Wisconsin delegation for national convention gets good hotel

Being in charge has its benefits.

Mary Buestrin, Wisconsin's national committeewoman, chaired the Housing Committee for the 2008 Republican National Convention, so delegates can thank her for the nice digs they'll have in Minneapolis later this summer.

The Wisconsin delegation will be at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis for the convention, which runs Sept. 1-4.

See the hotel.

The hotel is about 20 minutes by bus from the convention, which will be held at the Xcel Center. Buestrin said it's a shorter ride than many of the other state delegations will have. There are few hotel options near the center, which is in St. Paul, she said.

Buestrin led the party's effort to find housing for 46,000 people who will head to Minneapolis for the convention. She said finding accommodations was much different this time compared to 2004, when the party had about 40 hotels near the hall in midtown Manhattan at its disposal.

This time, there are 101 hotels the party is using, but they're spread all over the area.

-- By JR Ross