The American Translators Association returned to New York, the city of its roots, for its 50th Annual Conference.
When I registered for the conference two weeks ago, all of the rooms set aside by the Marriott Marquis (just off Times Square and 45th) had been reserved, so after a few more sticker-shock-inducing calls to nearby hotels, I went to priceline.com and bought a room at a hotel near the United Nations headquarters building, six “long” Manhattan blocks from the conference hotel.
Part of the reason for the dearth of rooms two weeks before the conference is that attendance is way up compared with previous years. I buttonholed Walter Bacack, ATA Executive Director, and he told me there were something like 2400 persons registered for the conference.
It’s also likely why the President’s Reception, traditionally held on the Wednesday before the first full program day, was so packed.
It’s off to sleep, as it’s been a long day (I got up at oh-dark-thirty to catch the flight out of Houston).