Hold on...read my comments above carefully.

A "special convention rate" usually means you're so special we charge you $2 less than rack. You can almost ALWAYS do better at a hotel than the "special convention rate".

My convention tip was to get into a hotel that you otherwise could not, not to save money.

Example: The "special" NAB rate at the Las Vegas Hilton is $199 per night. 8 people from my office are paying that in two weeks. My rate there will be $99 per night.