FWIW - SMD1 I stayed at the Do hotels, even though they were outside my main chains. The rates were good - AND there was the convenience factor, especially when a charter requires being up at 4-5am. SMD2 I mixed it up. Stayed at some of the Do hotels; others I didn't. SMD3 I didn't attend, but might have stayed at the Do hotels to get the bennies (like Diamond status)/swag, depending if I thought I was going to stay at the hotel chain in the future.

FWIW - at least on charter day (night before) you might want to stay at the hotel where everyone departs from, especially if your alternate is a bit of distance away & you have an oh-dawn-hundred (or middle of the night) wake-up call, even if the rate is somewhat higher. There's something to be said for convenience.

Cheers.