Lack Of Lodging May Hinder Macworld’s Return To Boston

BOSTON— A lack of suitable hotel rooms was one of the factors that caused IDG World Expo to move its 50,000 Macworld visitors out of Boston in 1998, but now the group wants to return to the city’s new convention center, set to open in 2004, provided it can get sufficient accommodations. IDG World Expo President/Chief Executive Charlie Greco wants a commitment for 2,400 hotel rooms, priced at around $150 a night. More important, he wants these rooms concentrated in the downtown and Back Bay areas, so that it will be easy to arrange shuttle service between the hotels and the convention center. Adding to the challenge is a meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries at the Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center the same week in July, forcing Macworld visitors to compete for hotel space with the librarians. “There really arent enough hotel rooms in the city to deal with large events,” said Greco, who complains that a planned 1,200-room “headquarters” hotel adjoining the new Boston convention center wont be ready in time for Macworld 2004. As a result, “we would be scattered in about 17 hotels to get all the rooms we need.” To avoid this, Greco said tMacworld might consider renting cruise ships and using them as floating hotels for the week of the show. Prior to the event’s ’98 departure, Macworld spent 13 years in Boston as the citys biggest trade show. Its relocation cost Boston about $60 million in revenues annually. But NYC & Co., New Yorks convention bureau, was quick to pick up the group, hosting attendees at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Greco has a September deadline to accept or reject NYCs proposal to keep Macworld. NYC & Co. evp Terry Dale said the city is eager to hang onto Macworld, which runs at a relatively slow time of year for conventions in New York. “Its very valuable July summer business,” Dale said. SOURCE: Boston Globe