Peter, there is no policy in the PWG, that I am aware of, which says all
our meetings are at Marriotts. It really depends on who is coordinating the
meeting and what they feel is best. For example, the last meeting I
coordinated here, in Boulder, was at the Boulderado. I'll be coordinating
the Denver PWG meeting later this year and expect to hold it downtown at
one of the major hotels. It may be Marriott, Adam's Mark, Brown Palace or
whatever I determine will best accommodate our needs. Frequently, you can
find alternative boarding close by the meeting if the PWG arrangements do
not suit you well.
I guess the best way to effect what hotel we meet at is to host a meeting
in your area ;-).
Harry Lewis
IBM Printing Systems
harryl at us.ibm.comPJohansson at aol.com on 04/05/99 03:37:12 PM
Please respond to PJohansson at aol.com
To: pwg-announce at pwg.org
cc: (bcc: Harry Lewis/Boulder/IBM)
Subject: Re: PWG-ANNOUNCE> May Meeting Information
In a message dated 99-04-05 15:45:12 EDT, don at lexmark.com writes:
<<Reservation: 800-228-9290
Hewlett-Packard rate 169.00 / night>>
I was unable to make a reservation either by calling the 800 number or
long-distance direct to the hotel. The staff at the hotel was singularly
unhelpful and told me I couldn't book directly with them,
I think the PWG should revisit its policy of providing all of its business
to
Marriott on an exclusive basis. As far as I understand it, this is so some
participants can amass "frequent stay" bonuses with a single vendor. I have
not been impressed with Marriott service, particularly their unwillingness
to
accommodate special needs of the PWG. Additionally, difficulties making
reservations with Marriott are not an isolated occurrence.
I think meeting hotels should be picked on a rational, business-like basis
that includes price and service as key determinants in their selection. I
don't think it is wise to blindly give all of the PWG business to one
vendor
without investigating other possibilities.
Peter Johansson
Congruent Software, Inc.
98 Colorado Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 527-3926
(510) 527-3856 FAX
pjohansson at aol.com