Local hotel rooms reserved in hopes of strengthening Chicago Olympic bid
Local hotel rooms reserved in hopes of strengthening Chicago Olympic bid Save Email Print
Posted: 5:28 PM Aug 27, 2008
 Last Updated: 6:54 AM Aug 28, 2008
 Reporter: Stephanie Stang
Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com
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A number of Northern Indiana hotels could help Chicago win the bid to host the 2016 Olympic games.

On Wednesday the head of accommodations for Chicago 2016 Olympic committee met with a handful of hotel managers from northern Indiana. The candidate city is trying to persuade hotels to block off 85% of their rooms for more than two weeks.

It is estimated that more than 60,000 rooms will be needed for the 2016 games. There are forty thousand rooms available in the city but the rest will have to come from elsewhere.

The committee wants thousands of rooms that are accessible to the city's south side and along an interstate and train route.

"Some people may take some convincing but bottom dollar, it’s going to be huge... by signing on early it just secures that business. So, I will take the security of signing on early," says Hampton Inn general manager Alex Fedorow.

Hotels as far east as South Bend and as far north as Milwaukee are being reserved.

Chicago won't find out until next year in October if they won the bid.
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Posted by: Maps Rule! Location: South Bend on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Hey Kit- Mexico City is in North American, check an atlas!
Posted by: Kim Evans Location: Elkhart on Aug 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
To myrt Amen,Amen and to John you are right we sure could us the money.People just think about all the millions that would be brought to Indiana and the different people that we would meet from different countries and the new friends that we could all make,it's so sad that we might lose this bid for the Olympics because of a few surrounding states with their time zones.People may think that the time zone would have nothing to do with the bid,but you watch we will lose the bid because the time zone was ONE of the factors.I'm not saying that the time zone will be the fall of us not winning the bid but it will be a big part of it.
Posted by: Myrt on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Kim - I agree that the time change may influence the Olympic Committee's decision when trying to figure out the logistics for such an event. Too bad, Mitch didn't leave St. Joe County's decision to be on the Central Time Zone to the county instead of butting in after he said he wouldn't. So much for his character!
Posted by: Roger on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:30 AM
After the recent shootings, hotels could upsell rooms with bullet proof glass and optional bullet proof vests/terry cloth robe combos. Better yet, let's have the pistol, rifle and trap competitions here. After the competition is done, the competitors could go hunting for catalytic converter thieves and keep our police officers from having to be drug down Lincolnway.
Posted by: John Location: New Carlisle on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Kim, As I have said before, I really doubt Chicago will get the Olympics once the IOC finds out the time situation here between South Bend and Chicago, or Chicago will just leave South Bend out when it comes to accomodations. Notice the meeting yesterday was held in Michigan City(central time). Imagine this conversation between an IOC member and a local chamber of commerce person. IOC "Why is South Bend in a different timezone than Chicago" SBCOC " It was to confusing to place the boundary between us and Elkhart" IOC "Well do you not think that people from other parts of the world will be confused when they travel from Chicago to South Bend?" SBCOC "Mike Yoder,thanks for your help in 2005" IOC " I think I shall vote for a different city to host the games" SBCOC "We sure could have used the money"
Posted by: Kim Evans Location: Elkhart on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:50 AM
If Chicago wins the bid for the 2016 Olympic's and if our wonderful Governor Daniels wins relections several times(not with my vote) does he plan on changing the time to Central time so that we may acccomadate their requests for our help in lodging.This is something that needs to be addressed now not 6or 7yrs.down the road.Our time change either should of been left alone or we should of went with Central time as we are closer to Chicago than New York.Being in the R.V business for 30yrs I know for a fact that alot of our business dealings are with folks in the South,Midwest And the West Coast,not so much so of the East Coast.I feel that down the road we are going to have to deal with time change AGAIN,and how much more can the state of Indiana put up with this wonderful Governor of ours.
Posted by: Kit on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I don't think that Chicago should hold the Olympics. The U.S. just had them in '96. Let Rio get the games, South America has never held the games. Mexico City in in Central America last held them in '68. The Olympics are supposed to be world inclusive so I think that all parts of the world should get to host them.
Posted by: John Location: New Carlisle on Aug 28, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Todd,certainly you are joking!!
Posted by: Al on Aug 28, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Indianapolis is the world's most BORING city! Chicago is the better choice, by far. Besides, people will flock from all corners of the Earth to marvel in awe at South Bend's historic Football Hall of Fame.....!
Posted by: Todd Location: South Bend on Aug 27, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Indianapolis is much more qualified to host the Olympics then Chicago is...what are they thinking? They can't even handle the flights and traffic they have now.

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