I attend the IAAPA, PRI and I/ITSEC (Let's just say I have a broad base of customers) shows pretty regularly, and love going to Orlando. This could be because I have a fascination and respect for shiny tourist traps, but the convention center itself is great and there's no arguing with the weather - particularly when you've flown in from Upstate NY.
And I'd guess that in a place geared for frighteningly large gobs of tourists, in the off-season, hotel rates would stay fairly reasonable. Usually stay with friends when I'm down there now, though, so I can't say what it's like for those shows.
I just hope the show doesn't go to Atlanta. I'll stroll through Brooklyn at all hours without a care, but two blocks from the convention center in ATL shortly after dark (and there were no street lights) made the hair on the back of my neck stand up: Pitch black, a dead end across some weedy train tracks, and knots of guys standing around eying the shiny rental car with "convention attendees loaded with cash" written all over it. Brr-r-r-r-r-r.
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Orlando has my vote.
I attend the IAAPA, PRI and I/ITSEC (Let's just say I have a broad base of customers) shows pretty regularly, and love going to Orlando. This could be because I have a fascination and respect for shiny tourist traps, but the convention center itself is great and there's no arguing with the weather - particularly when you've flown in from Upstate NY.
And I'd guess that in a place geared for frighteningly large gobs of tourists, in the off-season, hotel rates would stay fairly reasonable. Usually stay with friends when I'm down there now, though, so I can't say what it's like for those shows.
I just hope the show doesn't go to Atlanta. I'll stroll through Brooklyn at all hours without a care, but two blocks from the convention center in ATL shortly after dark (and there were no street lights) made the hair on the back of my neck stand up: Pitch black, a dead end across some weedy train tracks, and knots of guys standing around eying the shiny rental car with "convention attendees loaded with cash" written all over it. Brr-r-r-r-r-r.