New Britain herald., 1924-03-05
Burritt Hotel Stockholders @
 Enthuse at Opening Banquet

ohiJ HI uu6lIeSS SeHSe, lIlteFesteu HI
 this new business enterprise, but in very much larger sense. We are
 partners, compatriots, in a great
 community undertakings home un-
 dertaking. This hotel is something
 more than a mere hotel, as it is com
 monly considered. It is, for one
 thing, an expression of the pride you
 folks take in your home, and that
 always. is a very worthy pride.
 After the home. comes the town, then
 the state and the nation. We should
 take a just pride in all these things
 they are the best things in life
 home, city. country. So it is not
 merely as stockholders that I address you tonight. If you will permit the
 personal inclusion, We are neighbors. friends. This hotel was needed in
 your town and you very promptly and
 very generously saw to it that the
 need was fulfilled. You looked upon
 that as your duty to your town, to
 yourselves, and we. of the American
 Hotels Corporation. in turn, feel
 highly honored that you also feel
 that we were needed to assist you in a practical way in making this hotel
 as useful and as serviceable as pos
 sible.
 We are your representatives. captain and man the ship. but you
 must never lose sight of,the fact that it Is your ship. You therefore, are
 interested in its welfare, in the sue
 cess of its voyage, even more than
 We are. if such a thing is possible.
 We are at your service, yours to
 the ship. And it Is a question of service. I don't mean merely lip service, advertising service: I mean
 real service. the genuine article. You know the strings of that harp "Serv- ice" have been played on so reck-
 lessly of late, sometimes by the rank est amateurs who have not the slight est knowledge of music and whose fingers would be better suited for blacksmithing than for minstrelsy; 1t has been played upon so much and so carelessly that the poor instrument is badly out of tune. "Service!" You hear 1t and see 1t on every side. Everything, these days, seems to be based on the principle of ''service"- the ash collector, the automobile maker. the railroads, the country, the entire 57 varieties arc inspired and kept going by means of that slogan Service" So, at least the ads in the newspapers and tho street cars tell you. Now, that is all right. Service is all right--if they mean if. But sometimes the term. good enough | in itself, Is used very lightly and very irresponsibly. do not call it serv- ice, for example, if A robust indi- ndual, in uniform and brass buttons, stands on the inside of revolving | door and lets you push the doors. I don't call it service If a bellnan, as you enter the hotel lobby rnshes at you like a madman and, before you | know it. has despoiled you of your grip, cane and umbrella, and all the | other belongings he can lay hands on. and then rnshcs away with them as though you had ceased 10 have any | further interest in the property. l call that criminal assault. We hope | we rill have none Of it in tho hotels in The Colonial Chain
 some hotel employees seem to think that the hotel was built for their comfort and convenience, not for the guests. They look upon the guests as an intruder, has no bust. ness there. plagued nuisance, the sooner got rid of the better. I have seen hotel clerks. who, from their attitude and bearing. give you the im- tA Co tr ~ honored to be permitted 10 have a room In that hotel and when you make just complaint to them they take it as a personal in- suit. have seen that kind of service" I can assure you that you will see none of it here, or if you do sec anything Of it or like it, just let US know and well sec 10 1t that tho man or woman, holding such pe- culiar ideas of service, is shunted into some more congenial environment.
 We want you 10 take an interest In this fotel---it is your hotel. I know you Will realize that every business has it's problems, its difficulties and lis annoyanees, and fell that you wili be generous and tolerant, partic- ulsrly at the start. But If we work together. in the right spirit the spirit of true cooperation and mutual inter ,st, I have no doubt that our associa- Hon here will be mutual pleasure and benefit.
 we are all ready for the voyage, Inc vessel Is launched tonight. You are not only passengers but hope you will also consider yourselves as part Of the crew, and will give Us a hand. making this a truly bon voy- ige--that Is. q good voysge--and help as bring the vessel safely and hap oily into port"
 Wcll. Here's Bill Shakespeare
 Charles A. Carrigan, manager of he Robert Treat hotel at Newark. N. J., and a director in the United Hotels Corporation. also discussed the practical side of making hotel suc- .essfui. Mir. Csrrigan. who bears striking resemblance to William was a conspicuous figure n the gathering because many pres ,nt believed that the late Bard of Avon" had returned to earth and be- ! somc a hotel man. li
 Wal. fs<s1. hfnkatd speaks II
 Major General Kinkaid spoke as ' iolloHs: f
 T am not sure as to whether am addressing you as secretary of the American Hotels corporation or as ( of the United Hotels . company of America. I don't sup i ,ose that it is important whether one , IT the other. feel that both posi- ,