07/29/2015

Hotel Scam Alert!

We wish to warn all potential NY16 sponsors and exhibitors that calls and emails from a company called Convention Housing Authority are a scam. DO NOT BOOK A HOTEL WITH THIS FIRM.

We wish to warn all potential NY16 sponsors and exhibitors that calls and emails from a company called Convention Housing Authority are a scam. DO NOT BOOK A HOTEL WITH THIS FIRM. 

The Convention Housing Authority (2080 E. Flamingo Rd Suite 320, Las Vegas, NV 89119 | + 1 212 441 3140), is calling and emailing last year’s sponsors and exhibitors and suggesting that they represent the event. The company is not affiliated with NY16.

Our room block at the official conference hotel, New York Marriott Marquis, will open in mid-September. You will receive an email from me when the block is open.

If you do receive a call from this company, DO NOT BOOK A HOTEL ROOM WITH THEM. 

When NYSPMA secures sleeping rooms at the Marriott for our conference (commonly referred to as room blocks), we make certain that our attendees and exhibitors are adequately accommodated. Our room block is established to ensure that rooms meet our standards and are offered at a discounted price. NYSPMA is working directly with the New York Marriott Marquis for NY16.

Room poaching is a practice carried out by third-party companies that act as travel agencies, wholesalers or destination management companies to solicit registrants and exhibitors for room reservations for society or other organizations meetings. The practice of room poaching makes it more difficult for us to meet our room block commitments and exposes NYSPMA to penalties and increased room rates for our conferences.

Often room poachers may misrepresent themselves as the NYSPMA official housing provider and registrants and exhibitors may be contacted by fax, email or phone with offers for cut rate housing. The poacher might inform registrants and exhibitors that the hotel room block is "sold out," and that if you do not book with them immediately, you may not get a room. Additional deceptive tactics may include:

• Forms or promotional materials that appear to be issued by NY16
• Not delivering on promises to customers. When customers arrive, reservations are sometimes non-existent or the hotels are not conveniently located.
• Representing themselves as being affiliated with NY16 by illegally using our name or logo.

Don't be misled! If you are contacted by anyone asking if you need a room for NY16 who is not a representative with NYSPMA or the New York Marriott Marquis, please get as much information as you can and pass it along to us. Please do NOT book a room with them or give them any contact or credit card information. Contact Sarah Hansen at sarah@nyspma.org.