Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc.
Box 1010
Framingham, MA 01701

For immediate release
December 26, 1997

MCFI, continuing our efforts to provide fandom with the very best Worldcons, wishes to announce that we will change our bid venue to Orlando, Florida in 2001, to offer Worldcon voters the best currently available prices and location on the East Coast.

Over the past months, we have negotiated with Boston area hotel and convention groups to bring you a fourth outstanding Noreascon. All of the hotels and convention centers in our area have expressed great interest in having us - and all of them have offered us the same rates they are getting from other convention groups. We don't believe fandom can afford them.

The Boston Sheraton Hotel & Towers, site of the three previous Noreascons (1971, 1980 and 1989), offered us a first option with average room rates, in 2001 figures, of over $200. In order to use this fine facility, we would also be required to hold the equivalent of a 700-person banquet every night of the convention to reach the minimum planned food and beverage requirement.

We explored three other possible sites in Boston: one was booked for our weekend; the other two offered us first options which were at or higher than the prices we were given by the traditional Noreascon site.

We believe that fandom deserves the best choice for its annual "family reunion" - the Worldcon.

We believe that, with current rate structures in the northern part of the East Coast, Orlando, Florida provides the highest quality at the most affordable price.

Orlando has two exciting choices for us: the site which was used by MagiCon in 1992, and a second facility at Disney World.

The MagiCon site includes the Orange County Convention Center (now considerably expanded) and several area hotels. They have offered us attractive room rates averaging $109 in 1998, proven Worldcon facilities, a renovated convention center space, and more restaurant and shopping choices (There is a new shopping mall.).

As we talked to that site, a facility at Disney World contacted us with an unsolicited offer which would use the Swan and the Dolphin, two hotels within walking distance to Epcot. These properties (one a Westin, the other a Sheraton), include considerable exhibit and meeting space, room rates of about $119 in 1998, free transportation within Disney.

MCFI has asked its presupporters and friends for their advice on which of these two excellent sites we should select. We are also interested in hearing from others, by snail mail to our postal address or by email to: info@noreascon.org. You can find additional information on our World Wide Web page at: http://world.std.com/~sbarsky/location.html.

Please join us as we look forward to the new millennium. We believe that every Worldcon needs a bit of magic.

Boston for Orlando in 2001
PO Box 1010
Framingham, MA 01701-1010
USA

or email us at info@noreascon.org

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