Episode #0001

Knowing how he operates, I would say that the hotel offered him a deal that he didn't want to pass up. Hotel chains usually offer a free room for every so many rooms that the convention brings in. It certainly would not have been anything to benefit the fans.

What were JP and the other DS Festival officials possibly thinking?

(An excellent question! But I suspect Uncle Roger's explanation -

Knowing how he operates, I would say that the hotel offered him a deal that he didn't want to pass up.

- comes close to the truth...)

It certainly would not have been anything to benefit the fans.

(Perish the thought!!  )

I know that he has used to extend his stay in NY well past the convention weekend. It could well be that the cost of that room was a perk of supplying the hotel with so many rooms for the festival. And, if meals are included, that's a very sweet deal. I suspected that Marriott might have changed their corporate rewards program which is why the festivals suddenly moved to the Double Tree. Which was a smaller hotel with less amenities.

(  A plausible theory...)