http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T04:29:33Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelhotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/local/88 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7/21/161156/948 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/theblockforsale.jpg" class="top"><p> Not surprisingly, the snowboarder hotel, <a href=""><b>The Block</b></a> at Big Bear Lake, Calif. is now up for sale. <a href="http://www.atlashospitality.com/index-3.html?id=1399373732">Atlas Hospitality Group</a> is selling the hotel for just over $2 million. Actually, it's a court-ordered sale which likely means that The Block forfeited on its loans. <p>Aimed at snowboarders and other young folk and once a subject of a G4 reality TV show, the hotel brand (there was another location in Tahoe) could never deliver on hospitality. The <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/11/19/231444/46/hotels/The_Block_at_Big_Bear_Gets_a_Visit_from_the_Cranky_Grey_Lady">NY Times</a> once reviewed it saying it was like "camping out at Urban Outfitters." And how could we forget the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/10/18/23437/244/hotels/The_Block_s_Hotel_Staff_in_Tahoe_Don_t_Like_Ho_s_Who_Talk_Too_Much">staff profiles</a><p>However, it seems like there's also something a little more sinister beneath the surface as <a juliana 2009-07-21T18:15:59-05:00 38.9599850 -119.94456 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/2/7/212743/1483 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/petey_block.jpg" class="imgborder"> <p><br>As could be expected, we're heavy into <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/1/16/123318/171/hotels/G4_s_The_Block_Hotel_Reality_Show_Debuts">The Block</a>, the reality show/30-minute ad for the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Block/local/88">Tahoe snowboarder hotel</a> on the G4 cable network. Now that we're a couple episodes deep, we feel like we've got a pretty good handle on how things work at the hotel.<br> <p>After holding our breath for the first episode, we got pretty much what we expected. It looks like hiring a bunch of snowboarders who smoke pot on camera doesn't lead to the most efficient operation. However, The Block is a serious operation, so management bought these kids army jackets and tried to kick these kids into shape? Is it working? Well, the hotel is sold out almost every winter pbb 2007-02-08T15:02:13-05:00 38.960030 -119.94459 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/1/16/123318/171 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/block_staff_show.jpg" class="imgborder"><p><br> Remember <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Block/local/88"><b>The Block Hotel</b></a>? The hotel the snowboarding hotel where the staff was adverse to "ho's who talk to much", well they got their own reality show--shocker right? Thing is, we Tivo'd the series premiere and surprisingly, the Block is not only watchable, but it may well be the greatest show modern day television has ever seen.<p> Ok, that is over the top Trumpian hyperbole, however, The Block is, at the very least, a promising hotel version of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372711/">The Restaurant</a>, and we have been waiting for this very show since Brunett's fake-reality show <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2004/6/14/174931/487/hotels/Internet_Millionaires_Let_it_Ride_on_Vegas_Golden_Nugget">The Casino</a> bombed a couple years back. &nbsp;Eventually, someone had to nail the made for reality tv drama of day to markj 2007-01-16T12:35:32-05:00 38.960030 -119.94459 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/10/18/23437/244 <![CDATA[<p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/gilbert_perez.jpg"><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Block/local/88"><b>The Block Hotel</b></a> in Lake Tahoe bills itself as the first snowboarder hotel which was created by professional snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya and Las Vegas Hotelier Liko S. Smith.<p>The place is totally geared for the younger generation as witnessed by the amenities like game consoles, board pegs, bike hooks, microwavable popcorn, and free wireless access.<p>But you also get a feel for the 21 and under vibe with the <a href="http://www.theblockattahoe.com/thehotel/staff.html">hottie staff profiles</a> that read like MySpace pages. Take for instance, the Steve-O look-alike/wannabe Gilbert Perez who is the hotel's front desk agent. In listing his likes, he writes:<blockquote><p>Money, Beeatches, 40's, hus'lin </blockquote></p><p>Listed as his dislikes are: <blockquote><p>When people give me quarters nickels and dimes. SNITCHES! Skantless Ho's, juliana 2006-10-18T09:30:02-05:00 38.960030 -119.94459 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2005/5/9/9166/28985 <![CDATA[<img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/theblock_zooyork.jpg"><p> <a href="http://www.spyoptic.com/">Spy Optic</a>, the hip sunglasses hawker, is offering US residents <a href="http://www.spyoptic.com/the_intelligence/contest/index.cfm">a chance to win a 2-night trip for two</a> to the The Block in South Lake Tahoe. Sure, sure, by limiting you to a summer free stay the marketing wonks made certain snowboarding wouldn't be on your agenda, however, summertime in Tahoe is gorgeous and full of activities.<p> The prize includes round trip airfare, plus hotel accommodations in the Spy Room at <a href="http://www.blockattahoe.com/"><b>The Block</b></a>. Ground transportation and meals are not included.<p> Furthermore, it doesn't look like you have to buy anything to enter the contest--just fill out the form and pray to the gods of Tahoe.<p> We're in, hope you are as well. Wait, markj 2005-05-09T09:18:50-05:00 38.960030 -119.94459 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/