Jacek said:

I feel we should really focus on doing something this winter :) to break it up, you know? We have plenty of events that can and are done during Spring-Fall, but winter seems to always be lacking in fun activities all around. I wonder if the Thunderbird…er…Ramada Inn by the airport is desperate enough for some cash to make a deal with us for something cheap for a group space. I'd leave that one up to Kellic, as I am certain he hates that building with a passion of a thousand suns. XD

Otherwise, just need to keep checking hotels for spaces. I'm betting they will have some decent deals for the more unpopular winter months to try and get buisness. I'll try looking around and see what I can find as well. :)

Thunderbird had some good relations with one of our members one of the reason Kellic was going towards that.  Sadly that's not going to be as useful now.

It's always apprecetive to help check locations.  With something that's a "hotel" meet a mega event type thing it doesn't have to be centrally located.  Being off the beaten path might even help.

Check with Yarrick on where he has check he's checked a lot of hotels.  

Yarrick said:

 

I'll enhance on what Kurst posted here on details on what we are looking for in an event or hotel space:

 

-A room or series of rooms capible of handling 150-200 people

-open food policy (This was another reason we couldn't find a venue is Kellic was unwilling to go to any place that did not have an open food policy.  Personally I think this can be discussed whether people are willing to go without snacks and order off a menu if we can get a venue for the right price…)

-Will let us stay there late, not having a kickout time of like 9pm.

 

Phineus said:

How much does it cost to rent out hotel areas (the "mini cons," sorry Kellic) and the picnic area? Personally I really only enjoy the picnic meets, I'd be down with trying to do another one or two a year…

Maybe an actual spring picnic (in spring, like April or May), then another in June/July, then the fall in September….

Since kellic hasn't applied roughly each picnic cost between $100-200 once the expenses and such factor into play.

 The times for the picnic can be reserved by people in Saint Paul in January everyone else at least a month after.

So basically we get the scraps the last year(s) on the date for the seasons the park is available and I believe there is a limit of about 100 people at the park pavilion.   

For restraunts – Perkins been nice to us and hasn't asked for miniumn food purchases.  Other locations we went to or talked to had minimum purchases.  A lot with as big or bigger rooms require the party to buy at least $250 worth of food each time we would meet there.  And of course how long you can have the room.  NEedless to say at this point in our group we don't want to commit to something like that.

For hotel meets – That's a toughy!  When we had a sweet heart deal either by luck of schedule or we knew a friend of a friend it came out to be around $150-300.  Most hotels we talked to in the last few months go from $800 with all food purchased from them or a major minimum food purchase (They expect a more banquit style from them.  Think weddings) or double that without food purchase.  You also have to take in account a lot of the places do expect you out like at midnight or 1am so getting a places willing to stay open late or overnight is important in this too.

Anyways hope that helps.