Lodging

NEW IN 2018: If your team stays within the National Tournament hotel block, you will receive a $25 discount off the current year’s main event entry fee per student. See our FAQ section for more information.

1. All schools should stay at one of the NSDA recommended hotels in downtown Fort Lauderdale or the surrounding areas. The lowest rates have been negotiated for our members. Please do not stay outside the block. The large volume of room sales within the block allows the NSDA to continue to negotiate the most affordable rate list. Properties that do not appear on this list are likely inconvenient for participation in the tournament, including lack of safety, amenities, and proximity to restaurants and provide no benefit to the overall cost of the tournament. Morning and afternoon traffic could add substantial time to your commute if you are located outside the block. In addition, hotels not on the list have no contractual obligation to the NSDA, and therefore, we cannot provide any level of reservation protection at these properties. Middle school teams are encouraged to stay in western corridor hotel properties as they are closest to the middle school competition venues.

2. All coaches must use the online booking system. Please do NOT call the hotels directly to book your hotel rooms. Larger teams requiring ten or more rooms, or those teams wishing to pay by check, may call the Greater Fort Lauderdale Housing Bureau. Details can be found on the online booking site that opens January 8. Up until May 1, 2018, coaches may update or cancel room reservations using the online booking site. After May 1, all room reservations within the block are subject to an automatic two-night, non-refundable deposit per room at the time of booking. For more information, consult our FAQ section.

3. All hotel properties in the National Tournament hotel block are within 20-35 minutes of the competition venues by interstate or surface streets. Be sure to check out the interactive Google map above to preview these sites. You can print all needed maps before ever leaving home! This year, tournament registration at speechanddebate.org/nationals and the expo will take place Sunday at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The final rounds and awards assembly will also take place at the Convention Center later in the week. The waterfront hotels located near the Convention Center will be ideal for attending registration, the student posting party, finals, and awards. Teams staying in any of the recommended properties will find these venues conveniently located.

4. The high school Congressional Debate headquarters is the Bonaventure Spa & Resort. It is recommended that high school teams with Congressional debaters stay at the Bonaventure host hotel or at one of the western corridor hotel properties to avoid substantial rush hour traffic issues. These hotels are an excellent choice in both price and feature.

5. It is recommended that all coaches visit the online booking system to determine which property fits the needs of their program. All hotels on the list are conveniently located to various aspects of the tournament. The waterfront properties are the most conveniently located hotels for access to tournament registration, the student posting party, final rounds, and the National Awards Assembly. Schools are encouraged to book early as hotel blocks will fill up quickly.

6. PLEASE LOOK AT A MAP! Before reserving hotel rooms, all coaches should consult a map of the Fort Lauderdale area (see link below) to get a better perspective on travel logistics. The key to a less stressful week is to consider following the above lodging suggestions provided by the national office.