Are the JWs really short of cash.....2 weeks in Hawaii anyone!!

by losthusband 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  RubaDub

  First, the estimate for $100,000,000 from 24,000 people is WAY overstated. That's nearly $4,200 per person. NO WAY.

  Yes, Hawaii is expensive. But as mentioned this is the off season. Take a quick look at Travelocity, Expedia or some other travel site and you will see the most expensive rooms listed this time of the year are about $250/night per room. That was the Marriot on the beach. Most other major hotels like Holiday Inn were listed for half that much. Rental cars, with tax, are about $225/week. Food, well, I can't think that on average, a typical couple is going to spend more than $100-150/day on food.

  I would estimate a 10 day trip at about $4,000 for a couple, less than half of $8,400 ($4,200x2) that is being estimated. I would think that about 10 days would be the average; some staying a week or less, others staying two weeks or so. Plus, the 24,000 number would include some children that would further reduce the overall amount spent (staying in same room as parents, not eating as much, etc).

  I'm just not sure how they came up with such a high number.

  Rub a Dub
• 

  RubaDub

  Airfare would be close to $1000 per person (a wee bit higher perhaps). So the news stating how it will average so much is way out of line.

  OnTheWayOut ...

  Keep in mind, the $100,000,000 estimate was for the amount the STATE of Hawaii would receive. With the exception of some airport fees, the State gets very little on the airfare. Most of the cost of ticket goes to the Airline and taxes to the Federal Govt. So the $4,200 estimate per person excludes airfare.

  Again, in my mind, I think the actual amount a typical JW would spend would be only 30-40% of the amount estimated.

  Rub a Dub
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  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  Here's how the International Convention scam works. The Corp arranges with a large travel agency to handle the arrangements. Now normally with a travel agency, a group guide/rep/agent gets free passage for every 24 or however-many booked travelers. With the travel company providing experienced guides/reps/agents to take care of everything, the paying customers usually have a flawless trip, and any problems for the group are handled promptly.

  Do you want to know how Watchtower Corporation scams this deal? You've probably guessed it...

  Watchtower Corporation arranges that the free tickets come to them to arrange their own guides. Well, except, on the paying dub's convention applications, the Corp has already asked for any willing to serve as "bus captain" or "group captain". All of those free tickets are given to bethelites of sufficient years service to the Org, or to a lucky CO or DO. That means free vacation for Br. and Sr. OldFarts, while the tour groups get inexperienced "guides".

  I've been on two International Crapvention tours. The first one in Eastern Europe. No "agent" went with us from the US, but we met the "captain", who didn't seem to know what was going on. Once we arrived in the country, the screw-ups began. No flight to our destination, waited for hours, stayed in the wrong city for the first night. Local guides were provided who did a good job showing us around their cities, but overall there were numerous inconveniences because there was no experienced leadership for the group travelling around in a foreign country. I found out that many of the Bethelites that scored the free vacations, didn't volunteer as "captains".

  The second was Western Europe. Although this trip I arranged with the smallest possible package, the actual convention part was again screwed up several times because there was, again, a paying dub with no travel agent experience who didn't speak the local language, trying to be the "guide". I felt sorry for him, paying for a vacation then finding out when he got there that he would be working through much of it.
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  Finally-Free

  I've often wondered if the society got kickbacks from the hotels they recommended for conventions.

  W
• 

  RubaDub

  I've often wondered if the society got kickbacks from the hotels they recommended for conventions.

  Finally ...

  I wouldn't use the term "kick-backs" since that denotes something illegal or at least something concealed.

  There is no question that "free" rooms are given to the Society for booking hotel rooms they way they do. If anyone here can book 15 or 20 rooms at a hotel, you typically get both a "conference" discount plus a free room (or more based on the numbers booked). The same with airfare. Book enough seats, maybe 10 or so depending on the airline, and you get one free. You are being rewarded by the company for doing the marketing and sales job for them; they are just taking the reservations.

  The only issue I have with the Society in this regard is that they do the guilt trip on brothers and don't explain why they want everyone to stay in the designated hotels. The R&F generally don't understand they are already subsidizing the travel arrangements for the CO's DO's and Bethelites that are attending when they stay at the preferred hotels.

  The argument used to be that they could negotiate better rates for a large group than you could get individually. That was generally true. But today, with the mega-travel sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, etc. you can often get a better price than you would get through the Society. But if you stay at a "non-approved" hotel, you are considered a leper.

  So what the Society does is fine and makes perfect financial sense, but not being open about it disturbs me.

  Rub a Dub
• 

  RubaDub

  I've often wondered if the society got kickbacks from the hotels they recommended for conventions.

  Finally ...

  I wouldn't use the term "kick-backs" since that denotes something illegal or at least something concealed.

  There is no question that "free" rooms are given to the Society for booking hotel rooms. If anyone here can book 15 or 20 rooms at a hotel, you typically get both a "conference" discount plus a free room (or more based on the numbers booked). The same with airfare. Book enough seats, maybe 10 or so depending on the airline, and you get one free. You are being rewarded by the company for doing the marketing and sales job for them; they are just taking the reservations.

  The only issue I have with the Society in this regard is that they do the guilt trip on brothers and don't explain why they want everyone to stay in the designated hotels. The R&F generally don't understand they are already subsidizing the travel arrangements for the CO's DO's and Bethelites that are attending when they stay at the preferred hotels.

  The argument used to be that they could negotiate better rates for a large group than you could get individually. That was generally true. But today, with the mega-travel sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, etc. you can often get a better price than you would get through the Society. But if you stay at a "non-approved" hotel, you are considered a leper.

  So what the Society does is fine and makes perfect financial sense, but not being open about it disturbs me.

  Rub a Dub
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  WTWizard

  To me, going to a Grand Boasting Session in another country is a complete waste of money. Bad enough to go to the one you are assigned to or that is easiest to reach. But, to waste more than $3,000 to fly to another location and waste a week listening to the same s*** you could get at your local a$$embly (or right here on this forum), I could use that money to get a new suit, some gas, suit dry cleanings, and more littera-trash. Or, I could get a new computer along with some decent software, an iPod, a decent basic TV set, and still have enough left for my Christmas tree.
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  carla

  Why bother going to Hawaii? Won't most of their days be used sitting and listening to more mind numbing drivel? When will they have time to enjoy the beauty of the place?
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  sir82

  Why bother going to Hawaii? Won't most of their days be used sitting and listening to more mind numbing drivel? When will they have time to enjoy the beauty of the place?

  Exactly! That's what drives me nuts about the international conventions.

  I went on a couple many years ago. Yeah, you do get to do some tourist sightseeing, but in every country you visit, you are forced to spend at least half a day touring the local Bethel branch.

  You're in Paris, or Madrid, or London, and instead of seeing something interesting, you're taking a tour of a room filled with big washing machines.
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  crapola

  My nephew is leaving tomorrow morning for the trip to Hawaii even though he has been 2 conventions already this year! I just don't understand it.

  But I hope he has a good time though.