[mrdct]

From the Hilton, Newport Wales, website:

http://www.hilton.co.uk/property/1015_Room...6&rmid=11018443

"Hilton Double Standard Guest Bedrooms all have large double beds, a work desk, two telephone points, PlayStation, internet access, interactive televisions, trouser press and complimentary tea & coffee making facilities."

I would expect that internet access in the room would probably be around US$25 per day; still a rip-off but presumably affordable in the context of what they wanted for internet access in the playing area.

[FrancesHinden]

mrdct, on Feb 9 2006, 01:34 AM, said:

Whilst hotel telephone charges tend to have an expensive flag fall (around US$1 per call at most 5-star hotels I've stayed at around the world) you should be able to get a prepaid dial-up ISP account that has a local or toll-free access number.

That won't work. Typically UK hotels charge a (large) fee for dialling freephone (toll-free) numbers from the bedroom.

It's sometimes a one-off fee with no ongoing call charges, which would work.

But then you are back to the same question: would the organisers want to do that? Hilton hotel bedrooms are usually not very big* and it would quite uncomfortable to try and get a bridge table and 4 players and an operator and an official all together.

*true of all UK hotels, not just the Hilton...

[mrdct]

The photos of the rooms on the website look big enough to accommodate a card table, four players and a couple of officials - particularly given that they don't use screens in the Camrose.

I think it's a matter of will. If the people running the event really want it on BBO they should be able to find a way that doesn't involve paying two thousand pounds to the Hilton Group.

[Walddk]

I know that David Greenwood, one of the players from Northern Ireland and a regular BBO user and commentator, has forwarded all of this to the organisers in Wales. Let's hope that they come up with a satisfactory solution to the problem.

It really would be a shame not be able to broadcast from the conclusion of the Camrose Trophy 2006.

Roland

[Walddk]

I agree with Dave. Where there's a will there's a way. The Hilton management will hardly interfere with what people do in their hotel bedrooms.

Some read, some sleep, some watch tv, some take a shower, some play bridge and some do other things. Some even use the access to the internet. All perfectly legitimate.

Roland

[goose]

I am sure that the organisers will do their best now this has been brought to their attention. I seem to remember using a freephone number from hotels and just being charged a nominal amount for each call eg 10p. The same applies when we use telephone cards from overseas.

if nothing else, lets hope this shows the interest for broadcasts and future organisers can take note.

[Editer]

A bit tangential, but interesting, since some have wondered how hotels determine these sorts of charges: How Much Should Hotel Web Access Cost?

[eamongall]

Good evening folks
I (eamongall) was involved in the Camrose broadcast. We eventually used 7 laptops. The hotel has an eircom hotspot and they charge 30 euro for a weeks access via a card system. Well it was 5 euro an hour or 15 euro for 24 hours or 30 euro a week.
Therefore we paid 210 euro to cover 7 laptops.... 4 playing room and 2 vugraph room and our organiser used a laptop from time to time.
So cost was 210 euros and I am sure if we were attentive we could sold on the remaining 4 days access to punters carrying laptop bags on Monday morning or Sunday night.
Sorry to hear Hilton Hotel is charging so much. Does this mean if I stay for weekend in Hilton Hotel it costs me whatever number was quoted devided by 7 (assuming 7 laptops)
so about 500 euros .. hmmmm

No thanks
Eamonn Galligan

[Walddk]

I have now been told that the organisers can't reach a satisfactory compromise with the hotel, so the broadcast from Wales is unlikely to go ahead. Something may happen at the last minute of course, but we are not very hopeful at this point.

If anothing else, it's a learning experience for everyone involved. Checking the internet costs before booking seems like a prudent approach.

Roland

[Walddk]

Sometimes it's not bad at all if you are proven wrong. I have now been told that there is a good chance that the broadcast from Newport in Wales will go ahead. Few details at the moment, so whether we will be broadcasting from one, two or even four tables remains to be seen.

"Where there's a will, there's a way", I wrote in earlier post. There was a will and there was a way, it appears.

March 3, 4 and 5, second weekend of the Camrose Trophy 2006. Timetable to be listed on our vugraph schedule web page as soon as I have exact information.


Roland