Academic

Summer Conference Season ? Frustrations

By Adam Benforado

Although I?m usually one to see the glass as half full, Jacqueline?s post yesterday on the guilty pleasures of heading off to June conferences immediately brought to mind a hotel trend that has increasingly left me with a bitter taste in my mouth (perhaps that was a glass of IPA): the $13.95 per day internet charge.

In some ways, it is a feat of genius: (1) when the consumer is pricing out a trip, it doesn?t get factored in; (2) it is high enough that it provides a very hefty profit margin; and (3) it is low enough that it isn?t worth it to most people to leave the hotel in search of a café. 

That said, I find it incredibly annoying when, inevitably, on the morning I have to fly home, I have to shell out an extra fourteen dollars to send an email, which will take no more than ten minutes to write, that I absolutely have to send before I head to the airport. 

If hotels want to go the route of ?use? charges, then let?s go whole hog.  Charge me by the minute for my time on the internet.  You can do the same for the shower, air-conditioning, and lights (we can help mother earth while we're at it).  Also, you can have ten of the pillows back from off the bed; I only need two, thank you (please subtract $2 each).  And I won?t need the coat-hangers, or the extra set of towels, or the mysterious array of body lotions ($10).  Finally, there are loads of channels on the TV that I?ll never watch (please remove them and reduce my bill accordingly).

Now we're getting somewhere.  I feel like, maybe, it?s time for that drink.  

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on May 21, 2009 (boomark / email).