 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-04-23 14:59
Just got my credit card bill and noticed an advance deposit fee from the Hilton Hotel in New Orleans. Even though guaranteed by my credit card they charge and advance deposit fee - charged now, for the August meeting. I have been to innumberable conferences throughout the world and no one has ever charged an advanced deposit fee on a credit card guaranteed reservation. The coordinators of the cnference obviously got snookered in the contract with the hotel. Figure the interest on a couple hundred thousand dollars in advance deposit fees!
The Doctor
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-04-23 23:49
Made my reservation today and they told me the same. They charge your card for one night and you have until three days prior, to cancel the reservation. They credit yourt account for that one night but between now and Aug. they play with your $100.............
A friend of mine says think of something you can make for a penny, sell for a dime and that's habit forming, and get wealthy..............maybe Hilton found it. Let's see. [($100x1000x6%)/12 = ?/month x (number of Hiltons - if you want to look at the big picture)] = not much but more than I have in my pocket.
~ jerry
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-04-24 00:55
Among my "day job" duties is organizing conventions, meetings for work (large and small). Believe me, the details with hotels are ALL negotiable. The larger the meeting and ancillary services (exibition areas, etc.) that you contract, the more negotiable are the charges. Often you must play hard ball and modify the contract that they present to you extensively - sort of like negotiating for a car. Granted, I do not know the details and maybe there was give and take on both parts for the whole package but ..... believe me, August is not "prime time" in New Orleans, nor in the convention world either! It just seems that the participants are on the "give" side of this equation. I am sure that the organizers "know" what is in the contract and this is -- or should be -- no surprise to them! I'll be there with "bells and a smile on" no matter what - would not miss the great clarinet playing for the world.
The Doctor
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Author: connie
Date: 2001-04-24 02:13
This is not unique to the HIlton. Every year, Parents' Weekend at JMU sells out every hotel room within 30 miles of Harrisonburg, VA. You have to make reservations in January for the October weekend. When we did this at the Marriott, they not only had doubled the room rate for that one weekend, it was a 2-night stay only (not just Saturday, as we wanted), AND the entire amount was charged to the credit card when we made the reservation.
The only reason they can do this is because there are enough idiots (like me) who accept the terms rather than drive back and forth 30 or 40 miles for the activities.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-04-25 02:11
As an aside to this post I have found that if my wife accompanies me to Clarnetfest (which she will or more than likely I will not be there) she too has to be a member of ICA. I find this a bit unusual - she has no special interest in clarinets and has no desire to be on the ICA mailing list or to recieve the quarterly (is it quarterly? - anyway) news letter. However, we do enjoy being together at these functions.
As a member of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) my wife is able to accompany me to AIA conventions (national and regional) and other social functions, without being a member of AIA (as a mater of fact she cannot be a member because she is not a licensed architect). Of course the convention fees, banquets, tours, etc., etc. have to be paid. I'm sure that the AMA and other professional organizations are similar.
I have more hobbies than authorized by birthright, and I belong to the national and regional organizations for those hobbies as well. There is no requirement for my wife to be a member in order to accompany me to the conventions associated with these hobbies, or any of their other social gatherings.
Why is it that ICA requires this? Probably the wrong place to ask.
Nite-all
~ jerry
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-04-25 02:51
The ICA started requiring this a few years back - it helps increase real membership and can just be thought of as part of the registration fee.
There used to be a "family" membership - I grandfathered in possibly. It was $50/yr and included membership for 2 people but only one magazine. Check with Rose Sperraza at membership@clarinet.org to see if its still available.
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