FUDCon:Bid for Las Vegas 2012

Dates

• Proposed: January 27-29, 2012.

Date straddles the weekend between football playoffs and Super Bowl, which is better for rates (and people paying attention).

Also, CES and other conferences are in Vegas on other January weekends, leaving this as what looks like the best weekend for rates.

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada.

About Las Vegas

Really? Is that a question?? It's Vegas, baby!

Major Local Airports

McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the major international airport serving the Las Vegas area.

Local Transit

There are a variety of ways to get around the Las Vegas area. In addition to your feet, taxicabs (which are *everywhere*), and rental cars....

Bus Transit

Bus transit is available from the airport to the strip.

• Route 109 to the South Strip Transfer Terminal, and then taking "The Deuce" from the South Strip Transfer Terminal up Las Vegas Boulevard to the appropriate hotel.
• 2-hour transit tickets, including access to strip routes (the Deuce), can be purchased at POS kiosks. Passes can also be purchased in *advance* online. (Might be useful to buy and then ship via postal service to folks who are out of the country, etc. in advance for their ease of travel upon arrival in the states.)

Monorail

(Because I know you all want to sing the Monorail song.)

• The Las Vegas Monorail is a comparatively (vs. taxicabs) inexpensive way to get around locations on the Vegas strip.

• Pricing: One-ride passes are $5; One-day passes are $12; 3-day passes are $28.

• The monorail has 7 stops, with each stop accessing or being very close (5-10 minute walk) to other strip hotels.

Hotel

Oh my! Robyn has bids coming in from all over the place.

Rio Las Vegas

Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino

• Rate: $95/night, not including tax
• Concessions include:
  • 1 per 50 comp rooms
  • Two (2) complimentary upgrades to Cariocas Suite at group rate
  • Two (2) VIP meeting diamond cards
  • Two (2) welcome amenities for company VIP’s
  • Two (2) complimentary limo transfers for company VIP’s on arrival date

• Meeting Facilities:
  • 5-6 breakout meeting rooms for 25-50 people each day. $400/day for all rooms.
  • One theatre-style ballroom setup for morning of first day, $350.
  • Cost does not include tax or gratuity.

• Other hotel notes:
  • The Rio is somewhat off-strip. It's certainly *close* to the trip, but not immediately in the middle of the action.
  • Hotel Transportation options from the airport include:
    • Airport shuttles: Approximately $10-15 each way. Taxi is $20-25 each way. Ridesharing with other Fedora friends would be optimal.

Transportation to Event

Costs from BOS (Boston, MA)

$~525

Costs from RDU (Raleigh, NC)

$~400

Costs from ORD (Chicago, IL)

$~250-$500 depending on carrier

Costs from LAX (Los Angeles, CA)

~$200

Costs from JFK (New York, NY)

$~500

Costs from LHR (London, UK)

$~1000

About the Organizers - Previous FUDCon Experience

Robyn Bergeron was an organizer of the 2011 FUDCon in Tempe, Arizona. It is still debatable whether or not she knows what she is doing :)

Robyn lives within 6 hours of Vegas. She has visited, um, numerous times each year for the past 5 or 6 years.