Hotel Discounts, at conventions. Oh how we fooled ourselves! (page 2)

seawolf

We were always rebels and stayed at hotels that weren't on the list on the luxury floors that were private and had the private elevators. They looks we got when we told where we were staying: priceless. :D

free2beme

Balsam

Depends on the hotel, that is rare.

hartstrings

Seawolf, We did the same thing. I traveled alot for work and always used my Marriott Rewards card. I would have enough each year for staying in the their concierge level the whole weekend. It always ticked other witnesses off when we would mention where we were staying. The way we reasoned, we weren't taking anything away because it was free and i HATED THE PROCESS OF CALLING WITH 50 MILLION OTHER WITNESSES THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY AT 9:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY EVENING. If we waited to reserve until the next day we'd get stuck in a crappy motel far away.

HS

blondie

We had hotel discounts through our work and also through AAA and another credit deal. Our rooms were cheaper that way and we stayed in better hotels. We figured we left open rooms for other JWs who did not have the discounts we had.

BTW, active JWs we know say that the rooms are fleabag quality and they would rather drive 2 hours one way than stay in one this year.

Blondie

free2beme

I remember one year, a bunch of people in my congregation stayed at a hotel with a major bed bug problem and came home with tons of bites. Sick!!! That was the kind of hotel willing to give a good rate on a busy weekend. Someone normal people would never stay at. Way to look out for the brothers and sisters heath!

scrubmaster

I figured it was not a discount....I could get a better rate with triple a

undercover

I remember one year where all the dubs complained to the rooming department about their accomodations. The complaints that I heard were that it was unclean and bug infested. The rooming department ended up finding another hotel and moving all the dubs from one hotel to another.

We sometimes stayed at the recommended hotel...but only if it was on our personal approved list. We've learned over the years to spend a little extra and stay somewhere nice when traveling. If the hotel of my choice was not on WTS list or already full if on the list, then we made our own arrangements. And I was able to rationalize it. I figured since I could afford to stay somewhere with a higher price, that left the cheaper rooms for the families who couldn't afford much. But, really it was that I just didn't like being told where I could stay.

But in defense of the practice, it's not uncommon for the booking of blocks of rooms for conventions. The conventions planners can either get cheaper rooms or maybe some free rooms. I've heard that the WTS would use the free rooms for Bethel heavys. It also helps convention goers who are not familiar with the convention city or do not have a lot of experience in trying to book a room, if the convention planner gives them a list of hotels that are cooperating with the convention.

Where the WTS goes too far is making staying at an approved hotel/motel almost an act of the worship process that week. They give talks and print articles on not grieving the Holy Spirit by having an independant spirit and going out and making your own arrangements. It's the level of control that is over the top, not the convention planning and making lists of hotels.

james_woods

When did they start forcing people to stay in their approved hotels? I don't remember anything like this up until about 1981 when I left for good. This has to be the nuttiest control-freaking thing ever...

James

blondie

Not exactly "forcing" but some Bethel heavies told me that they had brothers posted by the hotels entrances/exits of those not on the list and took names/congregations from the badges of people going in and out. Then they would check back with the elders in the congregation and have them talk to the "brothers." I wonder what they did if the "offenders" were the elders?

Blondie

jeeprube

Great point free! I remember what a big deal the Society always made about their special "rates", as if the rooming committee had been in weeklong negotiations with the "evil worldly" hotel owners. Wow, how smart are those brothers to be able to get us a cheap room, yet another sign that we have the truth! Remember how it was such a huge no-no to stay at another property that wasn't on the list?

When I was a teenager, we used to go to conventions in Kansas City, Mo. The poshest hotel was the Hyatt Regency, it was a flat race on announcement night to try and book a room there. Then one year a local elders' sons ruined it for us all, those little bastards got into a fight in the lobby of the Hyatt and jumped into the fountain, (and these guys where like 15, 17, and 19). Imagine that, three JW boys, with name tags on, screaming and hollering in the middle of the hotel lobby fountain......what a witness. The next year the Hyatt was not on the list, and never has been since. Thanks Henely boys!

Hotel Discounts, at conventions. Oh how we fooled ourselves!

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