I've been to conventions all across the US and in some international sites.
And one was a COA!

As prices went up people went hunting.  Off season times save money.  One winter
it was in Atlantic City.
Cold days and limited outside can be handled if lower price. The boardwalk and
town were not all that bad
and we had good rates.  It was a little out of the way but I suspect the airport
has grown.
I got a rate on the airline (days out before return) and spent a weekend
in DC - visited with long time friends - saw the sights and sat there instead of
at home.  I then drove up
to Atlantic City for the IEEE Computer Society meeting - gave a talk and drove
back to DC to fly out.
Two hotels, car and meals were cheaper than coast to coast for a couple of
days.  It was a rare gift
from the company - but they saw the savings.

There are resorts in the greater Phoenix (no ocean but lots of beach!) that are
like nice hotels and have
meeting rooms and often do deals.  I suspect there are other cities that have
resorts or meeting sites
in most states.

Off season is sometimes tough to take off, but sometimes no one else is trying -
so it might be easy.

Often package deals - so many register - conference rooms are provided.  In peak
or traffic season,
weddings and the like would be paying so a room costs.  Hotels are in the
business of making money.

Martin

On 7/25/2010 6:12 PM, Lyle Therriault wrote:
>
> I am sure the COA can host an event in a smaller city that is just as
> accessible as anyplace else for a good percentage less than hosting an event
> in a major city. Demographics cannot possibly play that much of a role when
> you consider the diversity and depth of collectors.
>
> I also cannot see how the COA would be losing money on me, when it doesnt have
> any money invested in me to begin with.
>
> My two cents worth, surely screened first.
>
> Lyle
>
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: [log in to unmask]
>     Sent: Jul 25, 2010 12:29 PM
>     To: [log in to unmask]
>     Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] upcoming convention
>
>     I know I am going to get a *LOT* of flack for this posting, but those who
>     only go to the bourse and do not register or contribute to the COA do not
>     help COA at all. The bourse and the COA are conjoined but separate
>     entities. The COA, if I understand correctly, does not really make any
>     money from the bourse.
>     If you do not register for the convention and ONLY go to the bourse, COA
>     is probably losing money on you. It still costs a tremendous amount of
>     money to produce a COA. The dealers basically are self sufficient, table
>     rent paying, hopefully, for the room, but truth to tell, they could
>     organize a bourse anywhere with the same result to the COA.
>     There are many who go to both, the convention and the burse but there are
>     also many who do not contribute to COA. There is also a detriment to the
>     bourse. Due to the large room requirements needed for a bourse, only the
>     most expensive and largest hotels can accommodate the COA. This results in
>     an increased expense for most cities. When you get increased room rates,
>     you get decreasing registrants. So, my feelings are: if you want to go to
>     the bourse, go to the whole convention. That is the only win win situation.
>     I know there are *_many _many* dealers who personally contribute to COA,
>     but I also know there are those who would not even belong to COA if it was
>     not a requirement to sell.
>     My ha'pence worth,
>           Carole
>
> Lyle Therriault,
> Property Manager
> Cone Shell Collector
> Toyota Truck Fan
> Hunter-Gatherer
> Artist, Gardener, Consumer
> Creative and Frugal soul
> Purveyor of Peace and Quiet
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--
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
"Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH&  Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Originator&  Charter Founder
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