Additionally, I wouldn't fret *quite* yet if you haven't grabbed an out of block room. Anything associated with Marriott isn't open for Gen Con dates yet so if you check every day in the next week or so you might grab a room right when they open up. 

I grabbed mine also when this was posted. SO happy to have this. SO. I wonder how many folks snagged rooms? I wonder how in trouble whoever it is at Embassy that allowed these to go up is in? Because they are losing money on this.

I too was able to grab a room about and hour or two after the original poster notified people of the deal. I am super happy that I did get one, and I hope the rest of people who missed out will have luck with some other hotels opening up in the coming weeks.

Once again, a bit thanks to the person who first posted the deal. You've already made my next gencon super awesome.

And this might seem like a dumb question, but given this past year was only my first year, and I planned it only about a month in advanced, I had no chance to get a downtown room. Now that I did this year, I'm happy, but I'm unaware of how much of a savings this was compared to usual prices for downtown. So roughly what is the nightly rate for gencon dates at these downtown hotels?

Somewhere around about $200. I think Embassy was $235 this year? Rack rates are generally around $350 so this is a HUGE GINORMOUS savings. I was literally dancing around the hourse after the email confirmation arrived. DANCING.

<edit> Here is the 2016 list...http://www.gencon.com/attend/hotelmap

Yeah.  I saw this thread and grabbed a room too.  I am not a rewards member or anything.  I just saw this, went on the site about 8:30am yesterday central time and booked it.  I have been spoiled by the JW the last 3 years but for this much of a savings I couldn't pass it up.  

Oh wow yeah....that is a huge savings too. Even more pumped that I saw this thread and got in that reservation then.

As usual awesome community here. Thanks for sharing and helping me out, and thanks for pointing me out to that list of in block room prices from last year.

HUGE THANKS to the whistleblower! I was able to grab a room, but unfortunately, my friends from up north weren't monitoring their emails when I tried to alert them.  My wife and I haven't had a downtown room in years, so this is going to be amazing.

How is the hotel?  I have never stayed.  I booked it for the cost and because people tend to race for it.  After I booked I looked around on sites and of course everything is negative because people who have positive experiences generally don't post.  Lot of photos and reviews talking about the hotel being old and tired.  Not really worried about it  but just curious about people "I know" on the forums thoughts as opposed to randoms on travel sites.  

If you are talking about the Embassy it is not bad. I've stayed at the Hyatt, Embassy, Crowne Plaza, and Hilton. Biggest problem with the Embassy is the elevator situation. At peak times it can take 10-15 minutes to get an elevator down. The rooms are great especially if a group is going. The only one better for groups is the Hilton as the rooms are huge, but it is a longer walk. 

The hotel is older, and definitely in need of a facelift, but the staff have been simply lovely and very friendly, the buffet breakfast is HUGE with lots of variety, and the omelette station rocks.  The manager's reception always had the free drinkies and munchies, which is nice for taking a break to decompress a little without going into a crowded bar.

This year, they were working on behind the scenes upgrades to the heating and cooling systems, but the front-facing areas will be upgraded, hopefully, by next year.

The rooms we've had have always been very clean and the AC has worked just fine. The beds have been very comfy. Free wifi for Hhonors members.

This will be our 3rd year at the Embassy, and we love the location.  It's close without being right on top of the convention center.

The only complaint I have is the handicapped accessibility; it is truly awful (the dumbwaiter handicapped elevator is a joke - cramped and rickety. We use the service elevator, which stinks like garbage, but works just fine). But we've found some workarounds, so we're all good. We need to be downtown, due to my mobility scooter and lack of viable transportation that accommodates that. Also a factor is the level of energy available and being able to go back to the room easily and safely by myself is really necessary.

No valet parking, which is ok bc you're not paying too much ($22/night) of an inflated price like at the JW ($45/night). 

Win some, lose some. This, overall, is a win for the features we want in a GenCon hotel.

I thought Embassy was fine. Never spend much time in the room anyway. I think you get breakfast there as well. Biggest thing is the elevator. If you are on a lower floor it is often better to catch one going up and ride the whole time than wait for one going down.

I was reading the review on TripAdvisor and the director of sales was saying they were starting renovations at the embassy suites downtown for the guestrooms.. anybody has an idea on the timeframe?

Truly love the embassy especially for groups but it's starting to show its age. That said the room and comfort is worth it. Biggest for a lot of us is the excellent hotel breakfast, lots of options and made to order omelets is kick ass. 

That said the walk to far ends of complex (stadium particularly) can be a drag to be honest. I was to the point of not wanting to make the walk mid way through con. 

Overall the embassy is awesome for groups and more importantly for lot of us is the fact that it's comfortable and familiar year after year.

This may be a dumb question, but as one who has never stayed at a downtown hotel, do you have to pay for your parking in addition to the hotel room??? 

I have been using parking panda for downtown parking.