Welldone Rumproast

blindman - At about the same time that you posted (after I also noticed no booking deadline) I called the hotel booking agency and they stated that there is *NO* booking deadline: the agent stated "You can receive these rates as long as the hotel has availability". Interesting in the response I received when compared with the response you got :) This makes sense in cases where almost 100% of the convention activities are taking place in the convention hall, and the hotels are not used for official functions (in other words, no headquarters hotel is being designated). I wonder if the responses are geared towards getting people to book "sooner rather than later" Also, the fact that the hotel list has a red-shaded warning saying "Your hotel may charge a different rate for weekdays and weekends. Please be sure to click on the first night rate link to see a night by night breakdown of the rate for each hotel" -- this sure does NOT sound like a case where HARD negotiated rates have been locked in, but I state upfront that Im only guessing (in a past job I used to participate in trade shows but as an exhibitor not as a booker etc). In the past, I've encountered hotels that offer a percentage discount over "rack" or "corporate" rated when you are booking "while attending a trade show or convention".....

One correction, and it's a pleasant one :) Although I was correct in saying that the Sacramento Regional Transit System does not serve SMF, the neighboring county (Yolo) has its own transit district and they *DO* have bus service going between SMF and downtown. The route is #42 and the stop to go from hotel to airport is at the corner of 9th and K streets, a mere three blocks from the Hyatt. The fare is USD 1.25. Route 42 runs seven days, once an hour, however, there is no late service. Also, you catch the bus going in the correct direction. If you catch the loop in the opposite direction, you will go on a very long (albeit scenic) ride before you get to SMF. Routing and timetable details at their website: http://www.yolobus.com/m3.html

Just checked the SPG.com site and they are offering the USD 79 intro weekend rate for your night (and of course if you book on spg.com you don't pay the HW fee and you get SPG points to boot. Hotwire shows the 4* at USD 69 and the 3.5* "S" for USD 59 (you'd have to factor in the HW fee of course) The advantave to the westin would be not having to ride a shuttle (even a very short 5 minute ride, you have to be ready when the shuttle goes THAT early in the morning). BTW - is it likely that the 3.5 Suites is the Hilton Suites?? The HW listing includes BOTH the "S" and the bus-with-S and also high-speed access and comp. breakfast - noth of which the Hilton Suites offers (although since elite would be leaving so early thay probably would miss the bkfast) :)

This is excellent advice. When I relocated (job transfer) in 1991, I was staying at a Marriott until I could find an apartment etc. My father was taken seriously ill and I flew back to see him. When I returned, the hotel had checked me out and put my possessions into storage "because they thought I had abandoned the room" (even though the long-term stay had been negotiated by my corporation and a few other co-workers were at the same hotel).

Checking the Javits Center site, the 115th Audio Engineering Society convention is going on from October 10-13. The site didn't list the number of delegates, however, I looked at their hotel reservations page and two of their main hotels (NY Hilton and Marriott Marquis) are no longer available. While this is not proof positive, it may well be *one* contributing factor to the tight room supply you are encountering. As WillTravel and others have pointed out, inventory may be entered into Priceline's "bucket" once the hotels close convention booking and release rooms that are blocked as of today. BTW I saw that Bruce Springsteen is receiving an award at a banquet at the Marriott Marquis on the Saturday date, so if The Boss is putting in an apperance, it must be a big event :)

:) :)

To see the bid information for this stay, please click *HERE* This stay is still in progress (Hi from Starbucks in Downtown Sacto :D ) I will update as needed Hotel Location and Property The hotel is a AAA 4-Diamond prpoerty locted across the street from the Sacramento Convention Center on one side and, on the opposite side, across the street from the State Capitol Park (about 4 blocks from the Capitol Building itself). The fifteen-story building looks to be about 10-12 years old. Rooms and public areas look to have been recently refurbished and are in very good physical condition. Airport Access and Parking SMF (Sacramento International Airport) has no public transportation (bus or light rail) available. SuperShuttle van transport is available for USD 11 each way (major credit cards accepted, no round-trip dscount AFAIK). Estimated taxi fare is USD 25-30. If you have a car, overnight parking is USD 12 self-parking, USD 18 valet (in-and-out priveleges assumed, but please verify). Check-In and Check-Out I called the front desk in advance to ask them to put my Hyatt Gold Passport number into the reservation (it's the last day of FFN) B) The check-in process was very friendly with no mention of PL. The agent noted that there were no kings (my GP preference) available on a completely nonsmoking floor, but that she could give me a "larger, upgraded nonsmoking room adjacent to a smoking room that we usually charge extra for, at no charge" (I'm GP Plat, the middle level). I told her "No problem"! :P Kudos for good customer service and follow through! Room Judging from the fire evacuation chart, the room was indeed larger than the adjacent rooms. It was at the end of the hallway, with the extra space occupied by a overstuffed sofa (hide-a-bed). There was also a comfortable sitting chair with ottoman. Two large windows, one sliding with tiny step-out balcony, overlooked the leafy State Capitol park. Because the room was on the thrid floor, the foliage blocked any view of the gold-leafed Capitol Dome (save for a glimpse of the flood-lit cupola of the dome at night, but it was very verdant nonetheless). This particular room was directly above the driveway area, but clever design and trees blocked any view of moving cars and soundproofing to the outside was excellent. The king bed was triple-sheeted and firm but comfortable, with an alarm clock-radio on one of the nightstands. The full-size desk had a very high-quality leather chair with two power outlets mounted on the side within easy reach. The coffee maker was placed on the desk, with a packet of regular and decaf coffee and tea provided. No minibar (just as well). The large-screen TV in the armorie had about 20 channels including the cable news and sports basics and HBO and the Travel Channel :) Two telephones, one bedside and one on the desk, with data ports. Iron and board and a terry robe were in place in the closet. Standard bathroom with good lighting. Very good water pressure with shower-massage head provided. Standard Hyatt-Portico soaps and shampoos and plenty of good-quality towels were provided :) NO high-speed access (An unattended-automated Business Center is located off the lobby - access is controlled by room-card-key - it charges 60 cents PER MINUTE of online time (Yeah RIGHT)!! :) Very poor florescent "bulbs" were used in every lamp, making it very difficult to make out detailed print Restaurant and Area Options The Vines restaurant serves a very complete breakfast buffet for USD 11.95 (a la carte menu too). The buffet includes: Fresh California fruit (melon and strawberries are in peak season right now) :) Good oatmeal with a full range of toppings and also a good variety of cold cereals Toast-your-own English Muffins and Bagels (with a toaster large enough for these items) :) Standard hot buffet items (no omelete station) :) Good coffee and juice selection Good service/refills :o I didn't try the more deluxe restaurant or the lobby bar but they looked quite nice Plenty of alternatives outside the hotel. There is a Starbucks with T-Mobile wireless access (where this report is being filed from) five blocks away (there's another Starbucks but without wireless access only one block away). I had dinner last night at Frank Fats (a locally-famous Chinese political watering hole with good food and service and a short four block walk down L Street). A Hard Rock Cafe is another block beyond the wired Starbucks and Old Sacramento with lots of dining/bar options is about five blocks beyond that.

Same thing was happening on the 29th when I was bidding for Sacramanto - three rejections and the ultimate acceptance all hit my e-mail inbox while the bid screen was still "searching" :)

I stayed at the Westin DTW (directly inside the new McNamara Terminal) a couple of weeks ago on a USD 59 SPG.com wekend special (non-cancellable prepaid but it earned SPG credits). The Westin is only a few months old and is very nice - definitely deserving of a 4* rank (although the restaurant is overpriced and high-speed internet access is 9.95). On the plus side, soundproofing is outstanding and if you're flying Northwest or Continental there's a private TSA screening point so yo get to avoid the general line :) Since Hotwire has a separate zone for Dearborn (inclding I assume the Hyatt Regency and Ritz Carlton in Dearborn near the Fairlane Mall and Ford World Headquarters), I'd guess the Westin - I don't know of any other 4* properties in the DTW-Romulus area. Lastly, TOBB shows the Westin as a 4* for Priceline FWIW.

Bidding Need and Strategy This was a last-minute trip request. Downtown location was desirable. Better Bidding had only a couple of reports, from last April. TOBB had more current hits, some as low as USD 40 (the "minimum" acceptable bid for a 4* according to TOBB). All hits were for either the Hyatt or the Sheraton (about three blocks apart, both near the State Capitol). The accepted bids ranged from USD 40 to 70. Hyatt website showed a prepaid/non-cancellable rate of USD 94.00 per night for the first two nights, 162.00 for the third night (average of 116.67) Sheraton site showed a prepaid/non-canc rate of 114.33 per night for all three nights I noted five available free rebid zones for 5* (only Rancho Cordova includes a 4* besides DT) Bid Progress I approached the entrance to the Savings Barn. I was admited ONLY when I affirmed that I was *NOT* running for Governor of California :) --- Initial Bid in the SACRAMENTO DOWNTOWN Zone First Bid: USD 37 - Rejected (to test that $40 minimum) --- Added 1st free rebid zone (Business I-80) Second Bid: USD 40 - Rejected --- Added 2nd free rebid zone (Folsom) Third Bid: USD 42 - Rejected --- Added 3rd free rebid zoe (Roseville Rocklin) Fourth Bid: USD 44 - ACCEPTED! Accepted Bid Details Hyatt Regency Sacramento Downtown 1209 L Street Sacramento, California 95814 916-443-1234 Check-In Date: Sun, Aug 31, 2003 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2003 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $44.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $132.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $23.87 Total Charges: $155.87 The Hyatt website lists a tax rate of 12.00 percent

Hi bturner13 - AM is the GDS code for Adams Mark Hotels Sorry about that HGI reference - I used the old "cut and paste" technique to format my posting and forgot to delete that last line from the previous message - the 12 percent rate is the correct tax rate.

Bidding Need and Strategy My basic need for a single night before an early departure, so airport location was desirable. Better Bidding had no previous history for this area. Posters to TOBB reported several 3* acceptances in the airport zone in the ~ USD 30 range. I noted that of the two 3* properties noted, the Adams Mark had high-speed access while the Radisson did not. The 2.5* category included a Courtyard by Marriott but the last acceptance was over a year ago, so I decided to try for the 3*. The best Adams Mark website rate was USD 129 I noted two available free rebid zones for 3* (Indy South and Speedway). Bid Progress I approached the entrance tothe Savings Barn. Although summer harvest was in full swing, I was waved inside when I told them I knew thereuare :) --- Initial Bid in the INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT Zone First Bid: USD 27 - Accepted! Accepted Bid Details Adams Mark Indianapolis Airport (IND) 2544 Executive Drive Indianapolis, Indiana 46241 317-248-2481 Check-In Date: Mon, Sep 8, 2003 Check-In Time: After 04:00 PM Check-Out Date: Tue, Sep 9, 2003 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $27.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $27.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $8.54 Total Charges: $35.54 The AM Website notes a local tax rate of 12 percent HGI website lists a tax rate of 11.00 percent

WillTravel - come to think of it, if the Swissotel and the Westin Grand in Berlin are both rated 5* by Priceline, then your hunch may be right. I did stay at the Park Hyatt using a Hyatt award in '99, and it's very nice indeed. Very modern design with lots of blond wood used and with super-nice bathrooms (they use those huge "rainforest" shower heads).

My initial bid for USD 81 was rejected (as I expected). Priceline only has one zone in Hamburg, therefore re-bids will have to be 72 hours apart. TOBB indicates that a 5* bid for USD 95 was accepted last year at the Raffles Vier Jahrszeiten, whick is a true 5-star property right on the shore of the Inner Alster (the lake in the middle of the center city (I stayed there one time in 2000 on a deeply-discounted promotional rate). To my knowledge, the only other possible 5* properties would be the Kempinski Atlantic or the Park Hyatt Hamburg. I've never seen a Kempinski property come up on PL, and the Park Hyatt is more like a 4.5, so I'm going to proceed on the assumption that it is the V.J (the other two hotels are in the same general central city area, with the Park Hyatt very near the Hauptbahnhof (train station). There's a EUR 155 promotional rate (USD 168.52 at today's exchange rate - one twin bed excluding breakfast) but it is not cancellable so I'll hold back - instead I'll probably book a cancellable backup room at a 4* like the Marriott (which is just a block or so from the V.J.). I'll updade the thread with my subsequent bids. (Another note: The V.J. is owned by Raffles which also owns the Swissotel in Berlin, which is the most-often-seen 5* in Berlin, so it's jost a little more circumstantial evidence that it's probably the V.J.)

Check out ** THIS SITE ** for some possible answers (be sure to read some of the employee feedback).

Hi Jacqui - While the Los Angeles Country Club is indeed near the Century Plaza, the chances of any of us being allowed to play there are about as high as Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods giving us private golf lessons - the LACC is one of the most "blue-blood" private courses in the USA. The better of the two courses is rated in the top 50 in the world by Golf Digest, and the PGA and the USGA have wanted to play the PGA Championship or the US Open there, but they refuse (they make Hootie Johnson and Augusta look human and compassionate) :) However, your hunch may still be correct, because there is another golf course near the CP that is open to public play - going south (to Pico Boulevard), you'll find Rancho Park Golf Course. I'd wager that this is the golf course being referred to. As for the hotel: I just checked HotWire (picking a random date) and the 4.5 star that came up with the golf indicator also indicatesd a spa - I know that the Century Plaza added a very elaborate spa within the last couple of years, so there is even more circumstantial evidence. The other possibility is the Park Hyatt (on the same street as the Century Plaza) - however, I looked at their website and they don't list a spa (just a health club). As a point of reference, boththe Century Plaza and the Park Hyatt are 4* properties on Priceline.

Beginning on January 1, 2004, Starwood Preferred Guest wil no longer give Elite members in-hotel benefits (including upgrades, welcome amenities, guaranteed late checkout, etc). when the stay is prepaid and/or made through third party booking services, including "opaque" services such as Priceline and Hotwire. ** SPG TERMS AND CONDITIONS **:

Beginning on January 1, 2004, Starwood Preferred Guest wil no longer give Elite members in-hotel benefits (including upgrades, welcome amenities, guaranteed late checkout, etc). when the stay is prepaid and/or made through third party booking services, including "opaque" services such as Priceline and Hotwire. ** SPG TERMS AND CONDITIONS **:

Hi tsk - I wasn't aware there was even a Westin in Princeton, but on checking the SPG site it turns out it's the former Princeton Marriott!! I stayed there just after opened (maybe 1990) and had an adventure where they sent me to *FIVE* different rooms that were already occupied. To apologize they gave me a future room comped - when I used the free night, I made a hotel employee go with me to verify that the room was unoccupied. THanks for making me aware of the change to Westin :)

Hi Jeanneb - I visited the area a while back when I did some work for (the now defunct) Premier Cruise Lines, which had their offices right next to the ship embarkation area. I don't know if it comes up on PL or HW; however, the Radisson Resort is closest (a mile or two from the major intersection that leads to the terminal area). The hotels in Cocoa are just a 5-to-10 minute drive further away. And Orlando is about an hour away via the BeeLine Expressway (although I understand that you might not want to drive on your sailing day). The Hilton (listed by both HW and PL as a 3*)is along the beach in Cocoa and is quite nice. If time allows, visit RonJon's Surf Shop (open 24 hours)!

Hi nilkaya - The main factor is that all DFW car rentals (including Budget) use the Rental Car Center. The RCC is near the *south* end of the DFW complex. However, you can enter the airport complex (via the main road, International Parkway, from *either* the south end or the north end. So staying south versus north may saye a few minutes, but not a huge amount of time in my opinion. What's probably more important is to leave sufficient time for the bus ride from the RCC to your Terminal (USAirways uses Terminal :). Doring the main part of the day the busses run frequently but they are sllllooooowww.... so factoring in the time to clear security etc., give yourselves plenty of time. If it meets your needs, and if your hotel has free shuttle service, you could also return the car at the end of the evening before your departure, *THIS LINK* will take you to the DFW Airport website page for the RCC. Once you are on that page, there is a link for directions to the RCC. *THIS LINK* shows the airport layout. If the map were a little longer, the RCC would be near the bottom right. The main airport website is *HERE*

Hello and welcome, skygirl65 :) The W-A is in Hotwire's Midtown East zone. It is on the east side of Park Avenue, at 49th Street-50th Street. THIS LINK will show you the Hotwire hotel information for New York (with the caution that the information is subject to change by Hotwire, sometimes on a daily basis). Good luck and let us know your results!

fitzhokies - the Conrad website still has a "best unrestricted rate" of $529 for your dates (hey, for $5 more they throw in a full buffet breakfast for two - what a bargain) :) Last Thursday 8/14 I tried to get one night 8/15 at the 5*/W-T - I was rejected all the way to my top bid of $125. The lowest Conrad website rate at the time of my final attempt was $316. Ironically, having failed to get the W-T, I decided to go to my Plan B and stay at the airport, foregoing a trip into hthe city. I ended up booking my Newark airport hotel about ninety minutes BEFORE the blackout. Talk about fortuitous timing :)

greenfrog11 - this is an impressive win, considering that not only is it Prez Day weekend, it's also Miami Boat Show weekend (different show than the Broward show). The Show ends on the 17th and is spread over several days, so I'm guessing that the Hyatt (being a little ways away from the center of the marinas) had sufficient availablilty to make your Priceline acceptance possible.

The hotel was also running local specials for various dates in Oct. and Nov. for as low as $69 (of course with MR points etc). So they may have revisited their projected occupancy for the later fall and decided to give PL a lower threshhold price.