Hotel Wristband Policy

All of the Anime Expo® block hotels will be implementing a new policy for the upcoming 2009 convention. Each occupant of a room who is listed on the hotel roster will receive a wrist band, which will allow the holder to have access to the hotel rooms as well as ride the AX shuttle to and from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Besides the wristband, attendees can also access the hotel rooms by presenting a card key for that hotel or have someone possessing a wristband or hotel key to escort you to the rooms. This new policy put forth by the hotels is to make sure our attendees and their hotel guests are safe by preventing violations to the fire safety code. A hotel room with the number of occupants exceeding the maximum number put forth by the fire code is a hazard to everyone inside.

For example, a hotel room with a max occupancy of four will be issued a maximum of four wristbands. In order to receive your wristband, you must be present with some form of identification to show the hotel staff and they will pull you up in the hotel booking system. Without proper identification to confirm your identity, you will not be issued a wristband. Hotel staff will be performing spot checks at random times to see if you have the proper credentials. When requested, either a wristband or a hotel room key must be shown to hotel personnel in order to have access to the elevators up to the hotel rooms. If you do not have one, you will be denied access to the guest rooms unless someone with the proper credentials is there to escort you. Only one of these conditions (wristband, hotel key, or escort) has to be met for you to be allowed access to the guest rooms. Lost wristbands will be replaced at the hotels’ discretion. The hotels and Anime Expo® want our attendees to know that this new policy was put into place for the protection of our attendees.

Besides hotel room access, the wristband is also an all-in-one credential that will allow you access to the Anime Expo® shuttles to and from the convention center (except the Holiday Inn and Hotel Figueroa). When exchanging your main event ticket vouchers at ticketing, the wristbands can be used as a form of identification because it shows that you are definitely staying at the hotels. For more information on main event ticket vouchers, please visit the ticketing section on our website. Also, as an added perk, wristband holders will be included in a drawing for prizes provided by the Los Angeles Visitors Bureau (Prizes will be announced later).

Frequently Asked Questions

Regarding Enforcement of the Wristband Policy

Q: How will the hotels enforce this policy? Will Anime Expo® staff be enforcing it?
A: At the hotels, hotel staff will be solely responsible for the enforcement of their policies. We have been informed that the enforcement will be as follows: All registered guests at the hotel desiring access to individual sleeping rooms, must have either the wristband or a hotel key card for the respective hotel. The hotel will be performing spot checks at random times during which they will ask the attendee to present their credentials. When checked, the attendee must be able to present either a wristband, a key card for the hotel, or be accompanied to the individual’s hotel room by someone who can present these items. AX staff will only be enforcing the wristbands as it pertains to the Shuttles and the advanced ticket redemption.

Q: Will the drivers of the Anime Expo® shuttles check for wristbands at the hotels?
A: Wristbands will only be checked for at the convention center for shuttles heading from the convention center to the hotels only. We will have AX staff familiar with this policy doing the enforcement at the convention center.

Q: Will this be enforced on Day 0?
A: Yes, this policy will be enforced on Day 0. The wristband will be issued at the time of check-in even if you do not have your badge yet. We recommend that you keep your wristbands in a safe place, so that if you are asked for your credentials at the hotel, you can show them your wristband or your hotel card key. For all other incentives please make sure you have your wristband ready.

Q: Will this be enforced at all the hotels or just the Westin?
A: This will be enforced at all AX block hotels, including the Holiday Inn and the Figueroa.

Regarding the Wristband Itself

Q: What does the wristband do?
A: The wristband is an all-in-one credential for the hotel as well as the redemption credential for your hotel block incentives. In addition to verifying that you are in the AX room block, the wristband will allow you access on to the shuttles. For those of you who were able to select an advance ticket before the deadline, this wristband will serve as your credentials along with your badge. Also, there is a prize drawing courtesy of the Los Angeles Convention and visitor’s bureau in thanks for supporting the downtown LA hotels and the convention.

Q: Do I have to wear the wristband on my wrist? Can I wear the wristband on my arm or can I attach it to my lanyard or elsewhere?
A: You do not have to wear it on your wrist. Remember that there will only be a limited amount of wristbands available, so if you lose it and your hotel has run out of them, it may not be possible to replace it. It only has to be visible and you have to be careful to not get it lost, as the hotels will replace the wristbands at their discretion. We recommend that you permanently attach it to your lanyard or secure it on your wrist so that it can be easily accessed when needed. The first option is highly recommended for those of you concerned with damaging the wristbands or that wristbands will hinder pictures.

Q: Will the wristbands at each of the hotels be different or uniform all around?
A: The wristbands will be the same at all the hotels and be uniform all around.

Q: What material are the wristbands made of?
A: We believe that the wristbands are made of the Tyvek® material. It has been tested by our staff and is quite secure when firmly attached. Please do not try to re-adjust the wristband once it is secured because the fastening is for one use only. Remember that there will only be a limited amount of wristbands available, so if you lose it or damage it and your hotel has run out of them, it may not be possible to replace it.

Q: As a cosplayer, I do not want a fluorescent wristband standing out in my pictures; will I be able to take it off to pose for photos?
A: You do not have to wear the wristband on your wrist. Please see above question for our recommendations.

Q: What happens with damaged or lost wristbands?
A: Please try to keep your wristbands intact because the replacement of the wristband will be at the hotels discretion and in most cases they will be limited in quantity based on the forecasted reservations. However, if you permanently attach it to your lanyard or secure to your wrist, you will have no problems keeping track of it.

Q: If I purchase a shuttle pass at the convention, does that mean that I also get a wristband, allowing me access to the hotels?
A: No, the shuttle passes only grant access only to the shuttles and is a completely separate thing. The wristband is an all in one credential pass. In order to get access to hotel sleeping rooms, you must either have a wrist band or a hotel card key. The shuttle pass will not work in this case. Please keep in mind that attendees are welcome to hang out in the lobby of hotels, or attend ANIME hosted events without a wristband.

Regarding the Wristband Policy Itself

Q: Why isn’t this information on the main website?
A: The policy is already posted on our website under the General Info> Policies & Procedures> New Hotel Wristband Policy. The wristband policy was put into place to act as a reminder of general fire code laws that all hotels must adhere to, which limit the number of people that are allowed to sleep in one standard hotel room. These laws are set in place to keep you safe, which is one of our top priorities. In addition, the policy was also made to offer an extra incentive to attendees that are staying within the Anime Expo® block hotels.

Q: What happens if I am planning to stay in a room with more than 4 people in it? I cannot afford to book another room right now.
A: Please refer to the above statement. Also, please keep checking our press release section; we are working with the hotels currently on a few options that may help those who are interested in staying in one of our Anime Expo® block hotels.

Q: Will I still be able to invite friends up to my room to hang out?
A: Yes you can, all of the wristbands will look the same regardless of what hotel, so if your friend has one, they will be able to visit you. If they do not, they must be escorted by someone that has a wristband or a key card.

Q: Why so late with the announcement of this policy?
A: This is something that was brought up as an issue after the convention last year, but there were no solid plans until just recently, which is why it was posted at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused and we are committed to finding ways to help your situation as much as we can. Please keep an eye on our press releases for news on this matter.

Q: Where did this policy come from? Did Anime Expo® attendees do something last year to warrant this new policy from the hotels?
A: This is the result of the instances last year where rooms were filled to well overcapacity and became a fire hazard at the hotels and a liability to the hotels as well as the SPJA. The actual hotel policy has always been in place as this is a standard in all hotels nationwide. It is at the hotel’s discretion as to how they choose to monitor it. In addition, the other purpose of the wristband is to be more of a reward/incentive that allows the holders of the wristband opportunities that are only available for those staying in Anime Expo® hotel block.

Q: Why do attendees staying at the hotel have to wear them while other patrons do not?
A: All hotel patrons must have some form of credentials showing that they are staying at the hotel or be escorted by someone who has the credentials. The wristband is an all in one credential that not only verifies that you are in the Anime Expo® room block, but also rewards you with direct access to the shuttles, qualifies you to pick up your advance tickets, and participate in the prize drawings. The patrons who are not staying in the Anime Expo® block do not get any of the extra incentives, so they do not get a wrist band.

Q: When exchanging my main event ticket vouchers for the tickets is it absolutely necessary to bring the wristband or will badge + voucher be enough?
A: We believe that the wrist bands will be easier; however, we can allow the use of the badge + voucher this year as well.

Q: Are you still going to be selling shuttle passes even though the wristband policy is in effect?
A: Yes, a limited number of shuttle passes will still be sold, which will give the holder access to the shuttles only.

Q: What happens if I am caught during a hotel spot check without a wristband, hotel key, or someone with a wristband to escort me?
A: You will be denied access to the guest room towers until such time as you can produce any of the acceptable items or acceptable escorts as mentioned above.

Q: Does Anime Expo® staff have to be subject to this policy also?
A: Yes, this policy will also apply to all Anime Expo® Staff