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.
I will in the future make it a PARTICULAR point to MAKE SURE that I DO NOT book (or stay at) ANY resort, hotel, inn, etc. even REMOTELY affiliated with Westin.....
Designated smoker hotel rooms really smell bad... especially the ones where the windows are sealed.
I smoke, but I smoke outside, and I don't smoke in hotel rooms unless I can stand by an open window, or better yet, a balcony.
The article says they will charge you 200 dollars
1st employee.... There is smoke coming from Casaubons room
2nd employee.... quick. Swipe his credit card.
I can think of maybe one stay at a Westin in my 50 years, so I'm not likely to be patronizing them soon. However, I wouldn't have a problem doing so, as this is a free business decision on their part. No one is forced to stay there, nor are they prohibited from staying there. They are, after all, providing an outdoor designated area.
So, what are you suggesting? That the gubmint step in and tell Westin that they can't ban smoking?
Westin is making a marketing decision pure and simple, as is their right. They're an upscale chain, so it comes as no surprise that 92% of their guests desire a smokefree environment, smoking being in precipitous decline among the more affluent and well-educated.
But smoking rooms will be available for a few more years, at least, at Days Inn.
Of course you're right.
As long as the Gov't isn't involved I'm just fine with this.
They are, just after the fact.
P.O. Box 51991
North Courniche Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
21553
Hotel Rating: *****
This is one more reason why, when I have to travel on business, I stay at a Hilton or Hilton family hotel (Hampton, Embassay Suites, etc.). Smoking rooms and a manager happy hour...WOO HOO!
"Anyone caught smoking in their room will have $200 added to their bill as a cleaning fee"
Ahh but there is the trick, they have to catch me..
Im half tempted to get a room there with cash and smoke just to take pictures and see if I can get away with it.. and yes you can still book a room with cash.. lolol
If there are no non-smoking businesses, then there is a potential clientele (people who dislike smoke) that is not being served. A business which forbids smoking can very easily win this group as customers.
If more businesses start to forbid smoking, however, the smoke-hating clientele will have to be shared among all of them. Further, the smokers who were chased out of those businesses will flock to the remainder. Consequently, while the first business to forbid smoking is likely to gain many customers at the cost of losing a few, later businesses who follow suit will have smaller gains and bigger losses from doing so.
In a free market there SHOULD be places that forbid smoking. The only people who deserve to be called "Smoke Nazis" are those who insist that there should ONLY be places that forbid smoking.
Where I have a problem is when the government gets involved and forces all businesses (restaurants, bars, etc) to be smokefree.
Before Utah banned smoking in hotels my wife and I would stay at one along the Green River. Did this for years. Now we drive right through the quarry state getting only enough gas to make it to Colorado. Instead of us dropping 100 bucks or so they only get a few bucks from the gas we buy. FE.
I like it. We'll see how the free market works. I hate being stuck in an ashtray when they run out of unscented rooms.
More power to the "smokers hotels" to see if they can make money in that segment.
Excellent news! The Westin has become my new hotel of choice!
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