Hotels for UBL meeting

[Jon Bosak <Jon.Bosak@Sun.COM>]

With regard to accommodations for our UBL meeting 2001.10.29-11.01,
here's a pretty good listing of local hotels, courtesy of Stanford
University:

   http://www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/chs/general/hotel.html

Another list is maintained by the Palo Alto Chamber of
Commerce:

   http://www.batnet.com/pacc/VISITORS/lodging.html

Note that there's nothing adjacent to the Sun campus in Menlo Park
where we'll be holding the UBL TC meeting.

If I were arranging to stay nearby, I'd pick one of the hotels in
downtown Palo Alto.  This is about a 15-minute drive from the Sun
campus and would be a lot more fun after hours than the places in
Menlo Park.

I live in Berkeley myself and am no expert on hotels near the Sun
campus, but a knowledgeable admin with an office in Menlo Park
recommends the following:

   Garden Court Hotel, 520 Cowper Street: 650 322 9000

   Sheraton Palo Alto, 625 El Camino Real: 650 328 2800

   Westin Palo Alto, 675 El Camino Real: 650 321 4422

I have lined up some rooms at these hotels that you can book at a
corporate rate BUT ONLY DURING THIS COMING WEEK.  The rooms will all
be released at COB Monday 8 October, so you must book now if you want
these rates guaranteed.

   Garden Court: Beautiful, was renovated just a few months
   ago, has fast internet access in every room, and is in the
   best location I can think of for people attending this
   meeting.  As might be expected, it's also one of the most
   expensive hotels in the area.  But after a little dickering,
   I was able to negotiate a rate that's pretty decent by
   Silicon Valley standards: USD 269 a night for rooms with a
   courtyard view, and USD 249 per night for rooms without.
   They've set aside 15 rooms for this group until COB Monday 8
   October.  Call the hotel directly at the number above to
   make a reservation.  Mention "UBL" to get the negotiated
   rate.

   Sheraton and Westin: Sharing a common management and about
   what you would expect from these chains.  Both located at
   the top of University Avenue, so not quite as ideal a
   location as the Garden Court, but still pretty good.  The
   management has set aside five rooms at the Westin for USD
   219 per night and 10 rooms at the Sheraton for USD 169 per
   night.  Call them directly at the numbers above by COB 8
   October to make a reservation.  Mention "Sun Microsystems"
   to get the negotiated rate.

If you don't fancy any of these alternatives or just aren't
ready to book yet, you will probably be OK taking potluck
from one of the lists referred to above.  Occupancy rates in
the area have fallen to the lowest levels in memory -- to
around 30 percent occupancy right now in San Francisco -- so
finding a place to stay shouldn't be a problem.

Jon Bosak
Chair, UBL Group
Designated Chair, UBL TC