying emergency evacuation routes out of Lancaster the day before Cold Wars, we will attend.

Hey, they bought a new snowplow Tumbleweed. Where's your sense of adventure?

Me, I gotta come through the Eastern Allegheny or Northern Appalachian mountains to get to the Harrisburg area. Sometimes that's a thrilling ride.

Where is the Starbucks going ?

Based on a few recent Tripadvisor reviews ( one from yesterday ) the place still is in pretty rough shape.

link

Al , I think that "rough shape" review is from before they started renovating . ;)

let's be honest. "Rough shape" is a vast improvement.
;)

Duncan

Thanks for the information; I'm happy for the attendees who spend their hard earned money and stay on site that the hotel has the bar and restaurant up and running, or about to. Would be great if the food in the dealer hall is at least one step above prison food, although Tom from NJ hooked me up at FI with an outstanding sandwich from a local eatery, plus the folks they brought in serving up food on the patio did a tremendous job.

Just keep things moving in a positive direction………..

Once again, Duncan leaves them laughing in the aisles.

(Insert image here of Duncan "dropping the mic" in the HAWKS room.)

Hope to see you there.

Without giving too much away I have seen a picture of the renovated registration area/lounge area and many of you will be very surprised…very modern looking compared to the previous decor…very similar to most boutique hotels I have stayed at…it is also my understanding that the renovations to the gaming areas has been completed. Although I have not seen any visual evidence of those improvements, based on the state of those area at Fall In, I have no reason to doubt they area also complete.

Some members of the Board have some pictures of the "updated" Host and I'd encourage them to make them available…

If the Host pulls it off, they should be given serious consideration for future cons. Too many eggs in the Valley Forge or Downtown Lancaster basket may bite us. Not to mention, neither have been tried yet (VF not in its current form).Always good to have viable options.

Keep in mind the spiffy new renovations are gonna jack up the room ( and meeting room ) prices by a fair bit. IIRC the quote from the Host for 2021 was about $160 USD/night. So that's probably the new floor, it will only go up from there.

You also may be facing more competition for the dates/times now that the Host isn't a dump . They could already have booked some of the summer dates already for future years.

Too many eggs in the Valley Forge or Downtown Lancaster basket may bite us.

One convention per year in each location is too many eggs?

I think there was some discussion that two might be held at VFCC.

Apparently Fall In 19 will be at VFCC, which I believe is a mistake, but I am unaware of any commitment beyond that…with regard to the Host it is my understanding that the business model the new owners were basing the improvement on isn't panning out as they hoped, which provides HMGS with some flexibility and bargaining room.

Like many, I'll be interested to see how the logistics at the Lancaster con center work out.

lets remember that the revised Expo Center configuration has reduced the available footprint for vendor spaces. I believe at Fall In! there were mid-50 of vendors? The number requesting space for Historicon was more than that, meaning all the vendors asking or space this past summer did not get in.

So, given that, and assuming that holds [greater demand than space]…you either:
1. Raise rates to where demand = space
2. Set limits on space allowed to provide for greatest number of unique vendors

there may be other [other space in the hotel for vendors..etc] options….

each will have its own set of pros/cons, impacts and unintended consequences.

Apparently Fall In 19 will be at VFCC, which I believe is a mistake…..

I'm with Oldnorthstate. I'd prefer the Host to the VFCC, but that's a personal preference. And that is assuming the vendor situation is looked at. But I'm pretty confident that the current BOD is on top of these issues.

There is a 3rd option in the situation as outlined by rmcaras…you prioritize the vendors to give preference to those who meet some criteria. That has been done in the past with varying levels of success…obviously making the greatest number of vendors available should be the goal but short of that you need to prioritize. Historical over non-historical, manufacturers over glorified hobby shops. It can get complicated.

With regard to setting limits on space for vendors, I'd rather someone on the convention staff better organize the space that exists…at the last couple of shows there were several vendors who set up a series of tables, rather than booths or in addition to their booths…very inefficient. The existing space could be used much more efficiently.

We considered all of these options and more last year for Historicon. As we all likely know, whatever option is chosen someone is going to be upset.

I agree with oldnorthstate that many of the booth layouts use more space than the exhibitors need if they'd just change their layout. I'd be happy to speak with exhibitors about better space utilization if they're willing but I think trying to make exhibitors change their layouts wouldn't be received well. Fortunately space won't be a problem for Historicon this year but if I can show an exhibitor that buys three booths that they only need two that's a win for everyone.

That said Historicon exhibitor registration will be opening February 20th. Everyone interested in exhibiting watch your emails and check the website. If you haven't received exhibitor specific emails from us before or just want to make sure you're on our email list please contact exhibitors@historicon.org.

Thanks,
Joby

Thanks, Ploogak

TSD 101 that was my point. Keep the three until we have a better sense of how they are going to work

So I went out on Saturday. This my opinion who has worked thirty years in the trades. We should be good. It was a flat mess up in the hotel, but this is a good sign. New tile was in the lobby. Lampeter needs rugs and paint. Distlefink needs lights, rugs, and paint. Parking lot is still a disaster. Of course if they are as close to done as I believe they could be less of a problem. Due to snow on the ground I did not venture down to the dealer hall. I know it sounds bad but I think they are close to finished the main areas. Which means the gaming areas.

"deal we hal.". I think your autocorrect is set on Dutch.

My phone does this stupid skip thing some times. I have a hard time noticing due to the "framing" on my phone. I got so annoyed I left it.

I seem to remember somebody did one of those phony-baloney cost management analyses comparing using monks illuminating documents vs the whole 21st century techno-word processing industrial complex to see which was more efficient. The techno won, but it was a pretty close call.

We may see progress. We may see completion. But, my whole sense of the work and workmanship at The Host comes down to one observation.

One of the first things they finished was the Expo hall-Tennis barn. OK, it's smaller. Bad call, but not indefensible. OK, the entrance is way less convenient. Bad call, but not indefensible.

The new bathrooms in the Expo are really nice. At FI I noticed something odd in the Gents. They chose to install reclaimed barn wood under the sinks an the front plate. Very nice. But the wood under the right hand sink had been cut away, 10" up and 20" across. I couldn't understand why someone would invest the time and effort to cut 40" thru 4" hardwood.

Then it dawned on me. Whoever designed the decor in the BR didn't design the front plate to be able to be dismantled, and hadn't thought far enough ahead to think they might someday have to snake that drain.

I shall retire to Bedlam.

hadn't thought far enough ahead to think they might someday have to snake that drain.

HMGS has been holding conventions at the Host long enough the management should know they need a full 50 foot drain auger on hand for when we come through.

Most definitely TSD101. Especially if the new menu includes Mongolian BBQ.

We should have a running bet on when the bathroom will be blown up at Cold Wars.

Convention starts at 12:00 noon on Friday, I'll go with 12:01PM.

Double G, new meaning to the phrase "block pool".

We should have a running bet on when the bathroom will be blown up at Cold Wars.

To be totally fair, that is less dependent of the facilities than the questionable hygiene habits of the convention goers. The worst bathrooms I had ever seen were the ones in the main gaming room at the first year of Fredericksburg. I expect the facilities at the Lancaster Convention Center will be severely tested this summer.

I have to second Bowman's comment.

Pointer for a vast swath of the gaming community…

IN the round porcelain bowl, that's what you're aiming for. Not sure anybody every explained that to some of the con attendees.