RIV is making some changes for the better

[The Dark Tangent]

Some initial RIV updates:

1 - Room prices have been dropped to $89/Day and should be reflected here soon:
http://www.rivierahotel.com/resnet/roomres.asp?ID=309
If you booked under the old prices I _think_ the pricing will automagically be reflected in your bill as the new room block price.

2 - We will get the pool to 11pm for swimming and hanging out. We can do low key DJ action till then. We are currently talking with them to determine how we can keep it longer.

3 - Drink prices on beer and booze have been reduced. I'll update this post when I have accurate information.

UPDATED: 5-5-2009: For the hotel and skybox parties, booze bought from the hotel has come down in price:
Beer, domestic, $2
Beer, imported, $3
Wine, $3
Mix drinks, $3 (I'm guessing at that price it's not top shelf)

Looks like a nice price drop!

I'll update this thread, the web site, and the FAQ once we get more confirmations!

[TheCotMan]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Nice work!

I was impressed when I heard they suspended the energy surcharge for Defcon. That was like $20-$30 per night 2 years ago.

[noid]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

It's good to be the king!

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Room prices have been dropped to $89/Day and should be reflected here soon:
http://www.rivierahotel.com/resnet/roomres.asp?ID=309
If you booked under the old prices I _think_ the pricing will automagically be reflected in your bill as the new room block price.

as of 8PM here on the East Coast i was still getting the "$102 a night is the con rate... including before and after con in the mid-week time frame" line being held hard by their phone staff.

[renderman]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Given how much we slag the hotel, it is nice to hear that they are trying to deal with some of our requests despite their desire to pad out the bottom line as much as possible in order to keep the place afloat.

Kudo's to DT and anyone else who was involved in making any change for the better

[sintax_error]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Thanks for the update, DT, good news all around.

[greatscott]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Great great news. Thanks for the update - and NSBRadio.co.uk was coincidentally thinking about trying to do form an event involving that pool o_O

[neil]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

The $89 room rate should take effect within a few days. I'll post an exact date when I get it.

[xor]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Beep, click, click, WTF, wurrrrrr, error, error, block is full, block is full via web.

Booked for 4 days using the old school method at the $89.00 rate. Wed - Sun

xor

[TheCotMan]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

If I recall correctly, when they did offer us service through the web, we were handed a special URL for Defcon people to use, not the generic URL that everyone uses. Even when we had the Defcon-specific Web-based reservation link, attempts to make reservations without going through the Defcon link or the other 2 conferences that had made arrangements, also failed. Eventually, one or more of the conventions gave up some of their allocated rooms, and people were again able to reserve rooms through the generic web space, at higher rates than Defcon for the same room, or for cheaper than the Defcon rates if you chose to go with the non-Deluxe room that DT negotiated with them. (There were 3 non-suite room classes of rooms.)

I haven't attended every Defcon since we moved to the Riv, but I think that the Defcon-specific web-based reservation process was only available the first year we were there.

Maybe they learned something as a result of that? Maybe they switched to a new system? Maybe they skip this to save money? Maybe none of these.

[[Syntax]]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Same here I used the link on the Defcon homepage to make a reservation and got the block full error as well..

[xor]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Same here I used the link on the Defcon homepage to make a reservation and got the block full error as well..

Use the P.O.T.S method and get them to e-mail you the confirmation, worked for me.

xor

[[Syntax]]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

Yeah, rest assured they are not booked up yet. I gave them a ring and there was no problem.
They did inform me though that hotel tax is going from 9% to 12% some time in July before the con. So bookings are being booked at 9% tax, but when you check-out/check-in the bill will be at 12% tax.

[typicalRunt]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

I'd love to stay at the Riv again, but there are so many other hotels on the strip that are much cheaper (for example, Imperial Palace @ $47/night). Even the Wynn is offering $99/night promo around that time. No wonder Riv is having a hard time staying afloat, they don't understand what competition is.

[xor]

Re: RIV is making some changes for the better

I'd love to stay at the Riv again, but there are so many other hotels on the strip that are much cheaper (for example, Imperial Palace @ $47/night). Even the Wynn is offering $99/night promo around that time. No wonder Riv is having a hard time staying afloat, they don't understand what competition is.

It's a real trade off staying at the Riv vs Another Hotel. It helps if you put together a list of pro's and con's. My first Defcon I stayed at another hotel and had the added cost of transportation back and forth via taxi. Not a huge public transportation fan despite the fact I use to design High Speed Trains. I only go away a couple of times a year so I figure I should treat myself. Of course cabs always try and rip you off, you just can't sit in the back and relax either.

If you are going to attend events like the TBBQ and the shoot already being at the hotel have definite benefits. The hotel's toxic network are definitely one of the con's. The wide availability of GPS has definitely changed the dynamics of going away. You no longer are at the mercy of being lost and can strike out on you own without to many issues.

xor