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SpeedB.A.G VIII
(May 12 2017)
I just spoke to Nancy, our contact at the Hazelet Best Western. There has always been large area events around KeyPort NJ the week of the Speed Bag Gathering and the Week after, creating a full booking at their hotel.
This year "someone" moved the big festival from the week after the gathering to the same weekend [July 14 - July 16 2017] as the Gathering. This will bring busloads of people to keyport.... SO if you are planning on attending SB-VIII and want to get a room at "the" hotel of choice, you had better call quick, ...and there is no group discount established. Due to the Demand for rooms in the area, no hotel will apparently cut rates. Rates are about $100 up to Thursday, and $144.00 Friday and Saturday.
BEST WESTERN Hazlet Inn
3215 Highway 35 Hazlet , New Jersey
07730-1539, United States
Phone: 732/888-2800
IF they are full, tell her you are a speed bagger and she can try to get you high up on the cancellation list. In the past she has pulled off some miracles to get some of us rooms when last minute cancellations or no-shows occurred.
I just spoke to Nancy, our contact at the Hazelet Best Western. There has always been large area events around KeyPort NJ the week of the Speed Bag Gathering and the Week after, creating a full booking at their hotel.
This year "someone" moved the big festival from the week after the gathering to the same weekend [July 14 - July 16 2017] as the Gathering. This will bring busloads of people to keyport.... SO if you are planning on attending SB-VIII and want to get a room at "the" hotel of choice, you had better call quick, ...and there is no group discount established. Due to the Demand for rooms in the area, no hotel will apparently cut rates. Rates are about $100 up to Thursday, and $144.00 Friday and Saturday.
BEST WESTERN Hazlet Inn
3215 Highway 35 Hazlet , New Jersey
07730-1539, United States
Phone: 732/888-2800
IF they are full, tell her you are a speed bagger and she can try to get you high up on the cancellation list. In the past she has pulled off some miracles to get some of us rooms when last minute cancellations or no-shows occurred.
It's something that happens in areas where the summer events are not set in stone. Been to more than one that room rates skyrocketed overnight, then became non existent because of a fair or festival moved a date up. About the only way to avoid the problem is negotiate a block of rooms as soon as you can, if things don't work out you can cancel the reservation if done within the period of time stated in the contract.
The fine stock of amazing East coast baggers have pretty much kept it going, because they can drive there within a few hours Most of them don't get advanced reservations anymore, staying a night or so. It's hard to plan anything around NO hard, definite commitments for numbers on attendance. With virtually no local promotion, media or solicitations it's hard to make it a "big event." Donations and Sponsors have gone as well. We used to fund raise for charity...haven't done that since the Gathering-III on now we're on 8. I can say that if some more of the newer members don't start showing up, It may be time to re-think doing it annually. 
another great bagger) 
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