(Sorry, cmcfong, don't mean to hijack your thread but just in case these folks are interested...)

maria_so and AustinTraveler and other interested Fodorites - have you seen this thread?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35100217

We'd love to have you join us!

Oh no problem, remember I hijacked yours!!!

cmcfong, I didn't notice that you are looking at 2009 - no telling when the festival will be next year. I'm hoping they'll move it to October cause September is usually way too hot.

swisshiker, yes, thank you, I have seen that thread. Unfortunately I have to work that weekend. I will, however, be at Gruene Hall tomorrow night for Robert Earl Keen!!

swisshiker, no I haven't seen it. I'll check it out. We were planning on going early spring to Austin/Fredericksburg (we're in Houston) so it depends but would love to join!

I just stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is between 5th and 6th street, right beside I-35. The hotel was nice and reasonably priced, with standard rooms (and couches) and meeting facilities. I assume it also had banquet facilities, though I didn't check them out personally. I paid $140 per night on short notice, so I am sure that getting a group rate would put you easily in your target budget, unless you're in town at the same time as some other big draw.

I love Hilton Garden Inns. They are my favorite moderate hotel choice.

The Hilton Garden Inn has some conference rooms. Their website is quite specific as to which conference room can hold how many people. Looks like they're really set up for groups like yours.

Good suggestion, kgh8m!

hilton garden in is almost next to the freeway. it's farther away from the other hilton properties but still doable. we've not stayed there before. The one farther out in the outskirts we've used is the Double tree on 15th and guadalupe. They have shuttles that will take you within a 5 mile radius of the hotel....

Thanks so much. Clearly the budget limitations are going to present a huge obstacle. I have two other cities, Park City, UT and Santa Fe, in the mix, but am open to other ideas. We don't want to go too far west, need to be near a major airport, and don't want a place our friends "have" to rent a car to enjoy. The other criteria is a minimum of 75 rooms, banquet facilities and on site restaurant.

All ideas welcomed!

Since it will be hot in September when you visit, you'll definitely want to take some of the gang to Barton Springs. The natural springs pool is a constant 68 degrees, even if the weather is blazing. Barton Springs would be able to accommodate the whole 100-150 people. Hamilton Pool is quite a ways from downtown Austin (at least 45 minutes) and they wouldn't be able to fit that many people (although probably not all 100-150 would want to go anyway).

Another place that you should take the group to is the Oasis. They definitely can accommodate 100-150 people on their spacious decks. Make reservations for a sunset dinner - spectacular.