Central Florida Koi Show - CFKS 2012 March 9, 2012

Save the date... the Central Florida Koi Show will be Friday March 9, 2012 through Sunday, March 11. (Early set-up for vendors is available beginning at noon on Thursday, March 8.) We return to the International Palms Resort, 6515 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. The show room rate is $92 per night (call: 407-351-3500 and remember to mention 'Koi Show'.)

The past couple of years the tourist market has been down and it was possible to get cheaper rates on-line as rooms were let go cheaply rather than go empty. But, tourists are back and rates are headed up to pre-recession levels. (Not good for show attendees, but a really good thing for folks in Orlando.) The hotel is currently not letting any rooms go for less than $109 per night, except for event pricing, and a $6.50 resort fee/tax gets added. The resort tax is included in the $92 show price. So, for 2012 it looks like the show rate will be a good buy.... And the renovation of the hotel is looking good, too. And, everybody is loving the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal, even if they don't want to admit it publicly.

We will be limiting the number of koi dealer vendors to the level we had in 2009, except any vendor who had a booth at the last show will be given the opportunity to have a wet booth at the 2012 show. If some do not return, as is usually the case, they will not be replaced unless the total number of koi dealers falls below the 2009 level. This will allow us to maintain our requirement that all wet booths be separated from one another by wide aisles or dry vendors, allow some additional space for show tanks in the show tent, and prevent undue dilution of sales for the vendors who do come. We had to turn away several wet vendors the last time, and I expect we will have to do so again. But, that means there will be room for a few more dry vendors.