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Westin Hotels to ban all smoking in Canadian, U.S. resorts
CBC Business News ^ | 05 Dec 2005 | Unknown

Posted on 12/05/2005 5:44:27 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult

Beginning in the new year, the 77 Westin hotels and resorts in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean are banning smoking in all of their guest rooms and public areas.

Anyone caught smoking in their room will have $200 added to their bill as a cleaning fee.

Westin said it will be the first upscale hotel chain to go completely smoke-free. Anyone who wants to light up will have to go to a designated smoking area outside.

"Industry research, as well as our own research, confirmed a clear consumer demand for a clean, smoke-free hotel environment," Westin Hotels senior vice president Sue Brush said.

The hotel chain, which is part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, said 92 per cent of its guests request a non-smoking room.

Westin Hotels said in preparation for its new policy, it would deep clean the carpets, walls and air conditioning units, and replace air filters and "soft goods" in the 2,400 rooms where smoking is now permitted.

The chain said it already has eight hotels with a smoke-free policy and has received "overwhelming positive feedback" from guests.

Westin has 11 hotels and resorts in Canada.

The smoke-free policy does not apply to other brands in the Starwood hotel empire, which includes Sheraton hotels.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: antismoking; badbusines; goodbusiness; pufflist; westinhotels
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This makes me laugh. One tax cash cow ( by hotel hospitality taxes ) tries to take out another. The end result is obvious.
1 posted on 12/05/2005 5:44:29 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

I don't smoke - but this will atill cause me to boycott these Westin places.


2 posted on 12/05/2005 5:45:42 PM PST by George from New England
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

Never heard of em. Ho Hum, luky me.


3 posted on 12/05/2005 5:47:38 PM PST by Waco
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

Okay, the Westin Boycott is on. Bunch of nico-fascists.


4 posted on 12/05/2005 5:48:23 PM PST by wvobiwan (It's OUR Net! If you don't like it keep your stanky routers off it!)
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To: George from New England

On the other hand I'm glad to have this as a choice freely provided in the open market without government intervention.

I'll join your boycott if the government ever makes it mandatory.


5 posted on 12/05/2005 5:48:57 PM PST by gondramB ( We don't get no government loan and no one sends a check from home-we just do what what we wanna)
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To: George from New England
I don't smoke - but this will atill cause me to boycott these Westin places.

This no smoking brilliancy brought to you by the same group of genius' that took United Airlines to the lofty position it now enjoys!/s

6 posted on 12/05/2005 5:49:39 PM PST by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
And I am going to ban sweaty people from my business, because they are stinky. My customers do not like people with B.O.

You are all warned.

7 posted on 12/05/2005 5:49:49 PM PST by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

The ban will last as long it does not afffect the bottom line.


8 posted on 12/05/2005 5:50:07 PM PST by Michael.SF. (Paris Hilton - Living proof that one need not be poor to be White Trash)
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To: George from New England

They have hotels worldwide. Why only the US and Canada? They should show some "guts" and do it in all of their hotels.


9 posted on 12/05/2005 5:50:13 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
I spent 5 hrs Saturday at a VFW hall working a fundraiser.

The place was full of smoke.

It sucked.

10 posted on 12/05/2005 5:51:12 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: George from New England
I don't smoke - but this will atill cause me to boycott these Westin places.

I DO smoke, and I have no problem with them marketing to a non-smoking demographic. (Not that I'd be staying there anyway, of course.) Where I have a problem is when the government gets involved and forces all businesses (restaurants, bars, etc) to be smokefree.

11 posted on 12/05/2005 5:53:18 PM PST by Wissa
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To: billorites

"...hall working a fundraiser."

Fundraising...They'd better save their money for their cancer treatments!


12 posted on 12/05/2005 5:53:22 PM PST by George from New England
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To: George from New England

Same here. This has gone too far!


13 posted on 12/05/2005 5:53:50 PM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: Waco

One of the hotel chains under the Starwood group is Sheraton.


14 posted on 12/05/2005 5:53:58 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

I stopped smoking 6 weeks ago. Haven't desired a cigarette since then after smoking for 25 yrs. I won't be staying at this hotel anytime, though. There are other places to stay that appreciate peoples business.


15 posted on 12/05/2005 5:55:07 PM PST by freedom4ever
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
People occasionally smoking doesn't bother me as long as the smoke isn't blowing in my face. Occasionally I have had to stay in smoking rooms when others are taken and it's different. No matter how much they clean there is a staleness. If I smoked I would prefer not to do it in my room but if yall want to I think it should be your right as long as smoking rooms are designated.
16 posted on 12/05/2005 5:58:03 PM PST by CindyDawg
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To: George from New England
"Fundraising...They'd better save their money for their cancer treatments!"

My sense is that they will drink themselves to death before they die of cancer.

Not a pretty sight. Lots of Vets, spouses, widows getting hammered before three in the afteroon.

(I always wait until 4...)

17 posted on 12/05/2005 5:59:11 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
I have a big problem with the government (Federal, state, or local) telling a hotel chain it must ban smoking. But that's not what is happening here. Westin is a private enterprise, and has made a marketing decision based on its customer feedback.

They have my full support. I hope other chains follow suit.

18 posted on 12/05/2005 6:00:10 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina (I've upped my standards! Up yours!)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

but but what if i am on fire?

will they ban me from smoking or put me out?


19 posted on 12/05/2005 6:00:19 PM PST by Casaubon (Internet Research Ninja Masta)
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To: George from New England
I don't smoke - but this will atill cause me to boycott these Westin places.

Same here.

20 posted on 12/05/2005 6:01:22 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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