I have been participating in the art festivals for a few years. Many organizers sent us the links for the lodging discounts, not too far from the event locations.
One thing that I was surprised was that the room rates offered were closer to $200 or even beyond that per night, which I think it was very expensive and unnecessary increased my operating expenses.
The first time, I thought it happened randomly. However, the more I got accepted, I received more links like this. I always located the reasonable prices regarding the lodging, which provided me sufficient aminities that I have been looking for, such as WIFI, Fridge, Microwave, beds... etc.
This makes me wonder whether the organizers have perceptions that the artists who participated in the shows could easily afford the lodging prices that being offered.
Have anyone experienced of what I have been described. I am very curious. Please share your experiences regarding the topic. Thanks.
Replies
Having owned tour companies for 38 years, and participating in fine art shows for almost 20, the prices I see offered by shows are almost laughably high. I book my own rooms, and save substantial amounts compared to what the shows offer. Sometimes I book a room st rhe same hotels the shows suggest and still find lower rates. My advice: book your own rooms. Use an app: Hotel.com, booking.com, etc.
similar expereince here, except just did a show (Cottonwood) where the show recommended hotel room rate was about $120 a night, not bad for a major city area (Dallas), so I booked that. Many other artists came to the same conclusion, parkign lto and restauant filled with other artists. Kind of nice to be with other artists, helped a guy with a problem he had with his van, solved with zip ties and duct tape LOL. In other years I've used Airbnb, recently though seems hotels have better cancellation polocies, and overall cost is about the same. Less of a 'local' experience though. Oh, also, Main st dallas ft worth show, mariott, hotel right on the show site, and pretty good prices, able to get a room with almost no notice as i was invited last minute off of the wait list. Woodlands show, Houston area, did an AirBNB, when I pulled up to the poroperty, they had a full metalworking shop going welding a go cart frame (I am a metal scupltor) so we got along famously, talking temperatures etc, family even invited me for dinner.
I've started getting third-party emails about lodging for several shows I do in large cities. I've even gotten those emails for shows that I'm not doing. I don't know if show organizers derive revenue from selling their artist lists to hotel brokers, or if they're trying to be helpful - but I've never found cheaper room rates from those third parties. I do 25-30 shows a year, so I use Expedia and Trivago to find my best deals, which are always cheaper than the third party offers - often at the same hotels.