Hotels - ISH-NA \ RPA

Paul Rohrs

Hilton Back Bay $199.00
Wyndham Tremont $165.00
Hyatt Harborside $175.00

Booked or at least not releasing rooms for the conference because I can book direct for $309.00 at the Hilton Back Bay.

Anyone else staying nearby and can make a recommendation? 1st time to Boston. Heard you have something of a basketball team, or maybe it was football?

Regards,

PR

Ruthe Jubinville

Ish

We are staying at the Best Western Roundhouse Suites. It is fairly close. $139.59 + tax. Ruthe & Jerry

Scott Denny

ISH-Lodging

Try this:
http://www.midtownhotel.com/hotel/370000001.asp
Close by Copley Square, $179/night double occupancy. Quite a few ammenities.

Rick Kelly_3

ISH- NA Hotel rooms

Since you bring up the subject allow me to vent.

I don't know who is responsible for the lack of rooms released by the so-called sponsor hotels. Being a New Yorker who calls Boston his second home, I knew that I'd have to stay on top of things to get a room in the RPA headquarters hotel. Not only could I not find out ahead of time what hotels were involved, by the time I did, there were no more rooms available to RPA members at the negotiated discounts, although there were plenty available for at least $100.00 more. Some people call this bait and switch. I call this at the very least a disservice to an organization's members.

Boston is not sleepy Sacramento or Salt Lake City, or Cincinnati. Boston is the big time and with the Boston Convention Center over a mile from the nearest lodging, adequate centralized accomodations would have been preferred. By not negotiating accomodations for all attendees, the rest of us have been thrown to the wolves. I'll be staying at the John Hancock Conference Center in Back Bay and will get by just fine.

Save lots of money for cab fare!!!!

hydronicsmike

If i am not mistaken....

...there is a Holiday Inn about 5 minutes from the show and rooms where going a while back for 125$. Don't know what it is up to now. Maybe check them out...

Ruthe Jubinville

Hotels

My interpretation of the Holiday Inn was that you could not cancel and had to pay regardless of what happened. Jerry

hydronicsmike

any of the Holiday Inns, or this one in particular?

My experience is that in most cases you can cancel or change reservations with them. I use them regularly.

Only exception I know of, is when you book your room online and for the "best web saver price". Then it is sealed and done. Due to the low price offer, they want your commitment.

You know you're gonna be at ISH, right? When I don't have a fixed travel schedule, then I don't mind reserving the room at a slightly higher rate so I can cancel it if something comes up. But luckily, most of the time my travel schedule is nailed down almost to the minute (yeah right) and I get to book their cheapest rooms most of the time. 125$ in Boston during ISH is not bad, is it?
But like I said, I don't know where it is at now.......

Regards,

Mike

Ken_8

ISH Toronto was a bust...

and was bush league - at best.

Vegas I missed - but all reports were that it too was a bust.

Looks like we have three "strikes" event in the making.

I was going. Now I am not.

Thanks for the input. Frankfort was twice a home run, and I expect it will continue to be. The rates were excellent, airfare a "deal" by any measure; and the beer a helluva lot better than Sam Adams!

I can understand a German concept failing in North America once, maybe even twice. I cannot fathom the same entity that makes ISH-Frankfurt so awesome, also making the same mistakes over and three times at that.

I'd be willing to bet this will be the last ISH-NA.

But then; what do I know.



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Paul Pollets

ISH-RPA

One of the problems has been the unwillingness of American trade shows to consolidate...they are cash cows for the sponsors. Manufacturers don't seem to understand that 1 or 2 trade shows a year make more sense than 6-12. It costs way too much to set up a booth in the major shows. One consolidated effort makes extreme sense. You've been to MessaFrankfurt, so I know you get it. The other issue is scheduling the show where the contractors are. The Northeast is where 70% of the HW heat/steam guys are. The Vegas ISH was held 2000 miles from the NE and during the first week of heating season. Who can afford to travel and spend the time in busy season? If the show has minimal support, it won't succeed. I suspect Boston will pull in the crowds. The larger issue is consolidation.

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hydronicsmike

I agree with you Paul...

...and it should be a little earlier, shouldn't it? Mid October is not necessarily the best time for Contractors or Manufacturers.

But those are just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

Mike

Rick Kelly_3

Toronto Busted?

Hi Ken,

Sorry you didn't have a good time in Toronto. Was it the show or lack of it? I had such a great time there I've been back 6 times since that ISH.

Too bad you won't be in Boston. Since you picked up the dinner tab at Wetstock I, I've been looking for the opportunity for payback.

As far as this being the last ISH/NA, I won't bet against you. My limited time around you tells me that you're not wrong too often.

Bill Nye

I thought

Toronto was great. I had a blast sight seeing and getting around by taxi and the trolley. I went with 40 plumbers from CT. it was PHCC / Supply house sponsored trip.

I agree with Ken, ISH did not impress me. A lot of high end plumbing gadgets that were "interesting" but that was about it. The heating side of the show left a lot to be desired. Buderus? Riello? were they there? The Weil Mac Ultra? It was a plastic model!

NAOHSM and NEFI impress me more than the Canada show did. I think the sex show next door was better attended. It was ........... well, .....it could have been better.

Bill Nye

I thought

Toronto was great. I had a blast sight seeing and getting around by taxi and the trolley. I went with 40 plumbers from CT. it was PHCC / Supply house sponsored trip.

I agree with Ken, ISH did not impress me. A lot of high end plumbing gadgets that were "interesting" but that was about it. The heating side of the show left a lot to be desired. Buderus? Riello? were they there? The Weil Mac Ultra? It was a plastic model!

NAOHSM and NEFI shows impress me more than the Canada show did. I think the sex show next door was better attended. It was ........... well, .....it could have been better.

hydronicsmike

Haha

A lot of people ended up wandering over there....

Ken_8

Toronto was not a problem,

The ISH factor was the only negative.

Paying to see Siggy and having to sit on the floor to get in - with lines of sight blocked out completely was simply one item that was absurdly annoying. Food was non-existent except for some half hour waiting line vendors who sold warm soda for 3 bucks a pop and cold fries in a plastic container.

The W/M Ultra fiasco was bust and I didn't go there to see plumbing stuff. I install boilers - not toilets.

The great paper tiger, once known as the voice of our trades, the PHCC, was an even bigger dissapointment. Their staggering membership losses are the result of complete self-absorbtion at the national level with complete disregard of the state's and individual members' needs, input and dialogue. Their patronization (without any meaningful substance) of the remaining handful of disallusioned contractor level members that still belong, cater to the medium and larger members with almost disdain for small shop contractors upon whose backs the organization got its true power base from.

Parking, lodging and transportation were adequate. Toronto is a happenin' place. I'd go back for the culture, food and nice people. But leave ISH out of the equation. Why spoil a nice city trip with bush-league convention?

I may go to Boston after all. I'll go to be with my Wetstock and Wall buddies. I'll go to be with guys that make the world go round. Not with those who want to sell me toilets that can flush down a loaf of bread with half an ounce of water.

I suspect the heating aspect of the show can take an onlooker two hours to get it all. I also suspect drinking beer and eating lobstah with Milne will take considerable longer!

In fact, it might take all damn weekend!

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Tom Simensen

Ken....You kills me

I would go just to see that toilet!!

Ken_8

I would go...

Just to see the loaf of bread - dissapear!

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DanHolohan

That loaf.

You sure it was bread?

Ken_8

Come on Dan

This is a "family" show.

I'm trying to be as discrete as possible.

You know how hard THAT can be...

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Paul Rohrs

Hotel Follow up

Just a note from the original post. I just booked at Club Quarter. It was $169.00 a night (2 nights) then $179.00 a night for Friday and Saturday. Not bad, I am 400 yards from the convention center. It should be a great event.

Regards,

PR