>Hi Again...
>
>Something else to think about.... By giving a deposit - you will definitely have a room. I can't tell you the number of times I have seen folks at check-in complaining because a room was not available. When you give them consideration in advance, they have to provide you with a room.
>
>Of course, if you don't like the policy, you can always wait until March or so. My guess is that the hotel will already be booked. Then, the 120 or so bucks you could have paid in Oct/Nov won't seem like that big of a deal...will it???
>
>Also, find out what other hotels are near by.
>
>Excercise your right to choose - assuming a choice is available.....

I actually talked to an obstinate reservation person at the hotel. The last 2 DevCons I have made very early reservations at the conference hotel and this subject never came up and I was not extorted out of a deposit. I did provide a credit card to guarantee the room and accepted the 48 or 72 hour cancellation policy. However, I find it hard to accept putting down a deposit almost 12 months prior to DevCon (The initial charge was incurred shortly after the last DevCon and I refused the charge via my credit card company because I did not know what it was. AMEX just sent me a response reinstating the charge with an explanation from the hotel).

My primary problem is I am not allowed to commit Government funds such as a hotel room deposit until I acutally stay at the hotel.