Oh, and the list of hotels online doesn't match the list of hotels on the PDF--my second choice doesn't seem to be there at all. (Got my third choice. Distinctly inferior.) - Walt Crawford

Walt, I've passed your suggestion along to our internal conference committee at ALA for discussion. I'll have to go look at the PDF and gMap again - I thought I'd gotten them all on there. Feel free to send me any details at jlevine [at] ala.org. Sorry about the frustration. - Jenny Levine

So glad this one's a home game. Everything must be gone by now, with the reservation site buckling under the pressure. The hotels in Silver Spring should still be plentifully available in the spring. Transit options might not be as favorable, though. - Julian

Julian, are you experiencing problems with the registration site or hearing about problems? I haven't seen anything, so am curious. We were a little worried about the rush, but things seem okay this time around. Thanks. - Jenny Levine

Registration for Annual opened today?? seriously?? This should have been impossible to miss, and yet... I've not heard a single peep. - RudĩϐЯaЯïan

Walt, none of the hotels should be full at this point - were you waitlisted? That's common, although you almost always get the reservation there. Can you send me the name of the hotel that was full? We want to check on this. Thanks. - Jenny Levine

Rudy, I'm checking on the email situation. Will let you know what I find out. - Jenny Levine

I got waitlisted for my hotel (the Hampton Inn), too, for -- of all nights -- Thursday night. I don't recall seeing the Waitlist option in hotel registration before. I thought it odd that the waitlisted night wasn't one of the prime convention days, but I'm having faith that it'll work out. - Peter Murray

Peter, waitlist isn't new, but you probably saw it because the room blocks are smaller for the shoulder nights. The reservation works out in something like 99% of the cases, and you've registered so early that you should be fine. It just takes a while for our staff to follow up with the hotel to confirm the rooms. Let me know if you have any questions about this stuff, though. I'm learning a lot about conference planning. :-p - Jenny Levine

Both the Embassy Suites (my first choice) and, I think, Comfort Inn were marked as Not Available. Hotel #7 on the PDF ("Marriott Courtyard CC") doesn't exist, as far as I can tell, on the registration list--and, of course, the *order* of names on the two is different, which makes things difficult. Mine was for Friday-Tuesday, so shouldn't run into the shoulder issue. - Walt Crawford

One addendum: The new process for housing is SO MUCH BETTER than the old "choose five hotels and pray a lot" process. It may not be ideal yet, but it's a HUGE improvement. - Walt Crawford

Jenny++ # For adding clarity and transparency to the process - Peter Murray

Liking for Jenny's contributions. :-) - lris

Thanks, everyone! Walt, I've forwarded the hotel info to find out what happened. I'm glad the process is improving (baby steps). Apparently our peak nights are Saturday and Sunday, so everything else is considered "shoulder," which may be part of the problem. Peter, the waitlist should clear in the next week or so - let me know what happens, but we think you should be fine. More info as I get it. - Jenny Levine

Jenny, whatever you did...I suddenly have another email confirming me at the Embassy Suites. So, thanks. And, yes, to repeat, this is all an ENORMOUS improvement over the old days. There will always be some rough edges. - Walt Crawford

Heh - yes, Walt, you only have one reservation at the Embassy Suites now. You did read the screen correctly, and the ES did actually fill up pretty quickly. Experient says that hotel is extremely popular with ALA registrants because of the free breakfast and the size of the suites. We snuck you in, though. Peter, that probably explains why the Hampton was already waitlisted, too, but you should be okay soon. If anyone else experiences problems, please lmk. - Jenny Levine

Ah, I see. The Hampton was picked by my 8-year-old daughter. She's coming with us this year, as she did the last time ALA was in DC. We stayed at the Hampton then, and one of her highlights from the trip was meeting the foot-and-a-half eel in the fish tank in the lobby (http://www.flickr.com/photos...). She will be devastated if it isn't there three years later... - Peter Murray

The Hampton Inn was also on my short list. Thanks for sneaking me in to Embassy Suites. (Turns out that if you're like me, needing a full breakfast at conference, Embassy Suites is actually cheaper in the long run than some of the "cheaper" hotels, given that hotel breakfasts are typically close to $20 with tip. And the rooms are, of course, great.) - Walt Crawford

I made my call at 9:15 am EST (the info on the page says the line doesn't open until 9:00 am CST but I usually find they are answering earlier than that). I had to wait about 10 minutes but then spoke to a very pleasant operator who got me into my first choice - Hampton Inn. I thought I'd go for the Four Points Sheraton, where I stayed the last time ALA was in DC, but I opted for the Hampton because of the complimentary breakfast which starts at 6 am - even on the weekends. Even though it's $10 more a night, like Walt suggests, that might end up saving me money over the breakfasts I'd have to purchase if I'd stayed at the Four Points. - steven bell

Ah, Steven, you *called.* I did mine online (I'm not a good phone person)...and it wasn't until 10:30 am EST. I made the same calculations on Four Points vs. Hampton Inn (I think they're a wash financially), and since I'm fond of Hilton in general, Hampton came out a bit ahead (Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Hampton are all Hilton properties. Oh, and the two Hiltons in DC, for that matter...) - Walt Crawford