The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-08
BUSINESS FAos IN HOTELS.
Costly Innovations Forced by Competitioa
and the Demand OF Patrons

6OStNeSS FADS in hOl
Costly Innovations Forced by Competitioa
and the Demand of Patrons
Although much of the business com
petition between local hotel men is OF
a friendly nature. it is gradually and
rapidly undergoing such q change that
the profits viii soon be reduced TO u
minimum. Every succeeding year
finds such alterations, improvements
and innovations necessary, that any
prog ressive boniface can i'll afford to
ignore them. Just now a number OF
features are being forced on some OF
these caterers, through their introdne-
tion by others in past seasons, and
while they can scarcely fail To attract
attention and meet with approval,
they are very expensive. One of these
IS the prevailing custom of having
daily concerts at hotels In some of
the larger houses, morning, afternoon
and evening concerts are given; at
others the programme is confined &c
lunch and dinner hours, but in the ma
jority OF them it has become a nightly
feature only.
The popularity OF music in hotels is
evident from the rapidity of the de-
mand for it A few years ago it was
introduced by few standard hotels,
but it never became as popular as now,
and was comparatively unknown to
the majority of people. A few years
ago it IVES again brought forward at
one of the modern hotels. and every
succeeding season since others have
followed the example. With the de-
mand for music there has also been an
Improvement in its style. There has
also been an Improvement in the ma
ture of that given for the entertain
ment of guests From the piano or
msndolin to full orchestra have been
the strides made, and now classic mu-
sic. as well as popular airs, add to the
attraction. The better the music. too.
1t is said, the greater the profit. as
many persons are attracted to the cafes.
dining-rooms and restaurants who have
for years been accustomed to dining
elsewhere.
At present the music at the leading
hotels is monopolized by Germans and
Hungarians- The latter were COM
paratively unkDow here seven years
ago. but since them they have assumed
such position as to make il an open
question as 10 which Is the most popu-
lar. The Hungarian gypsies are. how
ever, crowding their Teuton rivals out
of this branch of business At least
twelve hotels and restaurants have
ia ~ ~la nj
musicians. They are all under the
leadership of DIR. Sommer, and are
formed into union for self-protection.
Every day this leader acts as the
unions walking delegate, as well as
its director, and visits every place
where his MN are engaged. II there
is any complaint 70 be made or fault
10 be found with any of his men he
remedies it without delay. II a man is
taken sick a substitute takes his place.
sad the former. during his two weeks
Illness, gets his full salary. The union
also insists upon a uniform scale oi
prices and maintains it. The Hun
garians play light music, but whether
il Is any better than that furnished by
the Germans is a question Of individual
taste
Among the new hotels that have
adopted musical features this season
are the Stewart house. the Marlbo-
rough, tie Brevoort, the Empire. the
1T Andrew and the Vendome. With
the introduction of music, most OF the
hotels have found other changes neees-
sary. One of these is the establish
ment Of table d'hote dinners and
lanche.- These vary IN price from !
stEenty-fve cents 20 two dollars and 1
Fifty cents each. with wine. the quail 4
~ Of the latter being regulated BIZ the /
price Of the meal Half portions sre /
also served % those whose sppetites 4
do rot require the full supply. This I
j. practical economy. and il attracting I
new class Of trade TO the houses j
where Il has been introduced
The ,rsze for things oriental has i
also been developed - marked eI-
t<ut IN hotels japanese or Turkish /
cuffee rooms. in which men accom- 4
panied by ladies Snoxe. are found IN
Dost Of the houses. especially those
" no cater for family trade. This. Ike
TIC obGef lCAANFes aaANsA 70 abJN~s
has been the outcome Of growing de-
naua for something new and n0TeA
Ia the construction Of oriental r~orns
artistic taste u called into play. and
harmony % coIors in cArp>t& fErDF
ture. decorations and drzpery "a D-ces-
sary. IL the desired effects a.. 20 -
had These ps~ features are 10: vel
coined bT mary Of the hotei Hnen, Is
they are costly and do not allo~ cor
responding Increase Of rziea This
rear. nevertheless. the majority g
hotels are getting better prAc@s sos
th,sy accommodations tasn tksY haze
for several previous year. The in
erase IA pTsees demanded b TIE Bss
uptown houseS varies frosa ten q
per cent Bat this So~s
MT seez 20 affect TIE pz:rorsy. "a The
least. IS nos. q 80 hotels bare bitter
y oap<rts than eTer before T.
Te.sxrz1n