Evening star., 1921-07-17
To AmericaHize French Hotels.

Reports Of unfavorable hotel condi-
tions in France. which are supposed to
be discouraging American tourists from
European travel: are simply German
propaganda" which must be fought by
improving French hotel methods. says
the Echo de Paris.
We cannot leave unanswered the vio-
lent attacks of which the French hotels
have been the subject We are all the
more sensitive to them because they
come from friends whom we want to
please not only for our profit, but with
the intention of making them feel our
gratitude.
"It appears that a campaign has been
started in the United States to prevent
Americans comAg to spend their vaca-
tons in France They are told not to
cross the ocean to go to Paris and the
provinces. that they will be badly re-
ceivea and imposed upon. that they are
not wanted and that il public feeling is
not exactly hostile to them it is not
sympathetic either.
Il ask permission to speak here quite
frankly Of this little family quarrel. as
one who has recently lived in nearly all
the large hotels Of the United States.
from New York to San Francisco.
about the origin Of this campaign
there can be no mistake; it is certain
ly a boche inspiration. Our adver-
saries know better than we do that
travelling is first of all q source OF
revenue and also an industrial and
commercial advertisement.
There is only one way Of fighting
against this propaganda. and that is
to make our guests feel that tney are
better off with US than anywhere else.
The Americans complain Of the high
prices demanded Of them in our first
class hotels, but it is certain that
when the dollar was worth hfteen
francs or more the benefits OF the ex-
change did not give them much op.
I'm the United States the most
comfortable hotels belong to we'll
known bankers. The Biltmore and
Vanderbilt, as the names indicate.
were built by the Vanderbilt family.
The Astoria and the Waldorf: only to
speak Of the hotels Of New York. are
caro- packers, the largest meat SELL
ers in the world. are shareholders
principally interested In q chain Of
American hotels where they dispose
of their goods. THESE nnancial pow
ers have used there. as everywhere,
excellent methods. and American ho-
tells have profited by their experience
In organization and exploitation.
at is the same In the watering
places. One day Mr.. Pierpont Nor
gan discovered that the virginian
waters Of Hot Sulphur Springs were
good for him and that he had not
always time to cross the ocean to 60
to the European watering places. He
built at Hot Springs a hotel ana
bathing establishment which is GER
tainly Z model from which the French
state, which owns % many OF our
celebrated springs, would 90 well to
20 and study the extraordinary Or
ganisAtien.
| ing at these various Embellishments
continues the writer, Il should ike 70
| m ention first that the cost OF living
is not cheaper there than here; far
from it. But what must really oe
praised is an American virtue which is
the basis Of all commercial transac-
| tions. Every precaution Is taken 50
that the client has no disagreeable
| surprises, that he knows exactly what
|. he is spending, 50 that there can be
no dispute at the time of paying the
bill. This pleasant harmony 10 OBJ
] tained BY 4 very simple means. which