I heard back from Jeff. Here is what he had to say:
The good news is that I requested a room for you and your buddies in the exhibitor block, but it had to be in the same hotel as the other Studio 2 rooms. They're not letting us split rooms like before, but that means I've requested a room in the Embassy Suites or Hilton Downtown Suites (120 Market St.). I haven't gotten confirmation on that yet, but I'm fairly optimistic, since Studio 2 has been getting rooms in the Hilton without a problem for several years.
I am confident that we will get a room. I asked for two queens and a pull out couch.
We have stayed at the Embassy Suites before. The elevators were really the only issues. The hotel has just been remodeled as seen by last year's construction so it may be greatly improved. The Hilton is where we stayed last year. I thought it was a nice hotel and it was close to the convention center. Neither is terrible but they are not quite as spacious as the Staybridge.
Are we good with going this route or do folks want to take other action? Who is planning on going this year? Are we still looking at Bruce, Dave, Steve, David and myself?