It's probably easier to make your reservations by phone, but because I'm a web-page junkie, I used the hotel's website instead.
To get the special CORSA room rate (of $99 per night), you have to take some special steps when you make your reservations online. Here is how to do it:
Log onto the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center home page at http://www.sturbridgehosthotel.com/ . Find the "Fast Reservations" section, which is located on the left-hand side of the web page. The "Fast Reservations" section has data entry fields for "Check-In," "Adults," "Children," and "Nights," and these fields are pre-populated. Ignore them. Simply click on "Go."
The website will now direct you to the reservations web page. Near the top of the reservations web page, you will see a horizontal bar with a number of hot links, including links for "Home," "Standard Rates," "Corporate Rates," "Groups," "Travel Agents," etc. Click on "Groups."
A pop-up will appear. It will prompt you for an "Attendee Code." Enter 1207CORVAI in the Attendee Code and click on "Sign In."
The reservation web page will then update itself with dates, rates, and room selections for the CORSA Convention. Our special room rate is available for any date between 7/22/2012 to 7/31/2012, but you can choose your own arrival and departure dates simply by clicking on the calendar shown on the left-hand side of the reservation web page. After you make your selections, click on the "Continue This Reservation" button on the bottom of the reservation web page. The web site will confirm your reservation and provide you with a confirmation number. As always, it's best practice to print out the confirmation for your records.
I was pleasantly surprised that the reservation system did not ask me for a credit card to back up my reservation. Just to make sure, I called the hotel's front desk (using the hotel's toll free phone number). The lady at the desk assured me that my online reservation had been accepted and that I will have a room at the hotel next July.
--Al Lacki
