Raving Toy Maniac

It's Con-vention Season: Have No Fear, Hotels.com is Here!

DALLAS, July 18, 2013 -- Thousands of comic book, movie and sci-fi fans are descending upon San Diego this week for Comic-Con International. While it may be too late to attend the world's largest comic book and popular arts style convention, Hotels.com® has come to the rescue of genre buffs with a list of the five most "geektastic" upcoming conventions.

"Each year, millions travel for the sole purpose of attending conventions and trade shows around a wanderlust or hobby that interests them," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. "But nowhere else do you see conference attendees go as all-out as the comic and game convention-goers. At Hotels.com, we are just as passionate about finding you the perfect place and want to help put the cherry on top of a perfect convention experience."

The Official Star Trek Convention
August 8-11, 2013 – Las Vegas

Beam me up, Scotty! Science fiction nerds will feel right at home at this mother ship of all Star Trek celebrations, now welcoming Trekkies for its 12th consecutive year. William Shatner, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols are only a few of the over 80 Star Trek legends that will be making appearances at the show to sign autographs, participate in photo ops, speak on panels, and more.

Where to Stay: The venue, The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, has super-large suites with sweeping floor to ceiling views of the strip that will make guests feel like they're peering out the window of a spacecraft.

Gen Con Indy
August 15-18, 2013 – Indianapolis

Hosting "The Best Four Days in Gaming" since 1968, Gen Con is one of the longest-running shows of its kind. Specializing in tabletop games, such as board, card, role playing and strategy games, Gen Con is a unique experience among many other gaming conventions that focus solely on digital games. Gen Con attendees boast some of the best cos-play costumes around and there is even a growing Family Fun Pavilion and Training Grounds section dedicated to gaming for children as young as four.

Where to Stay: The Alexander is a brand new 4-star property a mere 15 minute walk from the Indianapolis Convention Center. It has the ideal set- up of modern décor and furnishing, complimentary Wi-Fi and on-site dining options.

Dragon*Con
August 30 - September 2, 2013 – Atlanta

As the sixth largest convention hosted in the city of Atlanta, Dragon*Con attracts over 50,000 entertainment aficionados annually with its over 3,500 hours of multigenre programming around everything "fan-culture" including, fantasy literature, cartoons, Asian cinema, video games, space science, action films, and more. Attendees can check out panels, seminars, demonstrations, and workshops in over 30 specialized programming tracks specific to their exact wanderlust. Last, but not least, Halloween arrives early in Atlanta when Dragon*Con comes to town, as the event features the largest costume contest in the South.

Where to Stay: Located down the block from the Dragon*Con venue, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Downtown is the perfect place as it just recently underwent a $65 million renovation in 2011 that included the addition of new restaurants, technology and upgraded amenities.

New York Comic Con (NYCC)
October 10-13, 2013 – New York

Despite being one of the newer geek conferences on the scene, New York Comic Con has quickly become one of the largest and most highly anticipated pop culture events of the year. Achieving an attendance of over 116,000 comic, film, and gaming enthusiasts in only six years, NYCC is now ranked as the second largest event in the city, according to Crain's New York Business. Attendees will be wishing for the time travel powers of Doctor Who, just so they can fit in all of the geektastic panels, comic writer meet-and-greets, video game demonstrations, and celebrity guest surprises that this show is known and loved for.

Where to Stay: Being that this massive convention takes place in the most expensive city in the U.S. according to the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®), NYCC attendees will have to anticipate higher-than-usual prices. However, there are still nearby properties, like the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New York that can offer a great value.

PAX East
April 11-13, 2014 – Boston

PAX East is the Northeastern spin-off of the wildly successful (and sold out) PAX Prime, which takes place in Seattle at the end of August this year. Developed by the founders of the webcomic Penny Arcade, the PAX conferences are completely dedicated to all things gaming, from consoles, to handhelds, to PCs and even traditional tabletop games. This completely fan-operated show also has a heavy live music element that makes it well worth a trip. Catering to the niche, "nerdcore" genre, PAX puts on a one-of-a-kind concert that blends the heavy beats of rap with the subcultural geek references that every PAX-goer will appreciate. Tickets for PAX East will likely go on sale in October of this year – grab them quick, because PAX Prime sold out in less than six hours!

Where to Stay: PAX participants don't have to miss a minute of the action when they choose to stay at The Westin Boston Waterfront, which is connected directly to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Hotels.com makes it easy for travelers to rack up free* nights, redeemable at a property near the conference of their choice. By signing up for the free Welcome Rewards® program from Hotels.com, convention-goers can earn a credit towards a free night every time they stay.

Tell us which #GeekCon you're looking forward to attending and follow the conversation on Twitter @hotelsdotcom.

* A free night does not include taxes and fees. Only properties marked with Welcome Rewards qualify.

About the HPI®

The HPI tracks the real prices paid per room by hotels.com customers around the world using a weighted average based on the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that hotels.com operates. The index started in 2004, and includes all bookings across the more than 155,000 properties in over 60 countries that make up the sample set of hotels from which prices are taken.

About Hotels.com®

Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking brand. Through the Expedia, Inc. global network of websites, Hotels.com, LP connects travelers with 205,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com, LP benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, obtaining the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 7 million Guest Reviews on the websites from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through Hotels.com, LP's industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards®, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 85,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com, LP will refund the difference. Travelers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centers. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at http://www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/ enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at http://www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Hotels.comUS, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcom and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. Hotels.com, LP is part of Expedia, Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.