Photo courtesy of White Lodging

The hotel construction underway in Austin will help in the future, but rooms remain in short supply for March. If you already have a reservation, consider sharing to help out a friend or colleague. Check your dates and release any nights that you don’t need. If you haven’t registered and booked a room yet, read on for more information about your options.

SXSW Music dates (March 12-16) still show available hotels outside downtown. Waitlist requests will still be accepted for downtown hotels March 12-16.

SXSW Interactive/Film dates (March 8-11) remain sold out at all properties. A limited number of waitlist requests will be accepted for March 6-8 or March 11-12. Waitlist is closed out for March 9-10.

See the availability page for more info about housing alternatives such as short-term rentals by owner. Email housing@sxsw.com with questions or to cancel any existing waitlist requests.

The atrium at the Embassy Suites North Central, courtesy of Hilton.

For registrants and artists attending the SXSW Music Conference & Festival, a variety of hotel options are waiting. Hotels in the immediate walking area are sold out and their waiting lists are open for Music Festival dates. However, savvy travelers who plan ahead might prefer to bypass the waitlist and go ahead and secure a great hotel at the best possible rate.

Sleeping on the sidewalk is not advised, you may be kicked by a wayward breakdancer. Photo courtesy of Chris Van Loan.

Since late July the SXSW Housing Department has made thousands of hotel reservations for registrants for our events and Austin hotels are nearly sold out for certain SXSW dates. Because events are back-to-back or overlapping, March 8 through 11 dates are difficult to find at a single hotel. You can check the updated list of hotels and their availability online. (SXSWedu registrants–good downtown hotels are still available. Make your reservation when you purchase your registration.)

Newly renovated room at the Holiday Inn Midtown

Smart registrants will purchase their badge for SXSW Music, Film or Interactive by midnight tonight to take advantage of the price break that ends today. But what about your hotel room?

This week marks the first conference registration deadline. Register by 11:59PM CST on Friday, September 21 and save up to $450! You must be registered for the conference to submit your online hotel request. Browse our available hotels and map for details. Many great options remain for all conference dates, but the rooms are going fast!

Photo courtesy of Doubletree Hotel Austin

Although the wait lists are closed for the downtown hotels during the Interactive dates you can wait list for a shuttle route hotel, within a few miles of the Austin Convention Center. Our full-service hotels that are not downtown include: Wyndham Garden Hotel, Omni Southpark, Marriott Austin South, Embassy Suites Central, Crowne Plaza, and the Doubletree by Hilton Austin. All are on the hotel shuttle route for your convenience. An unlimited 5-day pass is only $60, 9-day pass for $100, and a single ride ticket is $20. Passes are available for purchase at the R&R Shuttle website, as well as at the Austin Convention Center onsite. Details on the shuttle can be found on our Hotel Shuttle page.

Auditorium Shores courtesy of Extreme Air Shots

The first day of SXSW 2013 online registration and hotel booking saw unprecedented response from people all over the world. We are thrilled by everyone’s excitement about attending SXSW Interactive, Film and Music in March!

Photo of 6th St. courtesy of Tim Strauss.

The time to register for SXSW 2013 and book your hotel room is here! The list of hotels and rates is online. So how will you choose a place to rest your head?

Some things to keep in mind when you think about hotels -