Hotel reservations: What to expect, Part II
Now that some staff members have put the Passkey system through its paces, they've reported a few things that made us re-think the badge number requirement:
1) The system doesn't know how to ask for the badge number of just one person; it would require badge numbers for everyone on the reservation, and we know that would make things tough for someone who is putting multiple people in one room, and
2) The chairman, having been certain that the announcement had been made months ago but being assured by his staff that it had not, and further that he is growing senile, neglecting to make the public aware of the requirement,
The badge number field will remain, but will be optional (at least for this year, until we can hammer on the system a little more).
The staff have also noted that attendees may be concerned when the requirement of a name for additional guests is required. For the initial reservation you may put down "Pending" or "unknown" for the name; there will be ample time to update names on the reservation later.
Nicona, I think that this quote:
The badge number field will remain, but will be optional (at least for this year, until we can hammer on the system a little more).
indicates that pre-registration is not required, but we can wait for Kage to clarify.
That's kind of what I was thinking but I wanted to make sure.
Now that some staff members have put the Passkey system through its paces, they've reported a few things that made us re-think the badge number requirement...The badge number field will remain, but will be optional (at least for this year, until we can hammer on the system a little more).
*The fox bows low to the Chairman, arching his tail high, and thanks him for his gracious reconsideration of this matter.* 
...The chairman, having been certain that the announcement had been made months ago but being assured by his staff that it had not, and further that he is growing senile, neglecting to make the public aware of the requirement,
I think the situation can be best summed up with a phrase I once heard, uttered by a highly intelligent man who has displayed a true gift for Organisation, and has demonstrated better Leadership Qualities than several West Point graduates whom I have known:
"It's not exactly Rocket Surgery." 
So. To clarify. We are going to prereg hotel rooms (supersponcer only) online. We wont be able to call the hotel of our choice to reserve a room?
I was under the impression (before the Hotel announcement recently) that only Super Sponsers would get the jump on the hotel reservations. So I was happy to learn it was open to those that preregister, not only SS only. I'm kinda glad its not being enforced this year.
Supersponsors are getting a jump on hotel reservations. Hotel reservations for supersponsors will be opening on January 30th. This is only open to pre-registered supersponsors. General reservations for everyone else, whether they are pre-registered or not, open on February 1st.
No, you cannot reserve with the hotels directly. All hotel reservations must be made through the Passkey system, regardless of your Anthrocon registration status.
as we get closer and closer to the 30th could we possibly get an updated count on how many super sponsers there are? it would easy my mind about waiting till i got home from work on the 30th to reserve a hotel room.
If you supered you should be able to get into any hotel you want before genereal admission. They'd need 500 supersponsors to fill the Westin, and that's only if every single one of them reserved their own room and didn't have a preference for another hotel. The only hotel you'd have a silver of a chance of missing out on would be the Courtyard because it doesn't offer that many rooms, and I somehow doubt all 100 would sell out on the 30th.
As mentioned, the amount of Courtyard rooms is rather small. We fully expect that the Courtyard will sell out before general availability; but we anticipate it to be the onyl hotel that will sell completely out.
Oh thank goodness the registration of name was not mandatory. I have a transport person coming with me who is not attending the con, so that almost ruined months of planning. This was more or less a family vacation and break from work, so that would have "eff'd" our plans in the worst possible way. Thank you for making that optional!
What are the dates of the "Anthrocon block?" I plan on coming to Pittsburgh a few days early (I want to visit Gettysburg and a few other places around the area before the con) so I'd like to know. Thanks!
Oh, I know, I meant relatively speaking! We'll be getting up very early and devoting a day for just that.
The special Anthrocon hotel rates have historically been available for three days before and after Anthrocon's official dates. If that holds true, the special rates should start on July 1 and be available until July 10. But, that also depends on availability. If the hotels have other events before or after Anthrocon, the rooms may not be available because the other groups may need them.
Just remember, as Tyrrlin said, that Gettysburg is a good distance from Pittsburgh. It will take a few hours to drive between the two cities. You might be better off to stay a night in Gettysburg before or after Anthrocon as opposed to trying to get there and back in one day.
The Anthrocon block this year is the Tuesday before the con to the Tuesday after the con. That means for the convntion rates the earliest you will be able to check in is July 2nd and you will have to check out on July 9th.
We may be able to stretch a given reservation after it is made, but online, you can only reserve from Tuesday through Tuesday. We simply do not include any rooms earlier or later because we cannot guarantee the hotel that they'll be taken.
You can make your reservation but you will then have to inquire on your own if it can be extended ealier or later. There is a possibility that you may need to switch hotels, since there are groups in ahead of us as well as behind us who are taking up rooms.
As the clock ticks down..... I won't lie, I'm getting really really nervous....
I hope I did everything right...
So will pre-regitration still be required or are you just going to wave that requirement for this year?
Assistant Director of Registration