June 7, 2012 – The sleeping room block at the 41st Annual New York International Numismatic Convention is almost sold out over several of its nights, according to Bourse Chairman Kevin Foley, who urged attendees to make their rooming arrangements while space is still available. Foley said, “Our Waldorf Astoria event site is a destination hotel that experiences especially heavy tourist business in January, as shoppers, especially from overseas, flock to New York to take advantage of post-Christmas sales and promotions. In addition, the Waldorf has a number of other meetings and conventions scheduled over our dates. Three of our nights, Wednesday through Friday, January 9, 10 and 11 have less than 15 rooms each still available under our block. Once those are taken we will not be able to expand room availability for our attendees, so people should call the Waldorf ASAP, while we still have accommodations for them.”
Bourse activities get underway from 2PM-7PM on Thursday, January 10, with the Professional Preview, during which dealers without booths as well as collectors, have access to the bourse dealers in advance of the general public for a $100 registration fee. Public hours will be held the immediately following Friday and Saturday from 10AM-7PM and on Sunday from 10AM-3PM. The bourse area includes roughly 120 dealers from throughout the world specializing in foreign and ancient numismatic items. Registration during the Friday-Sunday public hours is $10 for a three day pass.
Kevin Foley, Bourse Chairman since 1999, said of the Professional Preview, “I sometimes can’t believe the intensity of activity that takes place at our Professional Preview. The first thing one notices is that English seems to be a minority language among the more than 175 dealers and collectors who typically attend the Professional Preview. People come from all over the world for the NYINC. The Professional Preview is especially heavy on attendees from outside the United States. When the doors open at 2PM on Thursday probably 100 will be lined up and anxious to come in to the show. When we take the velvet rope down at the opening of the Preview there is almost a stampede to enter as the participants surge forward trying to be the first to do business with their favorite dealer. I make a fast announcement and then quickly step out of the way.”
Foley added, “The bourse area for the 2013 NYINC was totally sold out before the conclusion of our recent 2012 event. We had a 97% return rate from our 2012 event and the three booths where the dealers advised they would not be returning in 2013 were quickly reserved by dealers on the waiting list who came to the show anxious to be included in 2013. I can’t think of any numismatic event anywhere in the history of organized numismatics that has the booth holder loyalty experienced by the NYINC. The extraordinary return rate we experience really says it all about the level of actual business activity that takes place at the NYINC.”
The sleeping room block is open to accept reservations. Rates of $299 or $320 are available, depending on the type of accommodations selected. Guests should call the hotel directly at (212) 355-3000 and mention rate code “NYZ” in order to obtain the special rates. Foley also said, “When making their reservations people should keep in mind that auction lot viewing will open on Saturday, January 5, while auction sessions will be held every day from Sunday, January 6 through Sunday, January 13. The Professional Preview will be held on Thursday, January 10 and our public bourse hours will be Friday through Sunday, January 11 through 13.”
Current schedule details about the NYINC, as well as a listing of participating booth holders, are available at the event’s web site.
Dealers interested in having their names added to the waiting list for bourse space should contact Kevin Foley with full contact details, as well as a brief description of the focus of their numismatic business.