Carlisle 2010-Banquet Plans and suggestions

tixer said:
Normally, I just go with the flow on these things, and that's my plan here as well. But I do think Leo has a some good points. Here are my own thoughts:

cons:
I know, for me at least, $30 for a plate of micro-waved Pasta Primivera and a cup of hotel coffee is pretty rediculous.

If the meal is in the large open area by the bar, will we offend, or otherwise bother the staff at the reception desk? this seems inevitable, but entertaining.
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Well, she told me the vegetarian option is usually the cheapest price on the menu. So I grouped it in there. I can/will double check on what price she will charge and what the veggie meal would be - although she did tell me she wanted to know just how vegetarian each meal would need to be. I'm hoping the food isn't just microwaved, although she did say they have a small kitchen.

I will also see if I can confirm that people who do not want to order a meal can still join us and have enough tables/chairs. I know this can be pricey for some, and we really did try to find a way to keep costs down. But we also wanted a place where we'd be able to stay and not get kicked out and be able to have our awards and raffle and all that without feeling pressured to hurry up.

The large area is actually their restaurant and where the breakfast is every morning. I'd be more concerned with waking the security guard up from his nap. ;)


tixer said:
Pros:
Are "cheese crisps" what you east-coasters call deep fried cheese curds? If so, awesome.

+1 on the Yuengling. I'm in, wether it's pitchers or kegs (heh.. plural)
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No, the cheese crisps are bread with cheese and bacon. This is east coast, no choice of deep fried cheese curds. I just double checked the appetizers. :p

I'll make a call later or sometime this week to get pitcher prices of various beers so we can make a more informed decision.

tixer said:
other random thoughts that came up while typing this:
We could totally do a "fondue party" themed tent.. sterno fondue pots, and hang some crappy paper light fixtures. presto! oh, yes. I could bring the cheese curds.
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That could be an awesome idea, especially as they run off sterno and not electricity. Let's work on seeing if there's interest, and if it's doable. I happen to have a really junky fondue set which was a freebie at one of the casino's in Vegas. Not sure if it actually works.

tixer said:
random thought #2
The trunk of the Saxillac contains thee kegs of beer. One full, the other two 1/4 empty. If Joe leaves the Carlisle showgrounds at 6:48pm, and travels the 2.4 miles to the hotel's front sidewalk at 58 mph, how many 12oz glasses of foam will need to be thrown out before the beer once again starts flowing?
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None, he will have finished it all by the time he gets there.
 
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I concur it was time for a change. The pendulum is swinging the other way.

I've been attending since 2004 and can attest to several positives. We used to be at the Radisson which was more expensive and not very convenient to the fairgrounds or any local establishments. I've stayed at different 'out of town' hotels and found none as convenient and none what I would call reasonably priced. The fact is all of the local rooms are mostly booked well in advanced and they all jack their prices up for the event.

Judging by the comments of most, it was time for a change of venue for the banquet. We realize we cannot satisfy everyone but we hope to strike a balance. I sense the Comfort Suites personnel look forward to serving our needs and will try hard to retain our business. The club is not committed to any extraneous charges. If the general consensus next year is negative we will simply do something different the following year.
 
The only area with real good restaurants is downtown Harrisburg on 2nd street. I stayed at the Hilton there one year and they are all in walking distance.
However that is not good because it is at least a 30 mins ride to the fair grounds.

The Radisson was nice because you did not have to drive to a restaurant; however the prices there are no different from when the club first went there to what is being proposed now but again you have like a 25 min ride to the fairgrounds.

The Comfort Suites are nice and close to the fairgrounds so I would say it is worth a try there. The discounted rate is the same as a AAA rate for that weekend. In years past that hotel would be booked that weekend for the next year.
 
steve said:
...The Comfort Suites are nice and close to the fairgrounds so I would say it is worth a try there. The discounted rate is the same as a AAA rate for that weekend. In years past that hotel would be booked that weekend for the next year.
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What's the discounted rate for the LOD? I booked my room for next year but it seems the price has gone way up. Maybe they didn't give me the discount?
 
driller said:
OK.

I thought maybe you didn't want to associate with late night crowd and I misunderstood the "If Penny sees this" part. :p
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"So Mrs. Driller and I, along with those left over at Carlisle on Monday, made the following plans for our banquet for 2010 (which included getting us a block of rooms at a discounted rate):"


Perhaps MY idea of a "discounted rate" and others are completely different. As the rate wasn't told to us, I STILL may have to locate our room 'outside' of town. My costs were half the cost of the Comfort (or more)...... and, of course, my ROOM was probably 1/2 as nice. But I only used the bed for about 16 hours, had a free continental breakfast (which was exactly what we eat at home) and a roof over our head. Surely was NOT a 4* hotel!
 
The rate is 152 a night. Yes, I know it's high. It is discounted from the room rate that will be set for next year, and it's pretty hard to negotiate a discount at a hotel that sells out every year anyway. I will yet again remind everyone that I stayed at the Bellagio in Vegas for much less than that.

Last year I stayed in a cheaper hotel, but it was teeeeeeeeny. My knees almost hit the shower (no tub) when I'd use the toilet (sorry if that's TMI). But I do like the convenience of not having to drive so much/far. And the bigger bathroom is a plus. ;)

Anyway, that's also the hope for the banquet, that if we have appetizers or something, those not staying at the hotel will be able to have something to nosh on if they arrive early.
 
Don't know about everyone else, but that's a little too steep for my reduced income. We appreciate the offer, but I believe we will probably continue to utilize the less expensive "little" motels on the east edge of town.

This will also allow my engine to come to normal operating temperature before I have to shut it off again. By the time we left on Sunday, we finally figured out a faster way into the fairgrounds.....and maybe I can talk Penny into following me up in the Mark while I drive up in the truck/trailer????
 
Trixie said:
It is discounted from the room rate that will be set for next year, and it's pretty hard to negotiate a discount at a hotel that sells out every year anyway.
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It also is supposed to be a 'block' of adjoining rooms.

The one caveat is the possibility of 'stayovers' and/or cancellations that would disrupt the reserved block.

Regardless of the cost or the number of rooms, the intent was simply to reserve a block of rooms for members to take advantage of. There is no obligation to the club to fill the block and all reservations and cancellations are still up to the individual. You simply request to be part of the "Lincolns of Distinction" group.

(In my experience with these things, just don't ask the night/weekend clerk(s).) ;)
 
driller said:
It also is supposed to be a 'block' of adjoining rooms.

The one caveat is the possibility of 'stayovers' and/or cancellations that would disrupt the reserved block....
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They seem to be able to work that out. I had 15 rooms blocked under the El Camino club and all have been taken but not on all nights but they are still together in the same section.
 
LeoC2 said:
They seem to be able to work that out. I had 15 rooms blocked under the El Camino club and all have been taken but not on all nights but they are still together in the same section.
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I'm sure they'll try, but 'stayovers' can ruin the best of planning. I thought I was going to see a fight at one of the hotels on the Power Tour due to overbooking blamed on 'stayovers'.
 
Sharon, is there any way that people can simply order off the regular menu there? I noticed the menu prices posted this past weekend and the main courses are anywhere from $8.00 to about $20 with an average around $12. Wouldn't it be better to let people order from the menu and eat/spend as much or as little as they wish? And get separate checks?
 
steve said:
some couples are going to have a long wait for their food then
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Exactly. We talked to the planner, and of course we wanted people to be able to order off the menu, but that wasn't going to be possible. I mean, yeah, we could all show up and order off the menu, I'm sure they'd have the space, but like Steve said, it would take forever for the food and who knows what they'd run out of with that kind of demand.
 
LeoC2 said:
And this doesn't tell you something about their capabilities? :eek:
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It does, but I like our chances better than the other options we had. Are you going to keep insulting the hard work we've done or come up with ways to improve? Your choice, but I believe since they handle weddings, etc., that on a limited menu, they CAN handle it. Making a large selection of items, not so much.
 
Trixie said:
...Are you going to keep insulting the hard work we've done or come up with ways to improve?...
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Insulting your hard work? Huh? Sharon, I've done no such thing and in truth I did make other suggestions. I suggested other restaurants be contacted as there are many to choose from in Carlisle. I even offered to go and check a few this past weekend but my suggestion went ignored. It appears the plans were set and the subject was closed to further ideas. Why even bother posting about it?

I have some experience at the restaurant at the hotel and it's wasn't a good one. IMO I think this choice is very expensive for what they offer. It's in the hotel lobby of all places and with our fun loving group... well...
 
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