The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Downtown Tulsa boasts five existing hotels, with one under construction, one to start and one more planned for a total of eight.
Downtown Fort Worth for comparison's sake has 17 hotels.

I remember but cannot find the hotel study on downtown wanting a minimum of some 3,000 rooms

In my estimation the Courtyard has been a huge boon for the CBD/Deco district. I see people on Boston Ave every night now looking for places to eat and for things to do. The Mayo has had a big impact on downtown as well, bringing lots of people downtown for weddings and other events. We need more, what is the catalyst to get more interest in downtown as a place that can support different types of hotels?

Existing Properties
Courtyard by Mariott: 111 Rooms
Doubletree: 417 Rooms
Hyatt Regency: 454 Rooms
The Mayo: 102 Rooms
Holiday Inn City Center: 232 Rooms
Total: 1316 Rooms

Under Construction
Fairfield Inn: 104 Rooms
Aloft: 200 Rooms

Planned:
Unnamed OnePlace Hotel (less than 200? rooms)
1820 Rooms give or take.

Aloft is opening in September I believe.

Quote from: sgrizzle on July 02, 2012, 02:04:23 PM
Aloft is opening in September I believe.

Changed my post, thanks.

Starwood website says August 2013 for Tulsa's downtown Aloft

Quote from: carltonplace on July 02, 2012, 01:53:06 PM
Downtown Tulsa boasts five existing hotels, with one under construction, one to start and one more planned for a total of eight.
Downtown Fort Worth for comparison's sake has 17 hotels.

I remember but cannot find the hotel study on downtown wanting a minimum of some 3,000 rooms

In my estimation the Courtyard has been a huge boon for the CBD/Deco district. I see people on Boston Ave every night now looking for places to eat and for things to do. The Mayo has had a big impact on downtown as well, bringing lots of people downtown for weddings and other events. We need more, what is the catalyst to get more interest in downtown as a place that can support different types of hotels?

Demand.  The single most important thing we need to do is have more and bigger conventions.  Unfortunately, without sufficient number of hotel rooms, it is hard to land larger conventions.  We also need more employers downtown to draw business travelers.  We need destination sites downtown to draw tourists - such as the Oklahoma Pop Museum, etc.  We need more events like Mayfest and Tulsa Tough (something like a new D-Fest, etc.).  In short, we need more of what we already have, but we really need to focus on growing the convention/trade show business.

Quote from: DTowner on July 02, 2012, 04:23:29 PM
Demand.  The single most important thing we need to do is have more and bigger conventions.  Unfortunately, without sufficient number of hotel rooms, it is hard to land larger conventions.  We also need more employers downtown to draw business travelers.  We need destination sites downtown to draw tourists - such as the Oklahoma Pop Museum, etc.  We need more events like Mayfest and Tulsa Tough (something like a new D-Fest, etc.).  In short, we need more of what we already have, but we really need to focus on growing the convention/trade show business.

I thought that I read a while ago that we didn't have enough downtown hotel rooms to support the current level of demand?

(Not saying we don't need more -- just saying that I think we have more demand for downtown hotels than most may realize.)

My problem with the Hotels downtown is the cost per room. I wanted to book one for the Roger Waters concert. And I checked the prices three months before the show and decided to just go back home after the show.
They are priced like Las Vegas rooms. I'm sorry but this is Tulsa "fricking" Oklahoma. Not the Bahamas.
I am not cheap by any means. 75 to 150 would have been just fine. But 249 and up is just crazy.
We have stayed in Dallas, Kansas City, O.K.C. and Hot Springs for the price I mentioned and all was fantastic accommodations.
It has to be because we are not a tourist destination per se.

DolfanBob's post validates Jeff P's post.

Quote from: DolfanBob on July 03, 2012, 10:44:02 AM
My problem with the Hotels downtown is the cost per room. I wanted to book one for the Roger Waters concert. And I checked the prices three months before the show and decided to just go back home after the show.
They are priced like Las Vegas rooms. I'm sorry but this is Tulsa "fricking" Oklahoma. Not the Bahamas.
I am not cheap by any means. 75 to 150 would have been just fine. But 249 and up is just crazy.
We have stayed in Dallas, Kansas City, O.K.C. and Hot Springs for the price I mentioned and all was fantastic accommodations.
It has to be because we are not a tourist destination per se.

Or maybe because there is such a lack of hotel rooms in the area that they can justify charging such prices for those rooms because of a demand situation.   I have stayed in most of the places you mentioned and payed less in areas not in the downtown core of those cities.  I just got back from a convention in Dallas and the closer you are to the convention center, the higher the nightly rates because of the demand.   You can get cheaper rooms near the Dallas Market Center because there is a LOT of hotels in that area.   I ended up in Las Colinas because I got a better mid-week price there.

Well I am sure that all the nice Hotels Downtown check the concert dates at the BOK and adjust their price accordingly. That is why I checked three months in advance. In hope that they might have a reduced rate like the Airlines do or used to do.
Sure I could have stayed at a Hotel on Harvard or Yale but that would defeat the purpose of just walking from the Arena and having a nice view from Downtown. I was planning on us having dinner at the Hotel before the show and maybe a visit to their bar after, but my entertainment lifestyle has had to take a budget cut the last several years so just seeing the most awesome show ever was enough for us.

I guess the prices would be different if I checked on a Wednesday the 4th of who cares month.

Quote from: DolfanBob on July 03, 2012, 10:44:02 AM
My problem with the Hotels downtown is the cost per room. I wanted to book one for the Roger Waters concert. And I checked the prices three months before the show and decided to just go back home after the show.
They are priced like Las Vegas rooms. I'm sorry but this is Tulsa "fricking" Oklahoma. Not the Bahamas.
I am not cheap by any means. 75 to 150 would have been just fine. But 249 and up is just crazy.
We have stayed in Dallas, Kansas City, O.K.C. and Hot Springs for the price I mentioned and all was fantastic accommodations.
It has to be because we are not a tourist destination per se.

I don't know where you are getting your rate information. I looked for rooms (single king bed for 2) on major concert nights (which by the way don't seem to very at all from every other day) and the most expensive room I found was at the Hotel Ambassador for $156.87. The Mayo was only $139 at most and the Holiday Inn maxed out at $116. If I wanted to stay in a reasonable hotel outside of downtown I probably approaching $100, so the difference is pretty small in my opinion.

I compared that to hotels in downtown Fort Worth and I could barely find a room under $200 except for the Sharaton (which is situated similarly to our Doubletree, away from everything but the convention center).

The rates that downtown hotels in Tulsa charge are unreasonably low in my opinion and would lead me to believe that the demand is not there. Maybe it is, I personally don't have any proof one way or the other.

And in defense of high priced downtown hotel rooms, there is a limited amount of space downtown and they tend to be some of the nicer hotels in any town, for that very reason. They need higher rents to stay in business, because the cost is higher.

Quote from: erfalf on July 03, 2012, 01:26:43 PM
And in defense of high priced downtown hotel rooms, there is a limited amount of space downtown and they tend to be some of the nicer hotels in any town, for that very reason. They need higher rents to stay in business, because the cost is higher.

I can't disagree with your reasons.  From there it's a matter of whether someone wants to pay the price or do something else.

Hmm lets see. I checked Courtyards, Doubletree and The Mayo. I really wanted to stay at the Mayo just because of the History. And I have stayed at the Doubletree several years back at a Christmas party but of course that price was reflective of a lot of rooms being occupied by the hosting company so that low price doesn't count.
Who knows. May 5th(A Saturday)of this year may have just been a bad Hotel night in good ol T-Town.

They should come up with a local resident rewards card. Lower rates for non tourist, just to drum up local business and not rely on all out of town gouging price rates.
What a concept. Fill empty rooms with locals at a reasonable price. Sounds like some kind of Kramer idea.

Quote from: DolfanBob on July 03, 2012, 01:58:01 PM
Hmm lets see. I checked Courtyards, Doubletree and The Mayo. I really wanted to stay at the Mayo just because of the History. And I have stayed at the Doubletree several years back at a Christmas party but of course that price was reflective of a lot of rooms being occupied by the hosting company so that low price doesn't count.
Who knows. May 5th(A Saturday)of this year may have just been a bad Hotel night in good ol T-Town.

They should come up with a local resident rewards card. Lower rates for non tourist, just to drum up local business and not rely on all out of town gouging price rates.
What a concept. Fill empty rooms with locals at a reasonable price. Sounds like some kind of Kramer idea.

I oftentimes book a hotel in May downtown, never paid more than $100.

We paid $100 for a regular room at the Sleep Inn near Frontier City two weeks ago. Decent standard issue hotel with clean rooms and all the core amenities.

IMO, a room in downtown Tulsa for $100 is pretty sweet.
I would have no problem staying at the Mayo for $139!

Quote from: DolfanBob on July 03, 2012, 01:58:01 PM
Hmm lets see. I checked Courtyards, Doubletree and The Mayo. I really wanted to stay at the Mayo just because of the History. And I have stayed at the Doubletree several years back at a Christmas party but of course that price was reflective of a lot of rooms being occupied by the hosting company so that low price doesn't count.
Who knows. May 5th(A Saturday)of this year may have just been a bad Hotel night in good ol T-Town.

They should come up with a local resident rewards card. Lower rates for non tourist, just to drum up local business and not rely on all out of town gouging price rates.
What a concept. Fill empty rooms with locals at a reasonable price. Sounds like some kind of Kramer idea.

So... Cinco de Mayo [roughly translates to "drink a metric f-ton"] in Downtown Tulsa (where they shut down roads) was a bad hotel night?  Next you are going to tell me that March 17 is also a bad hotel night.

Quote from: JCnOwasso on July 06, 2012, 08:25:31 AM
So... Cinco de Mayo [roughly translates to "drink a metric f-ton"] in Downtown Tulsa (where they shut down roads) was a bad hotel night?  Next you are going to tell me that March 17 is also a bad hotel night.

What were they charging on those nights?

Oh I'm sorry. I wasn't clear enough. This was a non "Holiday" day. Just a concert day. That's why I was surprised at the high prices.

Quote from: DolfanBob on July 06, 2012, 10:53:29 AM
What were they charging on those nights?

Oh I'm sorry. I wasn't clear enough. This was a non "Holiday" day. Just a concert day. That's why I was surprised at the high prices.

You said your Concert was on May 5th which is Cinco de Mayo. People rent rooms so they don't have to drive from the Bars.

Quote from: godboko71 on July 06, 2012, 11:20:35 AM
You said your Concert was on May 5th which is Cinco de Mayo. People rent rooms so they don't have to drive from the Bars.

Ah Ha! you are absolutly right. I forgot about that since I have stopped drinking and being Mexican.

:)  I think I dropped 150 at the Ambassedor for a room after the Black Keys concert. 

Doubletree Hotel Downtown boasts new fast-casual restaurant

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20130208_53_E6_CUTLIN488857 (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20130208_53_E6_CUTLIN488857)

QuoteThe new Made Market fast-casual restaurant at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown is a marked departure from the building's old formal dining room, and that's by design, said John Greenleaf, global head of the Hilton chain.

Doubletree opened the new Made Market concept two weeks ago, the first of the fast-casual concept sites for Hilton. The company plans to offer the concept to other hotels in its chain, hoping the less formal and trendy format helps capture more customers off the street and from lodgers.

"We're creating a different kind of destination," Greenleaf said. "What we're looking at is more flexibility."

The company spent $2 million on the 6,000-square-foot space, where the restaurant will serve made-to-order sandwiches, hamburgers and pizzas, as well as some grab-and-go options. A coffee bar and a refrigerator case with drinks and other goods also is offered.

Greenleaf said the concept of the hotel restaurant is changing because hotel guests are looking for more affordable options as well as convenience.

Most entree items at the restaurant range from $7 to $9.

Greenleaf said the new restaurant already is getting more outside guests on nights when there are concerts and other events at the nearby BOK Center - up from an average of 50 checks to more than 600.

He said the company plans to market the concept to other hotel groups that are considering new restaurant options.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20130208_53_E6_CUTLIN488857

Quote from: Townsend on February 08, 2013, 11:23:26 AM

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20130208_53_E6_CUTLIN488857 (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20130208_53_E6_CUTLIN488857)

(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2013/20130208_BZJGreenleaf_0208.jpg)

(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQpMQ9dNW6HTHxd55yY-tqPBRkSvzsSy0pnl-F_lCxPOjxudxzD)

Is that John Wall's doppelganger?

PS.  I like how the article shows an article of the John Wall's look-a-like instead of a picture of the restaurant or one of its dishes.

Quote from: BKDotCom on February 08, 2013, 03:51:07 PM

Is that John Wall's doppelganger?

Thought the same thing.

I went to OKC this weekend, stayed at the Colcord hotel. http://www.colcordhotel.com/

The downtown Tulsa Hotels have nothing on OKC in terms of quality staff, (I have also stayed and ate at the Mayo) restaurants and energy. Tulsa has a long way to go, while people that do not travel out of Tulsa might think that the Mayo is "a 5 star stay) let me tell you after a simple stay in OKC at a number of hotels that match the size of the Mayo they would change their minds. Hopefully aloft will be another story. The FLINT resturant that is also in the hotel of the colcord would wipe their shoes on Trula any day..

PS: I paid around 130 for a room vs. the Mayo's now rate of: $275-$319 which is absurd for Tulsa.

Quote from: zstyles on February 11, 2013, 10:08:09 AM

weird repeat post

Quote from: zstyles on February 11, 2013, 10:08:09 AM
I went to OKC this weekend, stayed at the Colcord hotel. http://www.colcordhotel.com/

The downtown Tulsa Hotels have nothing on OKC in terms of quality staff, (I have also stayed and ate at the Mayo) restaurants and energy. Tulsa has a long way to go, while people that do not travel out of Tulsa might think that the Mayo is "a 5 star stay) let me tell you after a simple stay in OKC at a number of hotels that match the size of the Mayo they would change their minds. Hopefully aloft will be another story. The FLINT resturant that is also in the hotel of the colcord would wipe their shoes on Trula any day..

PS: I paid around 130 for a room vs. the Mayo's now rate of: $275-$319 which is absurd for Tulsa.

The Colcord is a wonderful hotel and is owned by the same group that owns the Ambassador in Tulsa.

Quote from: carltonplace on February 11, 2013, 10:20:53 AM
the same group that owns the Ambassador in Tulsa.

Another wonderful hotel.

Quote from: carltonplace on February 11, 2013, 10:20:53 AM
The Colcord is a wonderful hotel and is owned by the same group that owns the Ambassador in Tulsa.

The Coury Collection (led by Paul Coury) does not actually own the Colcord.  Devon purchased it from their investor group in 2008 to ensure it stayed open during the construction of their tower.  However, they do continue to manage the property for Devon.  In my opinion, this shows what a great corporate citizen and company Devon is for OKC.

Coury now has an Ambassador in a former bank on Grand Blvd in KC.  They are currently working on another Ambassador in Wichita.

They know hospitality and are doing very well.

Quote from: rdj on February 11, 2013, 11:20:15 AM
The Coury Collection (led by Paul Coury) does not actually own the Colcord.  Devon purchased it from their investor group in 2008 to ensure it stayed open during the construction of their tower.  However, they do continue to manage the property for Devon.  In my opinion, this shows what a great corporate citizen and company Devon is for OKC.

Coury now has an Ambassador in a former bank on Grand Blvd in KC.  They are currently working on another Ambassador in Wichita.

They know hospitality and are doing very well.

I believe Devon is managing Colcord itself - Coury hasn't managed it in a couple of years. Wichita Ambassador has been open about six weeks. Both new properties are gorgeous. Go visit!

Quote from: Eroica on February 11, 2013, 10:25:40 PM
I believe Devon is managing Colcord itself - Coury hasn't managed it in a couple of years. Wichita Ambassador has been open about six weeks. Both new properties are gorgeous. Go visit!

I thought they had stopped as well, then I did a Google search and found a page on the Colcord website stating they still did.  Must have been old cached page.  I asked a friend this morning and who has business dealings with Coury and he confirmed.  My apologies for the incorrect statement.

Quote from: zstyles on February 11, 2013, 10:08:09 AM
I went to OKC this weekend, stayed at the Colcord hotel. http://www.colcordhotel.com/

The downtown Tulsa Hotels have nothing on OKC in terms of quality staff, (I have also stayed and ate at the Mayo) restaurants and energy. Tulsa has a long way to go, while people that do not travel out of Tulsa might think that the Mayo is "a 5 star stay) let me tell you after a simple stay in OKC at a number of hotels that match the size of the Mayo they would change their minds. Hopefully aloft will be another story. The FLINT resturant that is also in the hotel of the colcord would wipe their shoes on Trula any day..

PS: I paid around 130 for a room vs. the Mayo's now rate of: $275-$319 which is absurd for Tulsa.

I think the rates for the Mayo are in line with those at the Skirvin - which are probably more comparable hotels.

Trula has not lived up to its potential.

I've stayed at the Skirvin also, and can say that yes it does compare the the Mayo .... mostly in name

Skirvin starts cheaper but goes up to the $250 range pretty quickly.  Motels in general think much higher of themselves than is deserved or earned.  You can get a room for over $300 a night at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago, and they seem to be a notch above the Mayo or Skirvin, but when it comes right down to it, it's still a hotel.   None of them are really all that special...

Courtyard in downtown OKC will get you just as nice a stay under $200 (the people have always been very friendly to me) plus, if you want to go on the train to Fort Worth, they are right across the street from the train station and will let you park in their covered secure garage for about $4 a day while on the train ride!  (IF they charge you at all....)

Or get a room away from downtown, rent a car, and save some money - plus have the flexibility to go do some sightseeing.  Courtyards, Hyatt Place, and other of the mid scale places for the name brand hotels usually under $100 out of city center.

If you are lucky enough to have a company with a discount arrangement with them, those $98 rooms can be $65 - 70.  Or the $189 will be $129.

And always join the 'traveler clubs'.  Mostly they don't expire nearly as quick as the airline programs.

Or best of all possible worlds - get a travel trailer and take it with you - park for $35 a night and get to sleep in YOUR own bed!!  OKC has a couple of nice campgrounds within about 3 miles of downtown with VERY easy access.

The sad reality is Heir, even in a $1000 a night room, there's still a lot of strange people's, um, DNA all over the place.  GHACK!

Quote from: Conan71 on February 12, 2013, 09:27:50 PM
The sad reality is Heir, even in a $1000 a night room, there's still a lot of strange people's, um, DNA all over the place.  GHACK!

That's exactly why I hate hotels/motels!  I probably average 50 to 60 nights a year (at times more, but has slowed lately) and it creeps me out all the time.  Even the very best you can find are still marginal - no matter how 'clean' they look, they are still not.  And no matter what, I NEVER go barefoot in the room - I always have either shoes or flip-flops on, especially in the shower!  Get a lot of free room nights - something I would just as soon not use.

One thing they do that really is almost amusing - some hotels will ask you to "conserve" water by reusing the bed linens and/or towels.  If you don't want to, leave the card on the bed and the towels on the floor of the bath.  Well, one chain I seem to use more than most makes a pretty big deal of it, but I always want them to change sheets every day.  And they say they will.  It is as if I can't put a small mark on the sheets with a pen, Hyatt, and see that even though you "say" they are changed, they really aren't....EVERY time.  Just makes me wonder if they really were changed from the last occupant.  Just saying....

In fairness, they all do that same thing - have never stayed 3 nights or more in any place where they didn't leave the sheets at least half the time - or more.

Yeah...the Ritz Carlton, Chicago is nice, but in the end, it's just another hotel.  Been a long time since I was there.  May have to go back sometime...not.

Long live camping!!  But it's tough to put a 28 foot trailer in checked baggage - the oversize fees are huge!

Yes heir, just like the last rental car, the last airline seat you sat in, and the pocket in the seat in front of you. Or the pillow or blanket on the flight, the last restaurant that you ate in and sat in, and the table you had, the plate that you ate off of, and the glass you had your drink out of, and the silverware you used. The cup that you got at QT, the counter where you paid for it, the gas pump you got fuel from, the door at the mall or store and any other public place that you have been to. Want to talk about theaters? How about amusement parks you took your kids to?

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 13, 2013, 03:12:37 AM
Yes heir, just like the last rental car, the last airline seat you sat in, and the pocket in the seat in front of you. Or the pillow or blanket on the flight, the last restaurant that you ate in and sat in, and the table you had, the plate that you ate off of, and the glass you had your drink out of, and the silverware you used. The cup that you got at QT, the counter where you paid for it, the gas pump you got fuel from, the door at the mall or store and any other public place that you have been to. Want to talk about theaters? How about amusement parks you took your kids to?

Stop it!!!

I'm an OCD germ phobe.  Wait, was that DCO, or COD....

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 13, 2013, 03:12:37 AM
Yes heir, just like the last rental car, the last airline seat you sat in, and the pocket in the seat in front of you. Or the pillow or blanket on the flight, the last restaurant that you ate in and sat in, and the table you had, the plate that you ate off of, and the glass you had your drink out of, and the silverware you used. The cup that you got at QT, the counter where you paid for it, the gas pump you got fuel from, the door at the mall or store and any other public place that you have been to. Want to talk about theaters? How about amusement parks you took your kids to?

Don't forget ATMs and gas pump handles....

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 13, 2013, 03:12:37 AM
Yes heir, just like the last rental car, the last airline seat you sat in, and the pocket in the seat in front of you. Or the pillow or blanket on the flight, the last restaurant that you ate in and sat in, and the table you had, the plate that you ate off of, and the glass you had your drink out of, and the silverware you used. The cup that you got at QT, the counter where you paid for it, the gas pump you got fuel from, the door at the mall or store and any other public place that you have been to. Want to talk about theaters? How about amusement parks you took your kids to?

Absolutely.  The difference is the exposure time.  In a hotel/motel you have a much longer "soak" time.  Intensity and duration is what makes a disease event.  More germs for shorter time is similar to fewer germs for longer time.  (Just like in your house!)

And you can wash your hands with most of those events and move away from it....in the motel, even the walls are out to get you - you are bathing in a sauna of germs.  It is one large 'stew' of various bugs with a fan on the wall (air cond/heater) to stir the pot so you have even distribution and constant inundation with the ongoing, "building every day", next layer of germs.

Anyone totally freaked out yet?? 

Not me...I worked for several years in a job where there were visits to food processing plants as well as sewage treatment plants.  Developed immunities that have lasted a lifetime!  And the food processing plants were far and away the worst smelling of the batch!!

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 13, 2013, 10:04:18 AM

Absolutely.  The difference is the exposure time.  In a hotel/motel you have a much longer "soak" time.  Intensity and duration is what makes a disease event.  More germs for shorter time is similar to fewer germs for longer time.  (Just like in your house!)

And you can wash your hands with most of those events and move away from it....in the motel, even the walls are out to get you - you are bathing in a sauna of germs.  It is one large 'stew' of various bugs with a fan on the wall (air cond/heater) to stir the pot so you have even distribution and constant inundation with the ongoing, "building every day", next layer of germs.

Anyone totally freaked out yet?? 

Not me...I worked for several years in a job where there were visits to food processing plants as well as sewage treatment plants.  Developed immunities that have lasted a lifetime!  And the food processing plants were far and away the worst smelling of the batch!!

Is that supposed to be like the five second rule?  Sorry, but time in contact does not matter, it just takes contact period.  Once you make contact, it's there. 

Quote from: custosnox on February 13, 2013, 09:07:54 PM
Is that supposed to be like the five second rule?  Sorry, but time in contact does not matter, it just takes contact period.  Once you make contact, it's there. 

It's an "area under the curve" over time thing...if you are exposed to 1 germ in 10 hours, it is different than 10 germs in 1 hour.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 14, 2013, 08:25:24 AM

It's an "area under the curve" over time thing...if you are exposed to 1 germ in 10 hours, it is different than 10 germs in 1 hour.

But there is no real difference between 10 germs in 1 hour and 10 germs in 10 hours.  Once you are exposed to the germ, you are exposed, regardless of how long the exposure is.  We aren't film, after all.

Quote from: custosnox on February 14, 2013, 10:01:03 AM
But there is no real difference between 10 germs in 1 hour and 10 germs in 10 hours.  Once you are exposed to the germ, you are exposed, regardless of how long the exposure is.  We aren't film, after all.

The odds of becoming ill from the exposure is what changes.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 14, 2013, 11:12:36 AM

The odds of becoming ill from the exposure is what changes.

Depends on the "germ" and your immune system.  "Germ" is a rather useless term for a very broad and diverse category of organisms.

A robust immune system is far more important than a clean environment.  In fact, a fastidiously clean environment can lead to much poorer health, especially in children.

We aren't meant to be divorced from nature.  It's not healthy.

Quote from: Gaspar on February 14, 2013, 01:19:05 PM
Depends on the "germ" and your immune system.  "Germ" is a rather useless term for a very broad and diverse category of organisms.

A robust immune system is far more important than a clean environment.  In fact, a fastidiously clean environment can lead to much poorer health, especially in children.

We aren't meant to be divorced from nature.  It's not healthy.

Yes, but I'm pretty certain it's not necessary to sit down on a bedspread with 150 or so different "DNA samples".  Ghack!  That's why it's the first thing to hit the floor when I check into a room.

Quote from: Conan71 on February 14, 2013, 02:17:46 PM
Yes, but I'm pretty certain it's not necessary to sit down on a bedspread with 150 or so different "DNA samples".  Ghack!  That's why it's the first thing to hit the floor when I check into a room.

and the remote.  Need to ask the desk for rubber gloves or some grabbing sticks. 

"Why do the glasses in the bathroom smell like lemon pledge?"

Quote from: Conan71 on February 14, 2013, 02:17:46 PM
That's why it's the first thing to hit the floor when I check into a room.

That might be effective for you if you were the only one to do that.

So have we all concluded that public spaces are not sanitary? ...perfect!

Quote from: Conan71 on February 14, 2013, 02:17:46 PM
Yes, but I'm pretty certain it's not necessary to sit down on a bedspread with 150 or so different "DNA samples".  Ghack!  That's why it's the first thing to hit the floor when I check into a room.

I have heard that hotel rooms can cause pregnancy.  Can't wait until that Springer episode.

"It's not your baby!  I got it from the bedspred!"

(http://www.speakeasystage.com/_photos/jerry_hi_4.jpg)

Quote from: Red Arrow on February 14, 2013, 02:40:55 PM
That might be effective for you if you were the only one to do that.

The thing with the bed spread is that because they are so bulky and they go over the sheets that people are supposed to be sleeping between, they don't get washed as often as they should (you know, like between every check-in).  The sheets tend to get replaced between every check in (if it's a decent hotel).  So yeah, I do the whole yank the bedspread off too.

Quote from: custosnox on February 14, 2013, 07:54:55 PM
The thing with the bed spread is that because they are so bulky and they go over the sheets that people are supposed to be sleeping between, they don't get washed as often as they should (you know, like between every check-in).  The sheets tend to get replaced between every check in (if it's a decent hotel).  So yeah, I do the whole yank the bedspread off too.

I like to think that the sheets are changed every day.

I can't help but remember the episode of Monk (TV show) where he was shown the abundant amount of DNA all over the room and he had it cleaned to be spotless.  The plot was actually about the maids murdering one of their own.

Quote from: Red Arrow on February 14, 2013, 08:20:11 PM
I like to think that the sheets are changed every day.

I can't help but remember the episode of Monk (TV show) where he was shown the abundant amount of DNA all over the room and he had it cleaned to be spotless.  The plot was actually about the maids murdering one of their own.

My wife, who has worked in the industry for years, says that they are supposed to change sheets between check-ins, and bed spreads every couple of weeks.  But then again, that depends on the hotel on if that is really done or not. 

I think of that episode almost every time I stay in a hotel, and then become very thankful I don't have one of those lights.

Guess that I'm not as paranoid or germophobic, or that the places I stay in, I have only had two bad experiences. One was a room booked by an employer where I was bitten by a spider, the other was a recommendation by my ex sister-in-law. So two in 40 some years is a good average.

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 15, 2013, 05:00:38 AM
Guess that I'm not as paranoid or germophobic, or that the places I stay in, I have only had two bad experiences. One was a room booked by an employer where I was bitten by a spider, the other was a recommendation by my ex sister-in-law. So two in 40 some years is a good average.

ex sister-in-law.  Any significance regarding the motel?  Or maybe we don't want to know.

Quote from: Red Arrow on February 14, 2013, 08:20:11 PM
I like to think that the sheets are changed every day.

I can't help but remember the episode of Monk (TV show) where he was shown the abundant amount of DNA all over the room and he had it cleaned to be spotless.  The plot was actually about the maids murdering one of their own.

I mark the sheets every time.  And I can guarantee you that they do not.  Based on literally thousands of hotel stays over the last 40 years.  As I mentioned, the Hyatt's even try to suck you into their little game by asking if you would like to help them conserve energy and water.  And you get to do that, no matter what you answer....

I've noticed a lot of hotels no longer put a bed spead on the bed.  Of course, there are still those blankets....

Quote from: custosnox on February 14, 2013, 07:54:55 PM
The thing with the bed spread is that because they are so bulky and they go over the sheets that people are supposed to be sleeping between, they don't get washed as often as they should (you know, like between every check-in).  The sheets tend to get replaced between every check in (if it's a decent hotel).  So yeah, I do the whole yank the bedspread off too.

I hadn't put too much thought into that but when was the last time you saw bedspreads stacked on the maids cart?

BRB, gotta puke.

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 15, 2013, 05:00:38 AM
Guess that I'm not as paranoid or germophobic, or that the places I stay in, I have only had two bad experiences. One was a room booked by an employer where I was bitten by a spider, the other was a recommendation by my ex sister-in-law. So two in 40 some years is a good average.

Have you looked at yourself under a black light lately?  ;D

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 15, 2013, 09:41:40 AM
I mark the sheets every time.  And I can guarantee you that they do not.  Based on literally thousands of hotel stays over the last 40 years.  As I mentioned, the Hyatt's even try to suck you into their little game by asking if you would like to help them conserve energy and water.  And you get to do that, no matter what you answer....

How do you mark them????????  :-[

Quote from: Red Arrow on February 15, 2013, 07:52:44 AM
ex sister-in-law.  Any significance regarding the motel?  Or maybe we don't want to know.

Not really. She said it was a great place. Well I threw away three pairs of socks that were white when I got there, after walking on the carpet.

Quote from: Gaspar on February 15, 2013, 10:44:31 AM
Have you looked at yourself under a black light lately?  ;D

Yes, and I looked like a refugee from Chernobyl. The bright side is the third arm growing out of my forehead is great for holding my beer while I eat.  ;)

Quote from: Gaspar on February 15, 2013, 10:45:20 AM
How do you mark them????????  :-[

Small spot with a fine point ball point pen.  Tiny little dot that is extremely not obvious.  And move the position around.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 15, 2013, 12:53:46 PM
Small spot with a fine point ball point pen.  Tiny little dot that is extremely not obvious.  And move the position around.

Wow.  I just get up in the morning and pull the sheets off the bed, wad them up and throw them in the corner.

Problem solved!

Quote from: Gaspar on February 15, 2013, 01:53:59 PM
Wow.  I just get up in the morning and pull the sheets off the bed, wad them up and throw them in the corner.

Problem solved!

Not my job.  Plus, they WILL just put them back on....

I just realized there is one thing in a hotel room that I don't use anymore, the remote for the TV. I have an app for that on my Galaxy.

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 15, 2013, 03:40:11 PM
I just realized there is one thing in a hotel room that I don't use anymore, the remote for the TV. I have an app for that on my Galaxy.

Hotel remotes always taste funny anyway.

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 15, 2013, 03:40:11 PM
I just realized there is one thing in a hotel room that I don't use anymore, the remote for the TV. I have an app for that on my Galaxy.

I can stand outside a motel window and change the channel. It freaks out the people in the room.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 15, 2013, 12:53:46 PM
Small spot with a fine point ball point pen.  Tiny little dot that is extremely not obvious.  And move the position around.

If you are the one that slept in them, why are you so worried about it?  If they were clean sheets when you checked in, unless you stay for more than a just a few days, is it a problem?

Quote from: custosnox on February 15, 2013, 07:22:58 PM
If you are the one that slept in them, why are you so worried about it?  If they were clean sheets when you checked in, unless you stay for more than a just a few days, is it a problem?

At $125 a night, I don't think clean sheets every day is too much to ask for.  If I want to sleep in "used" sheets, I can do that cheaply at home or in an RV.  I could live with that for several days, typically.... besides, I want to get used to the kind of lifestyle I can have when I get to the 1% stage of life.  Fresh sheets every night!  Merry Maids cleaning every day.  Private chef....well, I guess that would actually be me....   Maybe a chauffeur??  Oh, yeah...I need a gardener, too!!


And, how would I know if they were clean sheets when I check in?  If they don't do what they SAY they will do when I am there watching, how could I have any expectation they are doing it when I am not there watching??

Stayed at Fairfield Inn (Marriott family of hotels) last night in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana.  Sheets looked 'fresh'.....no bed spread - just a narrow decorative quilt like thing.  Cleaned - washed and dried - the remote first thing when I arrived.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 18, 2013, 10:22:01 PM

Stayed at Fairfield Inn (Marriott family of hotels) last night in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana. 

You stayed in three states simultaneously?

Quote from: sgrizzle on February 19, 2013, 07:43:10 AM
You stayed in three states simultaneously?

Yep.  Well, not actually all 3...just 2...back and forth from one block to the next, going between Texas and Arkansas.  They just like to do a mind game association with Louisiana....

Nice old downtown area with a lot of older buildings in various stages of decay and restoration.  Many more have been lost.  One free "atta-boy" to you if you tell me the name of the city/town.  Should be trivial....

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 19, 2013, 01:07:18 PM
Yep.  Well, not actually all 3...just 2...back and forth from one block to the next, going between Texas and Arkansas.  They just like to do a mind game association with Louisiana....

Nice old downtown area with a lot of older buildings in various stages of decay and restoration.  Many more have been lost.  One free "atta-boy" to you if you tell me the name of the city/town.  Should be trivial....

Texarkana.

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 19, 2013, 05:27:04 PM
Texarkana.

Yay, team!!  "Atta-boy"!!

Interesting town.  Doesn't look very prosperous, but some amazing architecture! 

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 19, 2013, 05:27:04 PM
Texarkana.

Always makes me think of Smokey and the Bandit

Quote from: custosnox on February 20, 2013, 12:06:42 AM
Always makes me think of Smokey and the Bandit

That, and also the movie "The Town That Dreaded Sundown"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Town_That_Dreaded_Sundown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Town_That_Dreaded_Sundown)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075342/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075342/)

Quote from: dbacks fan on February 20, 2013, 12:50:21 AM
That, and also the movie "The Town That Dreaded Sundown"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Town_That_Dreaded_Sundown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Town_That_Dreaded_Sundown)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075342/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075342/)

Concealed carry may not have stopped it, but the odds would have been much greater than none to 1.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 15, 2013, 12:53:46 PM
Small spot with a fine point ball point pen.  Tiny little dot that is extremely not obvious.  And move the position around.

Staying an a Lequinta in Fayetteville this weekend and figured I would give this one a try.  Made my mark, tossed the card on the pillow, went and did my thing.  Came back and check, sure enough, mark was gone.  I've got some more stays at other hotels in my future, so I'll see what happens.

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on February 18, 2013, 10:22:01 PM

At $125 a night, I don't think clean sheets every day is too much to ask for.  If I want to sleep in "used" sheets, I can do that cheaply at home or in an RV.  I could live with that for several days, typically.... besides, I want to get used to the kind of lifestyle I can have when I get to the 1% stage of life.  Fresh sheets every night!  Merry Maids cleaning every day.  Private chef....well, I guess that would actually be me....   Maybe a chauffeur??  Oh, yeah...I need a gardener, too!!

That's a lot of water and energy being used every day to wash hotels linens that probably doesn't need to be spent.
A lot of hotels (even nicer ones) are starting to post a policy that they will not change your sheets or towels unless you loss them on the floor.
You know, for the environment.

Quote from: BKDotCom on March 09, 2013, 07:27:05 AM
That's a lot of water and energy being used every day to wash hotels linens that probably doesn't need to be spent.
A lot of hotels (even nicer ones) are starting to post a policy that they will not change your sheets or towels unless you loss them on the floor.
You know, for the environment.

You may be right...I know that I am so clean as to be OCD about it...there would never be a need to change sheets after I stay somewhere...that right there would save a lot of energy!!   For the environment...!


Based on home water and energy usage - I would estimate that it costs me less than 30 cents to wash a set of bed sheets - counting my time as worth $15.00 an hour.  If they can't do the same or better in volume (purchase of supplies, labor, etc), then I suggest they start looking for another business, 'cause they ain't gonna make it in that one....

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on March 11, 2013, 05:42:58 PM

You may be right...I know that I am so clean as to be OCD about it...there would never be a need to change sheets after I stay somewhere...that right there would save a lot of energy!!   For the environment...!


Based on home water and energy usage - I would estimate that it costs me less than 30 cents to wash a set of bed sheets - counting my time as worth $15.00 an hour.  If they can't do the same or better in volume (purchase of supplies, labor, etc), then I suggest they start looking for another business, 'cause they ain't gonna make it in that one....

They always change sheets between guests!
http://www.ahla.com/Green.aspx?id=24954
http://www.greensuites.com/Environmentally-Friendly-Hotel-Programs/Project-Planet-Program
http://greenhotels.com/index.php

Quote from: BKDotCom on March 11, 2013, 06:56:49 PM
They always change sheets between guests!
http://www.ahla.com/Green.aspx?id=24954
http://www.greensuites.com/Environmentally-Friendly-Hotel-Programs/Project-Planet-Program
http://greenhotels.com/index.php

I sincerely hope so!

That last site was talking about how they reduced water usage by 2 million gallons a year by firing the chef!  He ran several sinks with water to defrost food.  There is so much wrong with that on so many levels....(using water to defrost.)

My biggest peeve related to water waste is how high the flow is on so many hotel showers.  Most now use a valve that controls temperature only, while having a fixed flow rate.  And that flow rate is invariably way too fast!!  Like walking into a water-jet cutting machine!!  They could save half or more on shower water usage just by reducing the flow to a better, slower rate!  Or at least use an adjustable valve so there is the possibility to reduce the flow.

I am all about conservation and being "green".  I have read that the average daily water use per person in the US is over 100 gallons per day.  Whew!  That is horrible!  Not sure if that is factoring in industrial uses or just home use - at the very least it must include lawn watering.  I have arranged the infrastructure in my life so that I average under 150 gallons a week (outside of the hotel stays where I can't control shower speed).  ALL uses!  I don't water grass.  Biggest areas of change are in waste and showers (1 per day - at least).    Save the Planet!!

(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs1/4270960_o.gif) low flow?!