Although the perception is that costs are lower at suburban facilities, show managers find that it varies. We expect to pay more at a private facility. Public facilities are supported by public funds and hotel taxes. Management at each facility has its own pricing policy and its own reasoning. As it turns out, costs are not high on show managers' list of selection criteria.
Attitude is also important.
And several show managers find that downtown facilities give better treatment to events that use many hotel rooms. But I pay the same rental rates. It's refreshing to have a facility like Palmetto that treats trade shows as well as the larger conventions. In many instances, downtown facilities have the larger exhibit space, the high-tech audiovisual equipment, the nearby nightlife. But it's also important for show managers to keep their options open, and not overlook the suburban alternatives.