UPDATE: after writing this review I did hear from Sarah the business manager at the Downtown Grand as well as from Choice Hotels corporate - well sort of on the latter.  Choice Hotels corporate sent me a joke of an apology letter that did nothing for me nor did it even address my situation - clearly a form letter which is rather insulting.  After playing phone tag with the Downtown Grand for a while, Sarah gave me the option of rescheduling my stay for another time up to July 2015, which is 1-year after I made the reservation.  Unfortunately that also does nothing for me, because I can't get out to Vegas by then.  \n\nSO...at the end of the day the Downtown Grand is keeping my $400+ bucks, and I'm getting nothing, which leaves my evaluation at 1-star.  Appreciate the effort from Sarah, but it doesn't go far enough.  Was really hoping for a full refund or at least a partial refund, say all but $100.  \n\nFYI - my 4 buddies that I go to Vegas with every year at this time are also incensed about this.  We usually get pizza at the Downtown Grand's pizza restaurant for lunch 1 day during our trip, and they were considering staying at the hotel this time as well.  Well, the restaurant is now off the rotation and they did not reserve their rooms at the Downtown Grand, due entirely to what happened to me.  \n\nHope the Downtown Grand's loss of a couple of thousand dollars of business from us every year was worth the $400+ of mine.