Hotels
FIRST has partnered with Steele Meetings to provide reduced rates for FIRST teams in hotels near FIRST events. **Click here** for a list of hotels located near the Dallas Convention Center, as well as the prices that have been negotiated. (From the drop downs select Event Type: FRC, Select an Event: 2012 Dallas East and Dallas West Regionals.)
Tips for selecting appropriate lodging for your team:
We suggest that you use the following tips to help with your hotel search.
- Pick out three or four hotels in the same proximity of your Regional city to confirm approximate pricing for the marketplace within 3-5 miles to the venue.
- Once you make your choices, contact the hotels reservation personnel and ask questions directly. The following are examples of what features you will want your hotel to have:
- 24 hour security
- Free parking, or at least secure parking if it is in a city environment
- Interior entrance rooms - rooms that have exterior entrances are the ones that have inherent security risks, plus the fact that any team member can wander off at any time.
- Hotels that have been renovated within the past 4 years
- Hotels that will disclose if they have groups in house that are not consistent with or are in indirect opposition to FIRST values, including no sexually oriented groups, gun shows, fantasy groups, or any other groups that tend to stay up late and can affect your sleep.
- Will your room block be together on the same floor/area
- Is there a complimentary breakfast
- Is there free Internet access (about 50% of all hotels do now).
- Cheapest should not be the only qualifier. If the quality or location is poor, it can lead to an overall bad Regional experience. Without the proper sleep, you will wish that you had paid a little more for a better quality hotel.
- Call and make your reservations as soon as possible. What rates you may find available now are not usually the same close to the event date when the hotel is close to its capacity.