Prom relocated to Hilton

This year's Prom will be held May 26 at the Hilton Silver Spring instead of at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda. The switch was made both because of financial constraints and as an effort to support the Silver Spring community, said Senior Class President Anjana Mohanty.

Because last year's Prom at the Hyatt Regency ran $7,000 over budget, this year's senior class, which must fund Prom without the school's help, could not afford another event there, Mohanty said.

Senior class sponsor Summer Roark said she canceled her verbal contract with the Hyatt last June because the hotel raised its original quoted price for the booking.

Chris Colvin, director of sales at the Hilton, said that the minimum revenue for booking their ballroom for a Saturday night is $10,000; the Hyatt's is $24,000. But the Hilton "heavily discounted" the price for Blair because of the school's proximity and because Blair traditionally uses the Hilton for sports banquets and alumni events. "We value that relationship [and] will do anything to keep [Blair] coming every year," Colvin said.

Neither Mohanty nor Colvin would release the amount the senior class paid, citing confidentiality.

Ticket prices will not change from last year's price of $40 each. Had Prom been held at the Hyatt again, tickets would have cost about $20 more, Roark said.

Principal Phillip Gainous supported moving Prom because of community ties to the Hilton, Mohanty said. "Mr. Gainous was really pushing for the Silver Spring Hilton," she said.

Roark has heard seniors' complaints that the Hilton ballroom's lower ceiling, which Roark said gives the room a "tighter" feel, detracts from the Prom atmosphere.

Thanks to the Hilton's lower price, the senior class was able to rent the main ballroom and four other rooms, which Mohanty hopes will be used for extra photo stations and food. Last year's Prom was held in a single room.

Mohanty feels that this year's Prom will match the quality of those in past years. "We're enhancing our DJ, having walking photographers and enhancing our food selection," Mohanty said.

Next year's Prom will be held at the University of Maryland Alumni Center.