rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

[DCFluX]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

Already booked at the Rio, but thanks. I have a thing about staying at the hotel the event is actually being held at. It makes it easier to find my way back when in a drunken state of delirium.

[TheCotMan]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

I am pointing out that historically, Defcon has reserved rooms for key people (like last-minute VIP (such as certain speakers, or goons)) before Defcon in a Defcon block, and as Defcon approaches, when not all of these rooms are claimed by key people, Defcon has released these rooms back to the hotel as available for reservations by anyone. The number of rooms has often not been great, but several people have managed to get lucky at the last minute and still get a room at the same hotel as the convention, even after rooms were all reportedly booked and unavailable.

(For example, if people like Penn & Teller were suddenly available at the last minute to present on how illusionists or, "magicians," social-engineer, fool, or convince people into believing magic is real, it would be convenient to make rooms available to them.)

Will a last-minute room-release happen again this year? I don't know; that is not my department; maybe it not longer happens and there will be no extra release of rooms. I do mention this here, now so that people that have decided to go last minute, but are unhappy that their procrastination or poor planning has denied them a hotel room at the Rio can book rooms elsewhere, but pay attention to such an announcement over the next 30-40 days. It may not happen, so you SHOULD plan as though it does not.

If it happens, where will it be announced? Best bet is on Facebook defcon page or twitter with the @_defcon_ account. It probably won't be announced on the forums first.

Also understand that businesses cancel employee business to conventions, and some people cancel their reservations. This is less common, but does happen.

If all else fails, you can always try your luck in [forum=26] Ride & Room Sharing[/forum].

[HighWiz]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

Our over all costs at the hotel are heavily influenced by how many hotel room nights the group picks up.

The only issue I encountered was booking one of the larger rooms/suites with the DefCon Code... I wasn't looking for a Cheaper Rate, I just wanted DefCon to get the credit for the booking. But they wouldn't do it, without me jumping through a bunch of hoops and that was more time than I was willing to dedicate to the effort... Oh well, maybe next year...

[Irongeek]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

Seems the Rio has already sold out at the Defcon room rate for the 4th/5th/6th. Looks like the rate jumps to $189 on Thur, $289 on Fri/Sat. Gold Coast my best option?

[Chris]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

Seems the Rio has already sold out at the Defcon room rate for the 4th/5th/6th. Looks like the rate jumps to $189 on Thur, $289 on Fri/Sat. Gold Coast my best option?

I would think so, yeah. almost 800 bucks for 3 nights at the Rio is ridiculous.

[HighWiz]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

I would think so, yeah. almost 800 bucks for 3 nights at the Rio is ridiculous.

Yea, that is a bit outrageous. Maybe DT will try to add some more rooms to the block?

With 2,563 rooms at the Rio, I would think the DefCon Attendees could easily fill at the very least, 2/3rds of the hotel. Especially with the recent increases of attendance every year...

With the Rio being off strip and segregated from any other real (quality) hotels, I think the majority of attendees are more likely to stay on site this year.

The same rule applies as every other year at DefCon though (in relation to rooms), Book Early.

On the plus side, while the prices at the Rio may have reached a ridiculous price point, at least there are still rooms available at the hotel. Thinking back, I remember the AP used to sell out totally by this date (particularly in our later years there).

If they can't get more rooms for the block at a discounted rate, then there is always the option of actually using the ride & room share forum. Booking with other for cost share savings.

[arahel_jazz]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

Already booked at the Rio, but thanks. I have a thing about staying at the hotel the event is actually being held at. It makes it easier to find my way back when in a drunken state of delirium.

True - but I will miss the nightly entertainment as I rode the DEUCE back down the strip from the Riv. Even did it once with a Dell 860 server in hand. People thought I was a terrorist...

Oh and the "book early" mantra means something at the Rio. I'm spending far less than $800 for 6 nights - but I booked in February. .

[TheCotMan]

Re: rio rooms available at Defcon rate announced by _defcon_ (on twitter)

The title of THIS thread is misleading, now. Defcon block rooms at the Rio are sold-out. More expensive rooms are available (for now) at the rio, or cheaper rooms at Gold's Coast (across the street) are available (for now.)

I've pruned this thread with posts about this change, and discussion of alternatives into a new thread(link) with a more currect subject/topic and will close this thread.

Thanks!