Conferences will often have a group rate at a hotel for attendees, whether the event is taking place in the hotel or a local convention center.
There are a number of benefits to booking in the conference hotel, and it’s important to book as early as you can, so you don’t risk the spots filling up.
You can’t beat the convenience when the sleeping rooms are in the same building as the conference. It’s always nice to have your things an elevator away if you forget something.
Also, big concentrations of conference attendees stay at the hotel, so they tend to hang out there after hours, as well as for coffee in the morning.
This is when so much of the quality networking happens because you have a good chance to make serendipitous connections in the lobby, bar, restaurant, elevator, etc.
Wherever you decide to say, print out (in case your phone dies) your hotel name, address, and confirmation, so you know where to go when you land (some cities have many hotels from the same chain in different locations), and you can limit issues at check-in.