www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Does anyone have some contact information on the owners of the Del Rey. I have some clients interested in purchasing property that I was told belongs to them. If you can please PM me with any onfo it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Youdoo2

I would suggest that you go to the DR in the afternoon and talk directly to Greg or John. You will find Greg a lot easier to deal with. My experience is that they are VERY DIFFICULT to deal with. I had a discussion with Greg one day (who I am reasonably friendly with) in which I suggested that they extend a VIP room discount to CRT members. His response was that they are trying to come up with ways to make LESS MONEY. Good luck

VB, have you ever figured out why people who are making so much money are so miserable?

you would probably have a better chance of getting Eliot Spitzer re-elected.

I have had the opportunity to have drinks with big john on a few occasions,he is actualy a fun guy who happens to be a very smart buisnessman.I always stay at the Del Rey and enjoy the security and protection it offers.He is also in it to make money which he will with or without CRT patronage.As for the original question,i wouldn't count on John selling any of his holdings.

You might want to consider their position. They took a risk and now have a very successful business. They offer a service for a price. They don't need to grovel. If you, we , or anyone doesn't like their attitude, well, is there really anywhere else to go ? I'm just happy this place is there . I haven't found anything else like it. Plus they get a hundred or so guys pass thru a week that want to chat and offer them advice. I have always found the owners and the entire staff to be amicable and polite. I stayed there for two months.

Thank you very much for your help, i was able to get what i needed. they seem like good guys and i wish them and everyone here well.

I never met Big John, but I know him when I see him. One evening during my JAN/FEB trip, I was in the Del Rey lobby sitting on one of the wicker couches. Big John was sitting at an empty desk for a long time watching all the "goings on." About an hour later, I walked over to the Key Largo.....and there he was again, sitting on the 3 foot high wall ledge alongside the Key Largo parking lot, appearing to be in deep thought, staring up at his big, pink Del Rey. I thought to myself that it was prabably good business.....doing what he was doing. I'm sure just his intimidating presence helps keep all the emplyees "on the up and up."

Zebra

Has anyone looked at those couches lately? Seems like they could pony up a few colones to replace them, or at the very least have the cushions recovered. The wicker portion is actually busting out the back on the larger one.
Sorry to change the subject...

jdd....Right on. I usually spend a little time on those couches whenever I am in the DR. Heck,I would probably contribute a few bucks to either fix them or replace them. In fact it would be great if they moved all the desks upstairs and made several groupings of comfortable sitting areas throughout the lobby. (NEVER HAPPEN)

Maybe that's what Big John was sitting there thinking about.

By my rough calculations, based on doing some research for a client into the San Jose hotel and casino business, the DR is one of the great dollars per sq ft of space in all of America. I am not a huge fan of the DR but the raw numbers of food, bar, gambling, rooms and chica fees is astounding.

Their biggest issue is the fact that they are the poster Ch*ld and largest purveyor of tourist related vice in the country. They are a big target (note the immigration raids, mentions about gambling by VP Chincilla etc)

I am sur ethey must work hard to keep the proper wheels greased but that tide can always turn.

ALL three of the businesses they are in are headache intense under any circumstances, and I imagine the sheer amount of crap they deal with on a daily basis is truly astounding.

BKTUNA
I am never going home