UK Games Expo 2017 (2-4 June 2017, Birmingham)

UK Games Expo Email wrote:30th November 2016

UKGE 2017 About Hotels

Dear Visitors.

In the course of the next few days we will set our ticketing for entrance tickets live and then start work on getting event submissions going and listing the entertainment options like the Dark Room, Live Pandemic etc.

We expect as we roll all this out that many of you will look to book hotel rooms for your Expo trip and may then encounter difficulties, This newsletter sets the scene for where you stand accomodation-wise. We hope it helps.

Quart into a pint pot

or "Why is the Rum always gone?"

Or why are the Hotels full?

Can we let you into a secret? There are quite a few of you. The days of 800 attendees only a couple of hundred of which stayed the night are way back in the past. Even the 2013 show (the first in the Hilton) only saw 3500 of you. In 2016 12500 attended and we expect more in 2017.

Now this is great news for the growth of the hobby. "Bums on seats" is what allows us to attract over 200 exhibitors and to get new game releases and special guests. Yet of course it means we have to work hard to make sure there is enough space for you all.

To this end we have reached agreements with several nearby hotels regarding gaming space in the hotels, we are expanding the trade hall by 4000sqm and adding another 5000sqm tournament and gaming hall near by (Hall 3a). We are also adding a larger 350 capacity seminar room nearby. Food facilities are being added near the lake.

All of this helps give us capacity for you to get a table to game at or somewhere to eat, But what about hotels?

Well, what about them?

Well we can't build new hotels alas and the simple fact is those in the immediate vicinity are getting very full and even if not full are only available at a high price. This is all exacerbated by the fact that Take That have announced a 4 day tour event at the Gentings Arena on our very weekend!

So do not expect to be able to get rooms in the local hotels easily or at a price any less than eye wateringly expensive, You might say (and a number of you have) "Can't Expo demand cheaper rooms!" Well, here we encounter the law of supply and demand. With thousands of you wanting rooms the hotels will naturally want to charge as high a rate as they can.

We are now in the situation that occurs in Essen during Spiel or in Indianapolis during Gencon. Hotels are booked up often more than a year before hand and certainly for months before. When we visited Essen this year we stayed about 6 U-bahn stops away. This occurring at UKGE is just a feature of our growth.

So no local rooms then?

Not many left by now - but try your luck. We had managed to secure some deals for fixed rates on rooms on the 4 closest. To find out more about those deals read this page

If the hotels say they are full, then they are full. We are not holding any rooms back that are not needed for our own volunteers or guests.

So what the heck should we do then?

Assuming you don't have Bribery or Persuasion as class skills and can't get a local room this need not ruin your Expo. There are options. With gaming going on till 11ish in the NEC as well as till late in the Hilton, Ibis and elsewhere you might consider staying a bit further away.

Up and down the Trainline

The last train from Birmingham International to Birmingham New Street is listed currently on trainline as 1.29 AM. on the Friday night and 23.49 on the Saturday night.

The last train to Coventry is around midnight on the Friday and 23.30 on the Saturday.

Both trains take around 15 to 18 minutes. So why not look at cheaper hotels in both city centers.

Solihull just 4 miles away
Taxis and car options allow you to stay in Solihull where currently hotels are listed at much lower prices.

What about Warwick, Kenilworth or Leamington?
These are only 20 mins away by car. Why not take an extra day or two and visit Warwick or Kenilworth Castle?

Where can I stay?
We have listed some of these options on our alternative hotels page..

"Get on with it!!"
What ever you do get on with it. Those who decide 5 days before the Expo to book a room and cant get one will receive the traditional UKGE punishment of Tony pointing at you and going "Ha-Ha!"

You have been warned.

That is all for now.

The UKGE Team

BeardyTom wrote:We're going down on Thursday and coming back on Sunday but we'll have to commute from Birmingham city centre each day. I guess we'll spend Thursday afternoon seeing the sights of Birmingham before heading to the Expo on Friday morning.

Birmingham does have some sights, right?

Andy S wrote:I intend to be there Friday to Sunday.  But I screwed up by not booking my hotel earlier.  Now there is nowhere walkable.  I think I'll have to get a place in the city centre and get taxis each day or bum a lift off someone else.  Which hotel are you at, Tom?  (Or anyone else who is relegated to the city centre.)

PaulC wrote:I'm going Thursday to Sunday again and, at this point, my wife and kids are STILL coming.

Aneurin wrote:

PaulC wrote:I'm going Thursday to Sunday again and, at this point, my wife and kids are STILL coming.

They do know it's Birmingham right?

PaulC wrote:

Aneurin wrote:

PaulC wrote:I'm going Thursday to Sunday again and, at this point, my wife and kids are STILL coming.

They do know it's Birmingham right?

I suspect Allie will be bored by Friday lunchtime and will spend Saturday and Sunday at Drayton Manor.

Aneurin wrote:

PaulC wrote:

Aneurin wrote:

PaulC wrote:I'm going Thursday to Sunday again and, at this point, my wife and kids are STILL coming.

They do know it's Birmingham right?

I suspect Allie will be bored by Friday lunchtime and will spend Saturday and Sunday at Drayton Manor.

Can I go with them?

Aneurin wrote:

PaulC wrote:I'm going Thursday to Sunday again and, at this point, my wife and kids are STILL coming.

They do know it's Birmingham right?

Andy S wrote:Does anyone have space for me in a vehicle heading down to Birmingham on the Friday morning and/or returning on the Sunday evening?  I would be very grateful for a lift either or both ways, and happy to chip in on petrol money.

Thanks.

paulyg wrote:I can give you a lift back on the Sunday.

Andy S wrote:I will be demoing games at Inside the Box's booth all 3 days this year.  Consequently I will not be leaving til 7pm or so on Sunday and will be getting a train back to Sheffield.

Paul: thanks so much for offering to give me a lift back to Sheffield, but I won't need it.

Is there anyone who is going down Thursday afternoon/evening who would be able to give me a lift?  If so I would be very grateful.

Sorry I haven't been able to attend on Tuesdays for a couple months.  I'm hoping to be there on the 23rd.  I hope everyone is doing well and SBGC is flourishing!

-Andy