An OMAAT reader asked me an interesting question about staying at a hotel at the same time as a controversial conference being hosted there. I know how I feel about this, and I’m curious to hear how others feel…
Guest surprised by conference being hosted at hotel
I received a message from a reader who is staying at a Marriott property this weekend, and discovered that the hotel and surrounding area is currently hosting an event for a rather controversial political group.
The politics of this shouldn’t matter. Given the polarized climate we’re in, let’s just assume the event is for whatever specific organization you think really lowly of. The reader explains that of course this is impacting the guest experience, with the hotel bar even having different TV on than usual, to accommodate the preferences of the majority of guests.
So he asks me, should hotels have to acknowledge when they’re hosting certain events or conferences, especially when it can impact the guest experience for others? He explains that he believes in free speech, but the idea is that he would’ve stayed somewhere else had he known that this conference was being hosted at the hotel over these nights.
This is a major frustration I have with hotel stays
Let me zoom out even further than the question being asked, because this is a general pet peeve I have with hotel stays. I wish there were more transparency among hotels when it comes to what events are being hosted over a given period, and what impact it’ll have on the guest experience.
Free speech is important, and it’s not unreasonable that hotels host conferences for some partisan groups. But also, I think we can all agree that certain events can impact the experience someone has a hotel.
To make this not at all political, let me give another example. Say you visit a resort for a weekend stay, and then find out that four different weddings are all being hosted at the property over those days. This is just a total pain for anyone who isn’t part of those events, since venues may be closed over certain hours, and you feel like you’re tip-toeing around larger groups.
Back when I lived in hotels full time, I witnessed some pretty interesting conferences. Like, I once stayed at a hotel hosting a “furry” convention, which was… an experience.
To the extent that hotels are supposed to offer a pleasant and hospitable experience, I do wish there were more transparency and warning of what’s going on at a hotel during a stay, whether it’s a huge conference, or multiple weddings at once, because it would very much impact my hotel choice.
At the same time, I understand why we don’t get more notice. Hotels aren’t necessarily at liberty to disclose to third parties what events are taking place in advance. So as much as I wish there were more transparency, I wouldn’t expect anything to change.
I realize it’s potentially a huge inconvenience, but if you arrive at a hotel and think the events will diminish your stay, I think it’s reasonable to check-out, and at least not be charged for the nights that you choose not to stay. Again, it’s not always practical, but I do think it’s a backup option that’s reasonable.
Bottom line
When we stay at hotels, we of course don’t have any control over who our fellow guests are. That being said, if an event at a hotel could materially impact the experience of other guests, I do wish properties would do a better job of warning those with reservations in advance.
I understand the limitations that exist, and also that hotels want revenue at all costs. But this is also one of the single biggest things that can diminish a hotel experience, in my opinion. And I’m not even talking about controversial events, but even just things like multiple weddings at once, where you feel the property is being run as a wedding factory rather than a resort.
Where do you stand on big events being hosted at hotels, and the extent to which guests should be warned?