Running a Worldcon means managing tradeoffs and, honestly, every chair hopes to face the “problem” of filling the main hotel room block and needing to dispatch people to an overflow hotel.

That’s what Chicon 7 chairman Dave McCarty started doing today:

We are delighted to have filled our room block at the Hyatt Regency. We have taken almost 2000 rooms in total, reflecting the popularity and anticipation for the Worldcon returning to Chicago. We are equally delighted to have the Sheraton Chicago joining us as our second hotel partner, ensuring that all members can stay within a few minutes of the convention site.

From a public relations standpoint he’s also fortunate that the Hyatt sold out gradually enough that fans could be given plenty of warning, in contrast to last year when Renovation’s main hotel sold out the first day.

The full press release follows the jump.

Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention,

Chicago, IL – August 30 to September 3, 2012

www.chicon7.org

Postal queries to: Chicon 7, P.O. Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Hyatt Regency Sold Out; Sheraton Chicago is Chicon Overflow Hotel

Chicago, Illinois, USA – Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), has confirmed that the Sheraton Chicago will be providing overflow accommodation for members due to the Hyatt Regency room block being full.

The Sheraton Chicago is located directly across the river, just a two-block, four-minute level walk from the front door of the Hyatt Regency.

Room rates at the Sheraton Chicago are $169 single and double, $179 triple, and $189 quad (plus 16.4% occupancy tax). The cutoff date for reservations is August 10, at 5 p.m., Chicago time. Reservation requests received after the cutoff will be based on availability at the discounted rates.

For full details of how to book a room at the Sheraton Chicago at the Chicon 7 rate, go to <www.chicon.org/hotel-booking.php#sheraton>. For information on the Sheraton Chicago, go to <www.sheratonchicago.com>.

According to Chicon 7 chairman Dave McCarty, “We are delighted to have filled our room block at the Hyatt Regency. We have taken almost 2000 rooms in total, reflecting the popularity and anticipation for the Worldcon returning to Chicago. We are equally delighted to have the Sheraton Chicago joining us as our second hotel partner, ensuring that all members can stay within a few minutes of the convention site.”

ENDS

Chicon 7 is the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”). The first Worldcon occurred in New York City in 1939 and Worldcons have been held annually since then except for 1942-45 when there was no event due to World War II. Chicon 7’s Guests of Honor are five-time Hugo winning author Mike Resnick, artist Rowena Morrill, art agent and collector Jane Frank, SF fan and former Worldcon chair Peggy Rae Sapienza, and astronaut Story Musgrave. Chicon 7’s Toastmaster is John Scalzi.

For more details about the convention or to purchase memberships, visit <www.chicon7.org>. Send press questions to <[email protected]>. Send general queries to <[email protected]>. “World Science Fiction Society,” “WSFS,” “World Science Fiction Convention,” “Worldcon,” “NASFiC,” “Hugo Award,” and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.