The hotel I want is sold out. Can I get on a waitlist in case someone cancels?

Our SXSW hotel inventory is available to all registrants on a “first come, first served” basis. If your preferred hotel or room type is sold out during your requested dates, you may be able to join the waitlist. The waitlist relies entirely on cancellations and does not guarantee a reservation.

Waitlist FAQs & Tips:

  • Registrants cannot book a reservation AND join the waitlist at a different hotel for the same dates.
  • The waitlist can be used for an entire reservation, or to extend an existing reservation.
  • If you currently have an existing reservation, we do not recommend canceling your reservation in order to join a specific hotel’s waitlist, as we cannot guarantee that it will come to fruition.
  • Because the waitlist relies on cancellations, it is possible for a waitlist request to be fulfilled at any time. However, we see the most movement on the waitlist in the month leading up to the event, when attendees with existing reservations finalize travel plans and drop nights. If you need to secure a reservation before February, the waitlist may not be the best option for you. We recommend booking a hotel from one of our available options.
  • Joining our waitlist doesn’t guarantee a room, but we do have a high success rate of fulfilling waitlist requests.
  • SXSW Housing will work with you until your check-in date to help you find accommodations, even if it’s not your first choice.

How to join the waitlist:

  • Not all hotels offer a waitlist, and each hotel’s waitlist has limited availability based on the number of attendees we have been able to accommodate in the past.
  • In the booking portal, some hotels and room types may have a “Join Wait-list” option. Select this option, then follow the prompts to complete your reservation as usual.
  • Include any other details in the Special Request field of your reservation (such as if you are open to other hotels, your preferred room type, location, price range, etc.) If your requested room does not become available, this can help us to recommend other available hotels that may fit your preferences.
  • Should your requested room become available, SXSW Housing will immediately book your reservation and send a confirmation email. If you no longer need a room, please cancel your waitlist request ASAP to avoid potential cancellation fees if we fulfill your request.
  • If we book your room within 28 days of arrival, there is a 24 hour grace period to cancel without incurring our $50 SXSW cancellation penalty. If we book your room within the hotel’s cancellation window (usually 7-14 days before arrival) you may be responsible for any hotel cancellation fees.
  • To cancel your waitlist request, use the Request For Change link located at the bottom of your waitlist confirmation email, and follow the instructions in this FAQ.

Still have questions? Email us at housing@sxsw.com

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