As Analise points out, a lot of people come in for holiday season activities (you'd be surprised how many out-of-town people make yearly shopping trips, and book the following year's hotel reservation before checking out).

But the Dec 4-7 weekend this year is especially bad, due to a major convention of retailers known as the StoreXpo at the Javits Convention Center. IIRC the NY Hilton is the headquarters hotel, and many other midtown hotels are also on the delegate housing list.

http://www.storexpo.info/

I don't know if airport-area options would work for you - I've stayed out at EWR when faced with a sellout situation - it depends what the focus of your Manhattan visit is.

Best of luck and safe travels.




[This message has been edited by Non-NonRev (edited Nov 28, 2003).]