EVERY room.
Posted on 11/11/2014 4:47:28 PM PST by naturalman1975
Being a world leader is a tiring and demanding job.
So it's no surprise that having to travel around the globe on a regular basis, heads of state like to enjoy a bit of luxury on their 'down time'.
Brisbane, Australia, is the host city for this weekend's G20, with US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, among others, all staying in the Queensland city.
And it is Obama who has set the bar with his hotel booking this year.
The US President will base himself at the £1,370 (AUS$2,500) a night Marriott Hotel on Queen Street.
The building comprises of 28 floors of 263 rooms, four of which are suites. There are also 10 meeting rooms, 7,750 sq ft of total meeting space.
A buffet breakfast will set you back £19 (AUS$35). But for the same price Obama might want to feel 'more at home' and opt for the full American breakfast.
His room, rather aptly, is the presidential suite on the top floor, with a king size bed and 131 square metres of room to play with. Panoramic views of Brisbane River should de-stress him after his meetings.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Suites for the elite
US President Barack Obama will stay in the presidential suite at the Marriott Hotel.
Cost - £1,370 (AUS$2,500) a night.
China President Xi Jinping will stay in the Stamford suite at the Stamford Plaza.
Cost - £925 (AUS$1,695) a night.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron will stay at a suite in the Treasury Hotel.
Cost - £690 (AUS$1,259) a night.
Burma President Thein Sein will stay at the signature suite at Gambaros.
Cost - £650 (AUS$1,180) a night.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will stay at the Hilton in a king suite.
Cost - £335 (AUS$615) a night.
Saudia Arabia King Abdullah will stay at the manor suite at the Gold Coast Sanctuary Cove.
Cost - £270 (AUS$495) a night.
Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott will stay at a deluxe king suite at Rydges.
Cost - £170 (AUS$309) a night.
But I do love our Prime Minister here in Australia, because he doesn't like wasting money.
His official residence has been undergoing renovations, so he's been staying in student housing at the Australian Federal Police academy because it was the cheapest option he could find that met the AFP security concerns (in fairness, I will also point out Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, also did the same at least once).
OK, and what about all the other rooms at that hotel booked for White House staff and the Secret Service. How much extra will that cost?
In his first term Obama, wife and child visited Spain. They stayed in an opulent castle hostel, renting EVERY room there —a stratospheric expense.
They were asked why they were taking the expensive trip:
“We wanted to show Malia the ‘rain in Spain’...”
A reason so stupid, it SOUNDS made-up, right...?
Wow, I see King Abdullah, Prime Minister Abbott, and Vlad are roughing it for the G20.
EVERY room.
“Personally, I expect leaders of countries to travel with a bit of luxury and don’t really begrudge it to them.”
Explain why they deserve one item of “luxury” beyond a safe environment that is functional?
Don’t forget Reggie,I’m sure Obama slipped him in there somewhere.
Why would a national leader need to travel in luxury? A fine argument can be made that they need to fly first class in an airliner, and stay in a business class suite.
Deal with the world they foist upon all of us. Bastards every one.
Reasons of national prestige among others, but also because they do (generally, I won't say there aren't exceptions - and if people want to argue there's one or two exceptions on that list, I won't argue with them - not naming any names as it isn't my place to criticise the elected leaders of other friendly nations) work extremely hard and basically never stop working even during supposed down time.
I worked up close and personal with some people in these very senior roles. There's a lot of perks to them, but there's a lot of very hard work as well.
And I want the best people possible seeking these roles - and the best people possible tend to be people who could be earning a lot more and living a much better lifestyle in private industry.
Bit of luxury is ok.
But top of the line ALL THE TIME?
Whatever happened to trying to save money for the people paying the bills (I.e. us).
They rented EVERY room? We taxpayers must have paid a fortune for it. It’s good to be king.
All other arguments aside, I do have a real problem with that argument.
Up until 2001, Australian Prime Ministers generally flew commercially on Qantas to travel overseas - yes, in first class, but on normal scheduled flights.
Today they travel on a RAAF operated Boeing Business Jet set up for VIP transport.
Why the change? September 11, 2001. Prime Minister John Howard was in the US that day - in Washington DC, specifically - for commemorations of the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty. He wound up being trapped in America because of the grounding of all commercial passenger flights. Eventually the US Air Force flew him home on one of your VIP planes.
It was not a good situation from a security or governance situation. Our Prime Minister was out of the country and we had no direct control of getting him home.
I think the planes at least are a genuine security requirement in the modern world.
I might have guessed that Saudia Arabia’s King Abdullah might be staying in slightly more ex[ensive digs than Obie...
According to the article, King Abdullah is staying in a cheaper place than most of the others. The only person who is over the top showing off is our President.
http://www.snobessentials.com/2010/10/michelle-obama-in-tory-burch-connell-boots.html
4 years ago, I believe...?
Obie’s Standard Of Living at our expense will not remain at this level for too much longer......
Quite often every room in the entire hotel is taken by the gov.t for Presidential over nite stays.
If I were president I’d consider sending someone with a a secure laptop and a satellite up-link.
I’d attend via Yahoo Messenger or Skype something.
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