Room booking is open [Archive]

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icetre

01-23-2006, 10:23 AM

I just reserved my room, Yeee-Haw!

TheCotMan

01-23-2006, 11:54 AM

I just reserved my room, Yeee-Haw!
Yep. People have been able to reserve rooms since October 6 of last year if they used the phone.

If you are looking to share a room with others, the unofficial sub-forum called rides and room sharing will be open around 2 months before the con starts.

icetre

01-23-2006, 12:01 PM

Yep. People have been able to reserve rooms since October 6 of last year if they used the phone.

If you are looking to share a room with others, the unofficial sub-forum called rides and room sharing will be open around 2 months before the con starts.

That's funny.. I tried a couple of weeks ago, and they told me they weren't taking reservations on the rooms, and had no firm pricing on the bigger rooms.

Wonder why? That's odd.

TheCotMan

01-23-2006, 12:05 PM

That's funny.. I tried a couple of weeks ago, and they told me they weren't taking reservations on the rooms, and had no firm pricing on the bigger rooms.

Wonder why? That's odd.

Deviant Ollam had similar problems getting a reservation too, because a person on the other end was unable to find the convention :
It started here and continues several posts from there with some people reporting success.

icetre

01-23-2006, 01:39 PM

Deviant Ollam had similar problems getting a reservation too, because a person on the other end was unable to find the convention :
It started here and continues several posts from there with some people reporting success.

Acknowledged, apologize for the dupe thread

TheCotMan

01-23-2006, 01:54 PM

Acknowledged, apologize for the dupe thread

Thanks :-)

(Leaving this open and here in case other people find problems with room reservation over the next two weeks.)

[Syntax]

01-23-2006, 11:20 PM

I called back in October / November.. and they told me that the reason they couldnt find the con listed was due to pricing. The calander they use shows the pricing for Defcon starting late July.. and lasting until August 12th I think.. Dont quote me on that.. but the prices are good several days before and after the con.

So the computer actually shows the convention starting late July. When they pull the August calander the convention dosnt even appear because its already been noted in the previous calander..

Sounds like a crappy system to me...

icetre

01-24-2006, 03:51 PM

TheCotMan

01-24-2006, 04:35 PM

yeah, so far I don't have confidence in this hotel, are we sure, they know what they're getting into?

I anticipate problems with reservations, room screwups, minibars (Holy shit, can you imagine the drunken minibar raids? I know mine is going to be under lock and key, and I got a glock for those that think they want to try it.) The general obnoxiousness of the con, etc.

You can request that they remove all minibar liquor from the room. This does not mean they will do it, but many hotels will comply with such requests.

As for security:
Hotel Security at the AP is different from Casino Security in Hotel/Casino on the strip. Perhaps Casino Security people are nicer than they were 20 years ago, but if I had to choose to get caught doing something, I think I would rather have DefCon Security Goons catch me at something than Casino Security Goons.

The AP had "low profile" cameras that were made to look kind of like overhanging lights that were broken. Many of the cameras were visible. In casinos, they have many more cameras, and with a hotel as old as this, you may see old-fashioned cameras still powered but unused, while newer hidden cameras record your actions.

There was a presentation offered several years back, where a guy talked about Casino Security. At that time, there were several thousand cameras being included in new Casinos. I seem to remember something like 5000 to 20000 cameras in hotel/casinos.
He said one of the reasons for the huge increases in cameras is for better coverage in the hotel space, as a result of lawsuits. He said that cameras are set to cover other cameras, and some boxes are put into place to look like camera so they will be abused with little loss in cost, while better hidden cameras record the damage. He also mentioned that they kept archives of events on tape for a long time.
If the growth of camera use in hotels/casinos has continued to accellerate as the years before the presentation, you can expect to be in view of one or more cameras from any public location in the hotel/casino.

Oh yes. And so I don't hear a repeat of what happened at a previous con a long time ago:
If the power to the hotel goes out (or is turned off) that does not mean the cameras are not still powered and working. Cameras can be wired for battery power, or put on what is called "E-Power" or "UPS" along with fire exit lights.
Hopefully, "hotel security camera" won't be on the Scavenger hunt list, and remove some of the demand for them. (Since the recent Scavenger Hunt organizers have taken over the last several years, such things have not been on the list.)

icetre

01-25-2006, 07:39 AM

As far as the minibar, I didn't even think about that, and I am making the request right now.

Security-wise: I am well aware of casino security, and to be honest I am very very worried about this very thing. I'd hate to see someone going to jail for a simple prank that the alexis would have taken very well. I'm not thinking of actual destruction of hotel property, because oh no, that a person should be getting in some serious trouble for. I've never agreed with it and I always thought it was infantile. What I'm talking about: is more the minor offences and liberties. The pool parties are a decent example. I mean I really like the fact, at the alexis that anyone could just walk up, drop some liquor on a table, set up some speakers and thow a party. I am fairly certain, that the hotel isn't going to be very accepting of a situation like this. The only chance for some decent (but harmless) pranks are the fact that there are so many people that we can hide in the sea of people.

Add to that, that while I know for a FACT that all areas of a hotel that can be legally watched are watched, I'm also certain that more time is spent watching the money making areas of the hotel, IE the casino, front desk, front door and outside taxi stands, etc. Being that there's going to be quite a few people there, I suspect that we'll see some fun happening.

I'm just hoping that security will be open enough to let some fun happen as the good natured relationship that we had with the alexis can't be equaled and I really hope this move ends up being a good one.

You can request that they remove all minibar liquor from the room. This does not mean they will do it, but many hotels will comply with such requests.

As for security:
Hotel Security at the AP is different from Casino Security in Hotel/Casino on the strip. Perhaps Casino Security people are nicer than they were 20 years ago, but if I had to choose to get caught doing something, I think I would rather have DefCon Security Goons catch me at something than Casino Security Goons.

The AP had "low profile" cameras that were made to look kind of like overhanging lights that were broken. Many of the cameras were visible. In casinos, they have many more cameras, and with a hotel as old as this, you may see old-fashioned cameras still powered but unused, while newer hidden cameras record your actions.

There was a presentation offered several years back, where a guy talked about Casino Security. At that time, there were several thousand cameras being included in new Casinos. I seem to remember something like 5000 to 20000 cameras in hotel/casinos.
He said one of the reasons for the huge increases in cameras is for better coverage in the hotel space, as a result of lawsuits. He said that cameras are set to cover other cameras, and some boxes are put into place to look like camera so they will be abused with little loss in cost, while better hidden cameras record the damage. He also mentioned that they kept archives of events on tape for a long time.
If the growth of camera use in hotels/casinos has continued to accellerate as the years before the presentation, you can expect to be in view of one or more cameras from any public location in the hotel/casino.

Oh yes. And so I don't hear a repeat of what happened at a previous con a long time ago:
If the power to the hotel goes out (or is turned off) that does not mean the cameras are not still powered and working. Cameras can be wired for battery power, or put on what is called "E-Power" or "UPS" along with fire exit lights.
Hopefully, "hotel security camera" won't be on the Scavenger hunt list, and remove some of the demand for them. (Since the recent Scavenger Hunt organizers have taken over the last several years, such things have not been on the list.)

Cowthief

02-09-2006, 03:10 AM

Hello.

How about a telephone number, with a contact name.
I have had zero sucess so far, TNX

TheCotMan

02-09-2006, 10:27 AM

Hello.

How about a telephone number, with a contact name.
I have had zero sucess so far, TNX
Ther number in the FAQ (http://www.defcon.org/html/links/dc-faq/dc-faq.html) ("The Riviera has reservations online (http://www.rivierahotel.com/onlinereservations.html) or over the phone (800) 634-6753.")

Also, other people reported problems booking a room here and here, but Defcon room reservation have been confirmed open since 10-06-2005, 03:25PM Pacific Time or earlier.

"Try harder" is the only advice.

Cowthief

02-10-2006, 06:29 PM

Hello.

Both online and telephone booking for a room only goes to July at this point.
https://safe.rivierahotel.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?PROCFUN+RN+RESNET+R15+funcparms+UP(A2560) :;;?

Deviant Ollam

02-10-2006, 07:43 PM

Both online and telephone booking for a room only goes to July at this point.are you certain it's phone reservations that are stuck with this limit, as well? because i know that a lot of us (myself included) already have made our reservations via phone call some time ago... so methinks something doesn't add up in this equation.

erehwon

02-20-2006, 02:58 PM

Hello.

Both online and telephone booking for a room only goes to July at this point.
https://safe.rivierahotel.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?PROCFUN+RN+RESNET+R15+funcparms+UP(A2560) :;;?

Funny, I can go to Vegas.com (http://www.vegas.com) right now, reserve and prepay my room at the Rivera, mind you not at the Defcon rate.

astcell

02-20-2006, 03:06 PM

Funny, I can go to Vegas.com (http://www.vegas.com) right now, reserve and prepay my room at the Rivera, mind you not at the Defcon rate.

And folks who did that for the AP last year or the year before found themselves comped to other rooms in other hotels.

mrpinkwhistle

03-11-2006, 12:23 AM

TheCotMan

03-11-2006, 12:32 AM

I know the point is moot for me, since I have already booked my room. I could not find anything about a Defcon rate at the Riviera site but I got a good deal (I think) from Expedia. I am paying less than $100 a night Canadian which is cheaper than I have ever stayed in Vegas before.

So if you guys can 't beat that, book through Expedia.ca (this is not an advertisement). It may be a way around the system.

The rate was listed in the FAQ (http://www.defcon.org/html/links/dc-faq/faq.html) but seems to have been relocated or removed.

When I phoned them, the rates were:
These are the rooms that are available:
Standard Room-1 King Bed
Standard Room-2 Double Beds
Superior Room-1 King Bed
Superior Room-2 Double Beds
Deluxe Room-1 King Bed
Deluxe Room-2 Double Beds

When you say you are attending with DefCon, it seems you get a flat rate for rooms depending on number of occupants:
$92 1 or 2 people (All taxes included as of today: $100.28)
$112 3 or 4 people (All taxes included as of today $122.08)

When you say you are with DefCon, they will give "Deluxe Rooms" first
* "Deluxe" room is determined at the time you arrive at the front desk to claim your room reservation (not at time of reservation.)
** All dollar amounts are in USD.

Dark Tangent

03-22-2006, 12:26 PM

Please use this registration page to reserve a room at the Riv:
https://safe.rivierahotel.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?PROCFUN+RN+RESNET+R15+funcparms+UP(A2560) :;DEFCOIB;?

Thanks guys!

octalpus

03-23-2006, 10:56 PM

And folks who did that for the AP last year or the year before found themselves comped to other rooms in other hotels.

That was because the entire hotel was reserved to us. This time, that is not the case.

[Syntax]

03-24-2006, 02:10 AM

They asked if I had any special requests as far as the room when I registered by phone. I just looked at the online reservation form, and it asks the same thing.

Wondering what they are giving the opportunity to ask for. I've asked for rooms with a view of particular things before at other hotels.

eris

04-04-2006, 11:32 AM

For those who can't afford the Riv, or for some other reason may not want to be at the Riv, there is a 3 story older hotel across the street.

Somerset House Motel
294 Convention Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV
735-4411

$60/night, mini kitchen with a two burner stove and some provided kitchenware (no cooking pots), key entry security doors and rooms.

Kinda ghetto, but not cockroach-on-the-pillow, bullet-hole-in-the-wall ghetto.

Beginner

04-04-2006, 03:12 PM

WOW! That is a great price find eris.

Now all I need are cheap round trip travel expenses for WV and I'm there.

INIT_6

04-06-2006, 09:24 AM

TheCotMan

04-06-2006, 10:16 AM

I hope I don't get bitch slaped for this. :)

I am going to bring about 6 people what are techy. Also bringing about 10 no more then 20 people what are going to just hang out, not going to the talks or anything.

I am only 20 and haven't travled with-out family before. (I know weak)
I only want to get 2 rooms max 3 rooms for all of us. Tell the hotel that there is only 4 people per room. so max of 12 people for all the rooms. I am going to be way over that.
What will the hotel do if they find out people are just crashing there?
Will we all get kicked out of the rooms?
Is there any way for them to know?

Any thoughts,

Thanks,

This is our first year at this hotel, but based on other defcon hotels, there have been few problems with exceeding the max occupancy in rooms. I have seen rooms with over 8 people, even though the hotel stated a max of 4. Some people have claimed to see rooms with over 15 people.
Assuming this max is imposed by the hotel, but not as a fire-marshal thing, you will probably be able to get more than 4 people in a room at the new hotel too.

However, there are issues with this:
1) Unless you find some SE skills, they will probably only give you 4 keys.
2) If there are complaints made about your room, they may send security to your room, and if they find more than 4 people staying in your room, you may have a problem. SE can work here too: "We are having a party here, and these extra people are guests."
(When you are breaking rules, you don't want to draw people's attention to you.)

4 keys can limit room access as not everyone will get necessarily get a key. This means sharing and having trusted available points of contact to getting the keys to get access to the room.

INIT_6

04-06-2006, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the info.
I have some SE skills. I am sure I can pull off the get more keys talk.
I know this year for defcon it's not going to be just defcon people staying at the hotel. You think the chances of having defcon people in the rooms around us are High? And I am sure anyone going to defcon sleeping are not sleeping but passed out and a little noise shouldn't effect them. :)

TheCotMan

04-06-2006, 03:54 PM

You think the chances of having defcon people in the rooms around us are High?
Considering that for nearly any room, there are at least 2 rooms on either side (except rooms that border on utility closets, linen closets, elevator, etc.) and in addition to the horizontal borders, there are also vertical borders for rooms immediately above and below, and possibly diagonal, there are from 4 to 8 bordering neighbors to each room. That is 4 to 8 opportunites for an angry, complaining neighbor.

(Of course, vertical boundaries tend to have more insulation against sound.)

Our convention is supposed to be scheduled in the same hotel as another convention in the same hotel. (American Darter's Association 2006 National Championship XV (http://www.adadarters.com/series/2006_national-championship.html).) This is not a bad thing, and with all of the drinking I've seen dart players do in bars, and the drinking I've seen at Defcon, it may be difficult to tell the difference between convention attendees. :-)

If the ADA are mostly a roudy bunch, then the chances of being next door to someone who complains will probably drop a bit, but there are no guarantees they are into sleep deprivation like many DC people.

On the other hand, the hotel may pre-assign rooms in blocks to Defcon to mostly cover certain floors. Priority for Defcon registration (while supplies last, assigned at checkin) is a "Deluxe Room" which means most will probably be in the same tower/building.

This is the first year at this hotel, and the best you can ask for is an educated guess.
As a guess, I'd say that there is probably a 60/40 chance that you will have a room with only DefCon people in all rooms (horizontal, vertical and diagonal) that border your room, but there are Defcon people will complain about noise too. If they do, spot them as a Fed. ;-)

Tacitus

04-06-2006, 04:52 PM

Our convention is supposed to be scheduled in the same hotel as another convention in the same hotel. (American Darter's Association 2006 National Championship XV (http://www.adadarters.com/series/2006_national-championship.html).) This is not a bad thing, and with all of the drinking I've seen dart players do in bars, and the drinking I've seen at Defcon, it may be difficult to tell the difference between convention attendees. :-)

There is also a college fraternity convention at the same hotel the same time as Defcon this year

Deviant Ollam

04-06-2006, 06:40 PM

There is also a college fraternity convention at the same hotel the same time as Defcon this yearwhich frat is it? it wouldn't hurt to make up some sweatshirts with their greek letters in case security problems arise. (can either work as a "go ahead and arrest those rowdy people over there... i'm not with them" excuse or as a "yeap, you sure can't take us frat boys anywhere... but be certain to invite the defcon folks back next year, as i'm sure that they'd never have set a couch in the lobby on fire like i just did" sort of a deal.)

xwred1

04-06-2006, 08:56 PM

astcell

04-06-2006, 09:13 PM

There is also a college fraternity convention at the same hotel the same time as Defcon this year

Well at the AP we broke the drinking record for the RAF, now we get to challenge a new record here, and who better to cavort with than a fraternity!

Tacitus

04-07-2006, 10:46 AM

which frat is it?

http://www.akpsi.com/events/convention_faq.cfm

Looks like their convention rate is $3 less than ours.

jur1st

04-09-2006, 11:50 AM

Unfortunately I have to question the status of this fraternity as being the true frat-tastic group of individuals who could challenge the debachury of the con. In another life I was a business student (and member of a true fraternity) and was recruited by this organization. Looking to build my resume, I went to a couple of thier events and was less than impressed. It was mostly a group of finance geeks bringing in some speakers to talk about the exciting world of accelerated depreciation methods.

The decision to flee came when I was told I had to take weekly tests on the history of the pseudo-frat. I'd played that game before and there was much more beer involved.

Look for a lot of dark suits, white shirts, and red ties from this crowd.

dYn4mic

04-10-2006, 12:04 AM

I haven't read the entire thread, so maybe this question has been answered already:

Since the Riviera is a big hotel, is it going to be as hard to get rooms close to the con date as it was at the Alexis Park? Or can I expect the hotel to give me a room the day of the con (under the Defcon name with whatever that entails, if that is still being done)?

I am also wondering about this... I've looked a little through this thread, and couldn't think of a solid search expression so... please don't freak if someone already stated it earlier on this thread.
Plans are still up in the air, and funds are currently tight...

On the subject of more than 4 keys, because I've gone with often more than 4 people to defcon, this issue came up.. One year we got an extra key by stating we lost our key, and <insert plausable but needy situation here> needed another key right now. Be extra nice, and apoligize for being an inconvience... or.. just use some other good SE skills. (its suprizingly effective, minimal risk (in this case) and quite easy).(Getting more than one key for the "i lost it" excuse might not work, because (hopefully) they'll record the fact he/she gave you a replacement key... if you don't see her record it, then.. well i shouldn't have to explain.)

Deviant Ollam

04-10-2006, 02:04 AM

One year we got an extra key by stating we lost our keywhile i don't dispute that you may have gotten this to work in the past, in my experience this isn't a reliable option since hotels, upon being told that a key (one key out of a set that was issued) was lost, will tend to cancel out that entire set of keys in their system. they invalidate the code from all of the original keys and issue you a new set.

unless you have a card reader/writer (and one that works with the custom track sizes and data bit spacing of your specific hotel) that you can use to copy the new key's data onto old ones you're often SOL.

Voltage Spike

04-10-2006, 04:39 AM

One year we got an extra key by stating we lost our key<snip>

Too much work. I have always gotten extra keys after check-in merely by asking for them. Every time I worry they are going to tack on extra-person charges but, to date, it has never happened.

Always remember: unless you get the manager, the customer service representative you are speaking to doesn't care about you or what you are up to.

astcell

04-10-2006, 06:03 PM

I wonder if the new hotel will have DC keys?

INIT_6

04-12-2006, 09:29 AM

Another really good method if you are a guy is to....
Walk up to another guy at the front desk. Tell him you just meet some of the hottest chicks in the world. You just had to give out your key to them so they can stop by later. (tell him now) Now the problem is my other 3 friends are to far a way can you make me another key for my room?

If it's a cool guy, He will get you a new key.
(If he gets you the key, the try to ask for just a little bit more Only if he was cool at the first)
then you can even ask for more keys at this point saying hey, is there anyway I can get a couple extra in case I find some more hot chicks?

This will only work if you are a good looking guy, If you are some 200lb Nerd they guy will laugh at you.

Not sure if this would work, But I am thinking it's very well possible.

I know with SE Please and thank you go a long way. Make the person feel good.

I have one of those card readers now, Let's just say I don't pay for parking anymore :)

Deviant Ollam

04-12-2006, 10:15 AM

You just had to give out your key to them so they can stop by later. (tell him now) Now the problem is my other 3 friends are to far a way can you make me another key for my room?not trying to knock the suggestion, as it is inventive and plausible for a hotel (especially one in vegas) but something tells me that this is exactly the kind of story that would raise eyebrows... at least for staffers at a higher-end hotel on the strip. as far as i know, some hotels (the better ones) in the industry have actually updated their lock/key software systems so that ANY issuance of a new key creates a new token and invalidates all the previous ones in the system. (precisely because the desk jockeys can get scammed by social engineers)

I have one of those card readers now, Let's just say I don't pay for parking anymoresounds interesting. what make and model is the reader/writer?

Voltage Spike

04-12-2006, 02:17 PM

some hotels (the better ones) in the industry have actually updated their lock/key software systems so that ANY issuance of a new key creates a new token and invalidates all the previous ones in the system.

In the vein of my earlier statements...

That sounds as if they are attempting to prevent unauthorized access to the rooms rather than additional (valid) authorizations. I don't believe the hotels care nearly as much about their extra $20 a night as people tend to think.

As for aspiring social engineers, think of your situation. Would you normally provide a complicated back story when attempting to gain access to an authorized resource? Your answer should be no. You approach with confidence (after all, you aren't doing anything wrong) and respond to challenges as they come. So why act differently when attempting to gain access to an unauthorized resource?