Why so expensive?
 

Probably the Dreamforce convention starting the next day.

SF hotel rates fluctuate wildly based on convention activity. Big conventions affect prices everywhere, but the effect is particularly strong in SF.

More demand for rooms means higher prices.

Yes, but SF gets shocking crazy higher prices - over $1K/night for things that are typically in the $200s. I've seen the airport hotels nearing $800, when you can find a room.

A simple Google search "what's happening San Francisco September 24th" would have answered your question ... here ... as Eastbay1K already noted it's Dreamforce

Yes, but what's different about San Francisco is the smallness of hotel room supply, relative to the size of these conventions. That increases the range of rate fluctuations.

For the night of September 24, the Holiday Inn San Francisco Civic Center is available for $864+tax, or 40,000 IHG Rewards points, and no tax. IHG is currently running a "mystery" bonus promotion on the sale of its points. If you get the highest possible bonus -- 100% -- you should be able to buy 40,000 IHG points for $200. If you don't already have an IHG Rewards account, sign up for one at ihg.com, and then click on "Buy Points" to see what your bonus offer is.

Yepper - use points

Dreamforce? One of the biggest....
 

Rivals MacWorld and Oracle Open World for commanding hotel resources.

About a mile from Moscone Center. So yes, it's walkable, but it's not a great location in terms of the primary tourist sites. It would be a great location for attending the symphony, ballet or opera, but I believe all three have no performances in this part of late September.

Dreamforce is projected to "sell out" this year, which means 100k+ people.

If you find anything available at all, especially on points, book it immediately.

Last year, the lucky ones were able to find expensive accommodations in the East Bay and commute to the city.

If you are traveling for leisure and have any flexibility, pick a different week.

Perusing the SPG site for the 24th,
The Proper From $1364
St. Francis From $1077
Park Central From $1038
Le Meridien From $929
Sheraton Fishermans Wharf From $979
Four Points Emeryville From $477
Westin SFO From $555
Aloft SFO From $537

And hurry, they will all fill up (and go up).

Holy smokes. I had no idea SF could support a convention that large.

No boat this year as there were issues in the past with expectations (i.e. people thought it would be the full cruise ship experience and it was only sleeping rooms)

But yes, Howard will be closed off and all of Moscone (and most nearby hotel meeting rooms) will be used

It basically turns SoMa into Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Attendees seem to have a great time and the bars/restaurants love the windfalls. I wish the very rude traffic patrol that's hired for Dreamforce would lighten up, though. The only bad thing I can say about Dreamforce is that they put roid ragers in orange vests to scream "Go, Go, C'Mon!! Walk!!! Go!!!" at elderly pedestrians (yes I've seen this).

This. And if it's part of a trip through California, maybe change the order in which you visit various places, if possible.

And, this topic seems to recur in threads. In past years alternatives to hotels have been suggested, such as Airbnb or hostels. (There are three AYH-affiliated hostels in San Francisco, and they cost considerably less than hotels, if you don't mind the relative lack of luxury and privacy.)

Only because many/most performing arts organizations are "dark" on Monday nights (which September 24 is). Both SF Symphony and SF Opera (as well as SFJAZZ, various theater companies, etc.) do have performances in late September.

Although I suppose your could make the argument... if you are interested in technology at all, there are typically free Expo Only passes on offer... It can be really interesting to walk around for a few hours. In fact, years ago when I was on a job hunt, it was a great venue for finding growing young companies in the enterprise software space...

It may get "worse" when Moscone North and South is completed.

One could also consider that any day or night @ 8th and Market is performance art, without any need to buy an admission. On the other hand, it is a great location if you want to walk to Zuni, or a number of other good places to eat, and is excellent (as far as SF) for public transit options.

Also a very convenient location for the mid-Market cluster of tech companies. Twitter, Uber, Square and so on.

As difficult as construction is in SF I'm not surprised this hasn't happened yet, but a mid-range business hotel in that location would sell out every weeknight. I am very tired of the walk from the Union Square hotels down to Civic Center every time I visit SF on business. BART's not much better and Uber/Lyft along that stretch of Market can be a cluster at times.

Never fear, now we have electric scooters to get you around! :rolleyes: Though I'm surprised too that there hasn't been more hotel construction given the frequency of these giant corporate events, and general tech business demand. One would think that we'd try to increase capacity in the city so that every hotel in the Bay Area region doesn't have to get booked up when a big conference or expo comes to town.

I'm pretty sure there are more mid-Market St. hotels in the pipeline, but I just haven't kept up with the news. Living in SF, I rarely stay in SF hotels anyhow. ;)

However, I believe that a Yotel at 1095 Market St. is opening soon (taking bookings for October 15, 2018). It has tiny but supposedly luxurious, well-equipped rooms and interesting common spaces and "foodie" food. Rates are not cheap at all.

Another hotel that may be on the way is 950-974 Market St. There is a website here: Project ? 950-974 Market Being between 5th and 6th Sts. and Turk St., it really isn't in the Civic Center area, but close to Powell/Market and the Tenderloin.

Virgin opens mid-Nov; not mid-Market but near Moscone.

There is a Hampton Inn on Mission and 5th No one mentions it on here. Great roof deck, open to the public. The neighborhood is “special”, but its close to Moscone.

The original topic is "why so expensive" on September 24, 2018. It's because of the Dreamforce convention. Then the subject slightly morphed into "mid-Market" hotels.

Anyhow, that particular Hampton Inn is sold out on 9/24/2018. So is the one at SFO. And the one in Daly City (~1 mile from BART station) is showing an "Honors Discount" rate of $561 for that date. :eek: