The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-05-05
HOTEL MEN WILL
NOT REDUCE RATES
1be Increased Costs Of Operation Not
Vet Fallen 10 Level 10 Warrant

let isiien 70 Level 10 Warrant
The Hotel Mems Association of Yer.
mont held an enfhuslaistic and spirited
meeting Friday az the Hotel Vermont
in Burlington, the first meeting Of the
association 10 Be held FOR nearly three
years. President Max l. Powell of
Burlington. presided Al the afternoon
session, az which time y great. deal
~fas accomplished and an important
step taken b. the hotel men ia going
on record as In favor Of a statement
prepared by l.. G. TreadWay Of Viii
iamstown,. Mass, in regard to the
present hotel rates. According to this
action the hotel prices In the State
viii not be reduced this season, the
reasons given being logical, according
70 the views Of the hotel men. Mr.
Treadway Is manager Of the Williams
Inn at Williamstown. Mass. president
Of Ye Dorset Inn at Dorset and pro-
prietor Of the Ashfield House at Ash
field, Mass. The statement that the
Vermont association went on record
as in favor Of is as follows:
There is a popular demand today for
q general reduction in prices. This
demand is not limited to commodities.
but includes service. As hotel men
selling food and service, we are called
spon, and rather vigorously, TO reduce
our rates. In presenting the case for
discussion. would preface my re-
marks by the general statement that
this question is one Of local option,
by that | mean il Is an individual
problem for each hotel man TO work
out for himself. IL the individual
raised his rates in proportion TO the
high cost Of living, he should reduce
MS rates, now that a lowering Of costs
Is evident However, do not believe
that hotels in general increased rates
to match the advanced cost Of operat-
ing, but took their losses or lack of
fair profits as they went along.
Take, for instance, The Williams
Inn. Williamstown, Mass, a hotel Of
20 rooms conducted on the American
plan. In 1917 the maximum rate was
So per day: in 1913 $3.50; in 1919 81;
IN 1920 S.; an increase from 1917 70
1920 Of 33 rs per cent These figures
show that an increase was not effected
over a period Of fours years, compar-
able to the increased cost Of food,
china, glass, linen, cotton, labor, and
the thousand and one things that
make up the cost side Of operating
hotel
The public always gets mad when
hotel men talk about overhead expens-
es and il is our duty to ourselves and
fellow hotel men 20 throw more light
on that side Of our auditing. We !
should point out that increased costs
Of transportation, light and fuel in-
creased valuation Of property and
higher taxes are just as important in I
figuring costs as the more iluctuating i
prices Of foodstufFs. Compare the eX-
pcnse Of your monthly or annual audit
together with income tax returns with 5
the amount paid in 1917, and you will
surprise yourself as well as the indig- I
nant guest Il
We. as operators Of hotels, are SO
pleased TO note that sheets that last 2
summer cost US s23 per dozen can now
be bought for sI4. that We have
feeling Of sympathy for
our guests and think that We ought to
reduce our rates. But when we COM
pare today's price with the 1917 price
n $40, We find we are still 33 l-3 per
cent high. There is. TO be sure,
great variance in the advanced costs e
n different articles. but ! believe that =
he average Of all Is 30 per cent over
1917 The point ] wish to make is
his: We like our patrons. are con y
sidering today's prices which are low
r than they have been for some time 3
Is compared TO 1920, rather than with {
sI7. Q
The a Ia carte bin Of fare should !,
-chcct the drop in prices of food !.
tufts. but the room charge cannot be :,
owered at present and be fair TO the )
lotel man In my opinion. the aver !, !
,Ee American plan hotel should main :, =
ain the 1920 prices but indulge IN a "
title more repainting and refurnish-
nr. and ofTer a better hotel 70 the
raveling public
To summarize this very sketchy ar
unent. The hafd men. unlike thc
ctal merchant, did not mark Up his
'oods when he unpackcd them and !,
onsulted the invoice. but assumed
lsscs as be went along The hotel
nan made 3 mighty contribution dur D.
~ the war in moulding public opinion :
1ward conservation and IN assisting
! get-torethsr meetings Of var activ-
les. TIE hotel man has not profit