our options...

Kristie · February 10th, 2008, 12:09

just an update on what we've got going so far....

We're checking out Planet Hollywood as we stayed there this past weekend and it is a hotel/casino that is just right for our type of group. the conference center is really nice, the rooms are extremely comfy, the casino itself is a ton of fun and the music in it is very lively (unlike a casino) and we just need to get the rates and so forth. hopefully will get them this week to see if we can do it or not.

I have RFP's for the MGM Grand Conference Center but we went there this weekend and there is one group in front of us for the week we want it...if they take it, we won't get it. we'd have to wait till early april to find out....not sure i want to wait that long honestly.

Excalibur is willing to give us group room rates at $91/night but their conference center is HELLA expensive, so we wouldn't be holding the gig there. Even the Flamingo wanted to charge 15K for food/beverage (most of the casino hotels go by food/beverage and not meeting space fees).

Monte Carlo is still closed right now, so we weren't able to go talk to them. they also haven't given us an RFP so i doubt that they're open for the weekend we want. I remember them telling me they didn't really have a lot of meeting space anyways.

Tuscany gave us a good RFP as did Alexis Park...i've stayed at Tuscany before and it's not bad...both of these two are off the strip but they're within our budget for the most part. I have not been to Alexis Park... if anyone has, please let me know how you liked it and if it was comfy etc...

Also got an RFP from the Hilton Garden Inn on south strip (about 2 miles from Mandalay Bay)... altho it's south of the strip, they also quoted some reasonable prices...I've stayed at a HGI before and they are VERY nice....so we might also go with them...

The Palms is out, it's too far away and WAY too expensive...

I didn't even get an RFP from the Las Vegas Convention Center... I'm assuming they're already booked.

it just depends on what kinda deal we can get and where it's located etc.

Since the MGM Grand will probably fall thru this year, we're already going to plan on using them next year since their rates are not too bad....so i'll be working on securing that space for 2009 as well as working on trying to find us something reasonable and fun for 2008.

I'm really kinda hoping Planet Hollywood comes thru, i really liked it there and thought it would jive well with everyone we know. those of you that stayed there last year and liked it - you were RIGHT on!!

If Planet Hollywood falls through, we will probably go with the Hilton Garden Inn on the south strip, Alexis Park or Tuscany (both 1/2 mile or mile off strip)....As much as i wouldn't mind waiting to see if the MGM grand opens up, April just seems like it'd be too far away to wait and lose other secured space.

Any thoughts.... let me know... I'm tellin' ya'll everything i know so far.

JEP · February 10th, 2008, 12:30

What if your book PH and then MGM opens up? Would you lose any $$$. As for hte group rates at the Excalibur, I wonder for what 'room' that is. I jsut checked their website and for 3 nights (10/19-10/22) they are quoting on $243 for a Tower room and $273 ($91) for a 'View' room. Slightly more for a woom with a Widescreen TV $303 (tower), $343 (View)...

Kristie · February 10th, 2008, 12:35

I would imagine that Excalibur would be regular standard rooms for that rate...but it also probably depends on whether or not we'd take their meeting space which we wouldn't since they want to charge a whole LOTTA duckets....

i'm really not that sure.

also don't know what would happen if we booked PH and MGM came thru....we probably would lose some $$ for having to cancel since it's "meeting space". I can't imagine that they'd let us get out of it for nothing....

SkyCougar · February 10th, 2008, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

I would imagine that Excalibur would be regular standard rooms for that rate...but it also probably depends on whether or not we'd take their meeting space which we wouldn't since they want to charge a whole LOTTA duckets....

i'm really not that sure.

also don't know what would happen if we booked PH and MGM came thru....we probably would lose some $$ for having to cancel since it's "meeting space". I can't imagine that they'd let us get out of it for nothing....

They won't Kristie. Make sure you find out cancellations policies of any place that you look into, especially if you think you might pull out and go somewhere else. I'm not sure if I'm going yet, but I like the Planet Hollywood idea the best so far. I agree that it sounds more like the group!

grnclvrs · February 10th, 2008, 17:31

The Palazza just opened.

I keed, I keed.

Seggy · February 10th, 2008, 18:12

I vote for the Planet Hollywood idea.

jtrain609 · February 10th, 2008, 18:33

I vote for Mark.

N826AW · February 10th, 2008, 21:24

I stayed at the PH for NJC '07 and was up there in December. It's a great hotel and the rates were always decent. They may go up as the jack up as the rooms get renovated. But it has a great spot on the strip.

Not to mention you get Starwood points.

Kristie · February 10th, 2008, 23:42

yea....but again, it depends on the $$ estimate they give us...we'll see what they say.

OldTownPilot · February 11th, 2008, 09:18

I'm game for the PH, if it is somewhat affordable.

I trust that you will make the right call for the group.

H46Bubba · February 11th, 2008, 12:35

Ewww stay away from the Excaliber!

It was pretty trashed out last year. I guess we'll just have to see how things are going to pan out.

OldTownPilot · February 11th, 2008, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

Ewww stay away from the Excaliber!

It was pretty trashed out last year. I guess we'll just have to see how things are going to pan out.

Yeah the Excalibur was kinda grody. Totally not clean at all. Like 20 year old motel 6 not clean.

Kristie · February 11th, 2008, 13:49

well, PH is out... all their meeting space is taken unless we want to change the dates. I can still try and get group room rates but the events etc would have to be housed elsewhere.

mpenguin1 · February 11th, 2008, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

well, PH is out... all their meeting space is taken unless we want to change the dates. I can still try and get group room rates but the events etc would have to be housed elsewhere.

Kristie

It may be early enough for people to change the dates for the events to get the rates at the Planet Hollywood, or at least think about it.....

Planet Hollywood is a great place & right in the middle of everything....

LoadMasterC141 · February 11th, 2008, 21:22

I will stay wherever JohnnyTrain stays!

I REALLY like the PH idea as well. Central Strip is a great place to be. Especially for the majority of folks like us that come without cars and have to bum rides everywhere!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldTownPilot

Yeah the Excalibur was kinda grody. Totally not clean at all. Like 20 year old motel 6 not clean.

Yeah I keep trying to remember we jammed 4 people in a little room, but it was kindy yucky regardless you are right.

Kristie · February 11th, 2008, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpenguin1

Kristie

It may be early enough for people to change the dates for the events to get the rates at the Planet Hollywood, or at least think about it.....

Planet Hollywood is a great place & right in the middle of everything....

yea.... but i don't really like the idea of changing the dates after we decided we'd keep it the 42nd week of the year....plus this particular weekend really seems to work well for our group.. so i'm really hesitant to change it simply because a hotel can't book us.

SkyCougar · February 12th, 2008, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

yea.... but i don't really like the idea of changing the dates after we decided we'd keep it the 42nd week of the year....plus this particular weekend really seems to work well for our group.. so i'm really hesitant to change it simply because a hotel can't book us.

Kristie, have you looked at the Imperial Palace? It's not the fanciest place, but it's dead center Strip and affordable. I have no idea what the meeting space is like there though, but the location can't be beat. I stayed there years ago in one of their rooms that has a "luv tub"

Kristie · February 12th, 2008, 00:34

They didn't send an RFP back to me, so i'm assuming their probably booked or too juicy for our $$.

I mean, the flamingo ain't all that and they wanted $15K...dang!!!

Maximillian_Jenius · February 12th, 2008, 00:50

...you & Doug no longer like the Bellagio for the main event?

Gonzo · February 12th, 2008, 00:57

How about The Mirage or NY NY.

SkyCougar · February 12th, 2008, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

They didn't send an RFP back to me, so i'm assuming their probably booked or too juicy for our $$.

I mean, the flamingo ain't all that and they wanted $15K...dang!!!

Kristie, I'm in the middle of a big project at work, but if you send me all of the specifics, I'll try to make a few phone calls tomorrow. I'll send my contact info via PM.

N826AW · February 12th, 2008, 01:35

<offtopic>

SkyCougar, I love your signature. That's easily one of my favorite Led songs.

Took my chances on a big jet plane,
Never let them tell you that theyre all the same.

</offtopic>

Kristie · February 12th, 2008, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

...you & Doug no longer like the Bellagio for the main event?

It's too small for the group now

Kristie · February 12th, 2008, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

How about The Mirage or NY NY.

again, no RFP (Request for Proposal) which typically means they're already booked or don't want our tiny little group (compared to others that have thousands and thousands of people).

Kristie · February 12th, 2008, 01:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyCougar

Kristie, I'm in the middle of a big project at work, but if you send me all of the specifics, I'll try to make a few phone calls tomorrow. I'll send my contact info via PM.

I'm doing all the proposals through the LV Convention Center...I'm pretty sure they would have already send everything to everyone and so i've only heard back from some who can and some who can't.

If you want to try, you can...but it'd probably be the same end result, i'm thinking?

February 10th, 2008, 12:09	#1
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 17,709 Blog Entries: 3	our options... just an update on what we've got going so far.... We're checking out Planet Hollywood as we stayed there this past weekend and it is a hotel/casino that is just right for our type of group. the conference center is really nice, the rooms are extremely comfy, the casino itself is a ton of fun and the music in it is very lively (unlike a casino) and we just need to get the rates and so forth. hopefully will get them this week to see if we can do it or not. I have RFP's for the MGM Grand Conference Center but we went there this weekend and there is one group in front of us for the week we want it...if they take it, we won't get it. we'd have to wait till early april to find out....not sure i want to wait that long honestly. Excalibur is willing to give us group room rates at $91/night but their conference center is HELLA expensive, so we wouldn't be holding the gig there. Even the Flamingo wanted to charge 15K for food/beverage (most of the casino hotels go by food/beverage and not meeting space fees). Monte Carlo is still closed right now, so we weren't able to go talk to them. they also haven't given us an RFP so i doubt that they're open for the weekend we want. I remember them telling me they didn't really have a lot of meeting space anyways. Tuscany gave us a good RFP as did Alexis Park...i've stayed at Tuscany before and it's not bad...both of these two are off the strip but they're within our budget for the most part. I have not been to Alexis Park... if anyone has, please let me know how you liked it and if it was comfy etc... Also got an RFP from the Hilton Garden Inn on south strip (about 2 miles from Mandalay Bay)... altho it's south of the strip, they also quoted some reasonable prices...I've stayed at a HGI before and they are VERY nice....so we might also go with them... The Palms is out, it's too far away and WAY too expensive... I didn't even get an RFP from the Las Vegas Convention Center... I'm assuming they're already booked. it just depends on what kinda deal we can get and where it's located etc. Since the MGM Grand will probably fall thru this year, we're already going to plan on using them next year since their rates are not too bad....so i'll be working on securing that space for 2009 as well as working on trying to find us something reasonable and fun for 2008. I'm really kinda hoping Planet Hollywood comes thru, i really liked it there and thought it would jive well with everyone we know. those of you that stayed there last year and liked it - you were RIGHT on!! If Planet Hollywood falls through, we will probably go with the Hilton Garden Inn on the south strip, Alexis Park or Tuscany (both 1/2 mile or mile off strip)....As much as i wouldn't mind waiting to see if the MGM grand opens up, April just seems like it'd be too far away to wait and lose other secured space. Any thoughts.... let me know... I'm tellin' ya'll everything i know so far. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

February 10th, 2008, 12:30	#2
JEP Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN (KFCM) (KMSP) Posts: 10,561 Blog Entries: 1	Re: our options... What if your book PH and then MGM opens up? Would you lose any $$$. As for hte group rates at the Excalibur, I wonder for what 'room' that is. I jsut checked their website and for 3 nights (10/19-10/22) they are quoting on $243 for a Tower room and $273 ($91) for a 'View' room. Slightly more for a woom with a Widescreen TV $303 (tower), $343 (View)... __________________ d2h5IGFyZSB5b3Ugd29ycmllZCBhYm91dCBteSBzaWduYXR1cm U/ICBnZXQgeW91ciBvd24uIDop

February 10th, 2008, 12:35	#3
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 17,709 Blog Entries: 3	Re: our options... I would imagine that Excalibur would be regular standard rooms for that rate...but it also probably depends on whether or not we'd take their meeting space which we wouldn't since they want to charge a whole LOTTA duckets.... i'm really not that sure. also don't know what would happen if we booked PH and MGM came thru....we probably would lose some $$ for having to cancel since it's "meeting space". I can't imagine that they'd let us get out of it for nothing.... __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

February 10th, 2008, 17:31	#5
grnclvrs Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LAS Posts: 99	Re: our options... The Palazza just opened. I keed, I keed.

February 10th, 2008, 18:12	#6
Seggy Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Northeast Posts: 4,942	Re: our options... I vote for the Planet Hollywood idea. __________________ www.alpa.org

February 10th, 2008, 18:33	#7
jtrain609 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 12,100	Re: our options... I vote for Mark. __________________ "I could stand at the end of the line of the general mills cereal plant to make sure that all the lucky charms are up to par for 38k a year." -snickersnwa

February 10th, 2008, 21:24	#8
N826AW Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mesa Oeste Posts: 1,414	Re: our options... I stayed at the PH for NJC '07 and was up there in December. It's a great hotel and the rates were always decent. They may go up as the jack up as the rooms get renovated. But it has a great spot on the strip. Not to mention you get Starwood points. __________________ Matt - CMEL - 235TT

February 10th, 2008, 23:42	#9
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 17,709 Blog Entries: 3	Re: our options... yea....but again, it depends on the $$ estimate they give us...we'll see what they say. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

February 11th, 2008, 09:18	#10
OldTownPilot Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: BGR (Bangor, ME) Posts: 2,862 Blog Entries: 4	Re: our options... I'm game for the PH, if it is somewhat affordable. I trust that you will make the right call for the group. __________________ As a wise man said, sumb!tch flew in, sumb!tch'll fly out. Ski Hard. Party Harder.

February 11th, 2008, 12:35	#11
H46Bubba Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: CVG Posts: 4,096	Re: our options... Ewww stay away from the Excaliber! It was pretty trashed out last year. I guess we'll just have to see how things are going to pan out. __________________ *"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" -Thomas Jefferson*

February 11th, 2008, 13:49	#13
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 17,709 Blog Entries: 3	Re: our options... well, PH is out... all their meeting space is taken unless we want to change the dates. I can still try and get group room rates but the events etc would have to be housed elsewhere. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

February 12th, 2008, 00:34	#18
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 17,709 Blog Entries: 3	Re: our options... They didn't send an RFP back to me, so i'm assuming their probably booked or too juicy for our $$. I mean, the flamingo ain't all that and they wanted $15K...dang!!! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

February 12th, 2008, 00:50	#19
Maximillian_Jenius Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: KPHX, KFFZ, KIWA Posts: 18,670	Re: our options... ...you & Doug no longer like the Bellagio for the main event? __________________ Rear Admiral www.gayviator.com Maximillian Pegasus

February 12th, 2008, 00:57	#20
Gonzo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,455	Re: our options... How about The Mirage or NY NY. __________________ Got helft dem oreman; er farhit im fun tey'ereh avayres. zolst vern azoy rayd almo'nes man zol zid keyn mol nit zorgen vegn perno'se. Or as some say: bareh nit

February 12th, 2008, 01:35	#22
N826AW Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mesa Oeste Posts: 1,414	Re: our options... <offtopic> SkyCougar, I love your signature. That's easily one of my favorite Led songs. Took my chances on a big jet plane, Never let them tell you that theyre all the same. </offtopic> __________________ Matt - CMEL - 235TT

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