An OMAAT reader asked me an interesting question about staying at a hotel at the same time as a controversial conference being hosted there. I know how I feel about this, and I’m curious to hear how others feel…
In this post:
Guest surprised by conference being hosted at hotel
I received a message from a reader who is staying at a Marriott property this weekend, and discovered that the hotel and surrounding area is currently hosting an event for a rather controversial political group.
The politics of this shouldn’t matter. Given the polarized climate we’re in, let’s just assume the event is for whatever specific organization you think really lowly of. The reader explains that of course this is impacting the guest experience, with the hotel bar even having different TV on than usual, to accommodate the preferences of the majority of guests.
So he asks me, should hotels have to acknowledge when they’re hosting certain events or conferences, especially when it can impact the guest experience for others? He explains that he believes in free speech, but the idea is that he would’ve stayed somewhere else had he known that this conference was being hosted at the hotel over these nights.
This is a major frustration I have with hotel stays
Let me zoom out even further than the question being asked, because this is a general pet peeve I have with hotel stays. I wish there were more transparency among hotels when it comes to what events are being hosted over a given period, and what impact it’ll have on the guest experience.
Free speech is important, and it’s not unreasonable that hotels host conferences for some partisan groups. But also, I think we can all agree that certain events can impact the experience someone has a hotel.
To make this not at all political, let me give another example. Say you visit a resort for a weekend stay, and then find out that four different weddings are all being hosted at the property over those days. This is just a total pain for anyone who isn’t part of those events, since venues may be closed over certain hours, and you feel like you’re tip-toeing around larger groups.
Back when I lived in hotels full time, I witnessed some pretty interesting conferences. Like, I once stayed at a hotel hosting a “furry” convention, which was… an experience.
To the extent that hotels are supposed to offer a pleasant and hospitable experience, I do wish there were more transparency and warning of what’s going on at a hotel during a stay, whether it’s a huge conference, or multiple weddings at once, because it would very much impact my hotel choice.
At the same time, I understand why we don’t get more notice. Hotels aren’t necessarily at liberty to disclose to third parties what events are taking place in advance. So as much as I wish there were more transparency, I wouldn’t expect anything to change.
I realize it’s potentially a huge inconvenience, but if you arrive at a hotel and think the events will diminish your stay, I think it’s reasonable to check-out, and at least not be charged for the nights that you choose not to stay. Again, it’s not always practical, but I do think it’s a backup option that’s reasonable.
Bottom line
When we stay at hotels, we of course don’t have any control over who our fellow guests are. That being said, if an event at a hotel could materially impact the experience of other guests, I do wish properties would do a better job of warning those with reservations in advance.
I understand the limitations that exist, and also that hotels want revenue at all costs. But this is also one of the single biggest things that can diminish a hotel experience, in my opinion. And I’m not even talking about controversial events, but even just things like multiple weddings at once, where you feel the property is being run as a wedding factory rather than a resort.
Where do you stand on big events being hosted at hotels, and the extent to which guests should be warned?
Absolutely not. Who draws the line of what is ‘controversial’?
Either the hotel notifies you of every event it is hosting or none, but can’t be somewhere in between
This does not just occur just at large scale conference hotels. It occurs at any hotel. Even the Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia. :)
I had a stay at the Post Oak in Houston a few months before the election. I had no idea and was not warned that a huge oil executive meeting was taking place there at the same time. Of course, who was making an appearance? Yes. Him. The entrances and...
This does not just occur just at large scale conference hotels. It occurs at any hotel. Even the Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia. :)
I had a stay at the Post Oak in Houston a few months before the election. I had no idea and was not warned that a huge oil executive meeting was taking place there at the same time. Of course, who was making an appearance? Yes. Him. The entrances and valet parking were a mess. Security everywhere. While it's generally a solid property I had seen enough and asked to check out early. Politics aside I was not interested in spending the day with security at every elevator and blocking entrances.
Indeed, I wish I had been warned....
Yes, I'd definitely prefer to know in advance. There are a lot of folks who wouldn't be comfortable staying where a hate group is attending, for example, and might be made varying degrees of unsafe by not knowing that they were dropping into the den of . One shouldn't have to completely change their plans or itinerary to avoid groups that one normally goes to great lengths to steer clear of...
My husband once was staying at a hotel for business and found out the second day that the hotel was hosting a sex workers conference and there were news crews covering it...
Main character energy here
This post says a lot about nothing. What type of event did the reader find so controversial? I also think we need to recognize that hotels make money on conferences and other events much more than the daily operations.
Assuming that the conventioneers are abiding by all of the hotel's policies (e.g. noise standards, anti-harassment, etc.), then the hotel has no obligation to inform other guests. In fact, I would not stay in a hotel that actively points out the political beliefs, religions, sexual orientations, etc. of other guests.
What about a group that traffics in racist, homophobic, and transphobic speech…is that worthy of notification to hotel guests?
Purely a hypothetical of course.
Yes. A hotel is a public accommodation under the law and must accomodate the public, even the parts of it that I don't particularly like. If the three groups you described are not to be accommodated, what basis do you have to demand the accommodation of their inverse groups?
It’s perfectly their right to host said groups. If I were a guest at say a hypothetical Tampa hotel this week, I would GTFOH due to said conference, however. And I would bet a plurality if not majority of guests might like to know the group in advance too.
At the very least, it is reasonable for hotels to tell their guest what facilities will be closed and the hours. On a couple of occasions we have selected hotels specifically to use specific facilities only to find they those facilities were closed for private events during our stay. Especially when you know that people come to your hotel for those specific facilities, you need to tell your guests.
Delta is using AI to manipulate fares and increase profits. Think hotels are going to lose revenue by telling folks “not a great idea to stay here this week?”
I’m not defending any of that, but it’s just reality in 2025. Profits and shareholder value are the only things that matter for most businesses these days. They couldn’t give a flying F about the consumer
In general, no. The hotel also has a responsibility for safety and security of all guests, including conference/event attendees, so publicizing the conference schedule on their website or elsewhere would potentially cause endanrement.
If some of the venues are being taken over for private events, such as the pool area, that's reasonable to advise guests without publicizing who the event host is.
Now....I know of several adult conventions (but have never attended one!)...the hotel...
In general, no. The hotel also has a responsibility for safety and security of all guests, including conference/event attendees, so publicizing the conference schedule on their website or elsewhere would potentially cause endanrement.
If some of the venues are being taken over for private events, such as the pool area, that's reasonable to advise guests without publicizing who the event host is.
Now....I know of several adult conventions (but have never attended one!)...the hotel should require a buy-out and close general reservations for non event attendees (can use a simple booking code). A major hotel in Chicago does this for an annual "convention" and posts signage in front of the doors to advise the public that the hotel has restricted access.
I think that if the hotel anticipates that any event they're hosting risks significantly impacting the guest experience, they need to make that known as soon as they're able. For a Marriott property, I think a pop-up during the booking process is fair, or an email if the event is scheduled after reservations are on the books. It's unreasonable for them to try to alert guests booking through 3rd parties, of course, just as it's...
I think that if the hotel anticipates that any event they're hosting risks significantly impacting the guest experience, they need to make that known as soon as they're able. For a Marriott property, I think a pop-up during the booking process is fair, or an email if the event is scheduled after reservations are on the books. It's unreasonable for them to try to alert guests booking through 3rd parties, of course, just as it's unnecessary if their event is, say, some corporate event that won't really spill over into shared spaces like lounges, pools, and lobbies.
Depending on where I am and why I'm there, I'd like to be empowered to decide whether my stay will be impacted in a way that's meaningful. If I'm coming to Orlando with young kids, I might have issue with a number of different kinds of events, whether due to behaviors, appearances, or noise. But if I'm coming to Chicago for work and only need a place to sleep, I'm going to be less concerned as long as the event doesn't impact my private space at the hotel.
More important to me than notifying me of a conference is notifying me if the hotel is using illegal alien labor. The old Holiday Inn I worked at in Santa Maria, California back in my college days used to employ illegal alien dishwashers. I know because we used to hide them in the cooler when our Teamster rep came in to collect dues (and shake down the illegals for money). These days you could wind...
More important to me than notifying me of a conference is notifying me if the hotel is using illegal alien labor. The old Holiday Inn I worked at in Santa Maria, California back in my college days used to employ illegal alien dishwashers. I know because we used to hide them in the cooler when our Teamster rep came in to collect dues (and shake down the illegals for money). These days you could wind up in the middle of an ICE raid or a mob of masked Democrats shooting fireworks, throwing rocks, burning cars or shooting guns after using the Internet to gather the clan. My safety is worth more than knowing that there is a convention of this or that.
If a hotel is advertising certain amenities to guests (including access to bars, restaurants, and the pool) and particularly if it’s charging a resort fee, it should be providing notice if any of those things will be unavailable. Crowds and noise are hazards of hotels, much as I hate them.
That’s one of the many reasons I gave up hotel loyalty and have shifted my stays from big hotel chains to smaller boutique hotels. For my travel style and needs, I rather stay in a smaller property that offers everything I need vs a big chain hotel. Usually you will get much better service as owners rely on delivering that to survive. Also, almost zero chance a conference will be held at the place. Lastly, chances of being charged stupid fees are much lower.
No. As others pointed out, it’s not the hotels responsibility to notify every guest what is taking place especially for privacy reasons. Traveling involves being tolerant of others. Anyone that has traveled enough knows that you’ll run across stuff that you don’t believe or personally support, but that’s part of life. Of course, if a person doesn’t support it, a hotel isn’t jail and one can go to a different hotel.
Tolerant, sure, but given the rise in political violence from, shall we say, certain segments of the population, I would want to know depending on what I or a partner looked like and wore.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/briefing/right-wing-mass-shootings.html
Any sort of event which is going to disrupt my experience at a hotel should be flagged. This includes weddings, buy outs of certain restaurants etc. If it's not going to disrupt in any real way I don't think it's a big deal.
But even "notice" by management may not be enough. A couple years ago I stayed for a week with a group at a hotel in Armenia, and TWICE the pool area was closed in the afternoon -- when many of us wanted to use it -- for private parties. There WAS a sign ahead of time at the front desk...but the effect was one of "false advertising," with amenities expected at booking rendered unavailable.
This is why I generally avoid grand country hotels at weekends - there's a wedding, and the noise means that I cannot sleep.
So for Saturday nights in the countryside I book hotels small enough that there will be no big party.
Where I was surprised to find this encroaching into a city was at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel.
Political no, assuming activities are conducted within conference/ball rooms. Now something like a porn convention with people walking around next to nude, yes.
Generally I agree with you.
The borderline issue here is things like the channels shown in the public bars.
I'll take nudists over fascists any day.
Seems like a reasonable request to let guests who are not part of the larger event know and give them the option to book elsewhere. A simple courtesy. Any hotel exec or employee in our situation would appreciate the same when they travel.
When I was in high school, a tournament had booked the same hotel as "the world's premier annual exhibition and conference that focuses on education and information exchange among lovers of Japanese rope bondage."
As you can imagine, the organisers of a national tournament for high schoolers were not pleased that the hotel hadn't told them about the other event that would be sharing the hotel's conference spaces.
Our organization was able to extract a...
When I was in high school, a tournament had booked the same hotel as "the world's premier annual exhibition and conference that focuses on education and information exchange among lovers of Japanese rope bondage."
As you can imagine, the organisers of a national tournament for high schoolers were not pleased that the hotel hadn't told them about the other event that would be sharing the hotel's conference spaces.
Our organization was able to extract a promise from [large multinational hotel group] that this wouldn't be happening again, but there's no way they would proactively disclose this to a normal traveler unless forced to. Though it is hard to say that it's unreasonable that a normal family on vacation should know they may be sharing an elevator with barefoot late middle aged white guys in kimonos (barely) tied closed with rope or that there would be lots of scantily clad women moving between hotel rooms at odd times in the middle of the day...
lol. Nope. When you travel you learn the rest of the world isn’t like you. If the guests are rowdy, wrecking the place or engaging in illegal activities- complain to management and when you decide on your next trip remember if management cared or not. If they guests are just boisterously voicing opinions you find disgusting, too bad. Put your big boy pants on and find a different bar for the night.
Several years ago we went to a hotel in Florida with our four-year old for a vacation. Other than about a dozen other guests, the entire property was taken by a medical conference discussing some rather unpleasant looking maladies
Their displays, which filled up not only the function rooms, but also every available corridor were totally distressing, and to my daughter in particular
We left - but to this day I wonder why...
Several years ago we went to a hotel in Florida with our four-year old for a vacation. Other than about a dozen other guests, the entire property was taken by a medical conference discussing some rather unpleasant looking maladies
Their displays, which filled up not only the function rooms, but also every available corridor were totally distressing, and to my daughter in particular
We left - but to this day I wonder why the hotel allowed the group to book (say) 96% of the rooms and not either close the others or require the convention to take them all.
The answer is money.
But I agree with you that management should have done as you suggest.
I hope you put a clear description of the issue on TripAdvisor.
I would be happy if hotels told me there would be construction /reno work going on that shuts off services. But they never tell you even if they know so when you book. The closest notification I ever received was the day before I check in. Hotels know you will cancel and they know they're not obligated to inform guests so why bother. I hate weddings at a hotel because you know the elevators will...
I would be happy if hotels told me there would be construction /reno work going on that shuts off services. But they never tell you even if they know so when you book. The closest notification I ever received was the day before I check in. Hotels know you will cancel and they know they're not obligated to inform guests so why bother. I hate weddings at a hotel because you know the elevators will smell like booze and if you're lucky your floor is the wedding party and you'll hear it all night.
Sounds like a convention going on right at the moment in Tampa.
YES ! I think hotels should post on their websites what large meetings are going on property on a daily basis so potential guests may make an informed decision whether or not to stay.
Whether it in political, niche (Furries ??) or a large corporate meeting.
Just like cruise lines should do likewise, for the same reasons.
As long as the noise and activities of a hotel conference's event doesn't affect you in your room and enjoyment of the facilities, why should you bring yourself to be agitated to care what exactly they're doing or saying?
The hotel is not your property to say what should be there or not, as long as it is within the lawful bounds of society. Learn to not be offended at every instance of something...
As long as the noise and activities of a hotel conference's event doesn't affect you in your room and enjoyment of the facilities, why should you bring yourself to be agitated to care what exactly they're doing or saying?
The hotel is not your property to say what should be there or not, as long as it is within the lawful bounds of society. Learn to not be offended at every instance of something beyond your control in the world. Just because something happens adjacent to you 5 floors down, doesn't mean you have to care.
Otherwise you'll soon stray into the problem of objecting to things based on your opinions, which are no more valid than other people's opinions to the contrary.
By the way, if you choose to checkout, I don't think the hotel owes you a refund.
Bravo to you Lucky for trying you‘re best to keep the specific politics out of this but we all know this was an easily triggered snowflake who was likely wasn‘t able to use the bathroom of their identified gender.
So instead of learning the art of decorum from Lucky’s example, you inject your ignorant trash into the conversation. Way to go, Winston. Shame that Lucky’s dog shares your name. The dog is less bigoted than you.
You‘re one of those chicks with dicks aren‘t you……
Don't you have a rock to scurry under, A$$hole ?
Well since you were so easily triggered and by your own squirrely logic I guess we know what you like.
This is a tough one. Obviously some sort of conservative group is hosting this event and requesting Fox News be put on TVs because the other side demanding MSNBC just isn't a thing. I'm inclined to say as a guest, as long as the attendees are behaving themselves, then you should just deal with it.
However, if it's truly something offensive, like a Klan rally or a group promoting conversion therapy, then perhaps some...
This is a tough one. Obviously some sort of conservative group is hosting this event and requesting Fox News be put on TVs because the other side demanding MSNBC just isn't a thing. I'm inclined to say as a guest, as long as the attendees are behaving themselves, then you should just deal with it.
However, if it's truly something offensive, like a Klan rally or a group promoting conversion therapy, then perhaps some notice would be appropriate. If it's merely a conservative gathering, then I don't think it matters.
No. Proving the conference hosts behave and respect other guests and sign an agreement to that effect. Personally I think guests should investigate the ownership of the property before criticising events.
It's not going to happen, but this is something simple hotels could do that would make it easy to see what's booked without divulging event information.
Have a calendar on their website with a list of room blocks and/or big groups on each date. Group sizes would vary by property size, so a 100-room hotel would probably list a group of 10+ rooms or 50 attendees, while a 1000-room hotel wouldn't.
1/1/2026
...
It's not going to happen, but this is something simple hotels could do that would make it easy to see what's booked without divulging event information.
Have a calendar on their website with a list of room blocks and/or big groups on each date. Group sizes would vary by property size, so a 100-room hotel would probably list a group of 10+ rooms or 50 attendees, while a 1000-room hotel wouldn't.
1/1/2026
1 group of 50 guestrooms
1 group of 10 guestrooms
1 group of 200 attendees
Meh, telling a guest ahead of time that there was an event would deter bookings. Hotels aren't in the business of not purposely turning away money.
At the end of the day, you are a guest. Hotels don't need your permission or consent. You are renting a room and it's your choice to use the rest of the facilities.
Should an Airbnb host tell you that a bachelor party is being thrown next door when you rent out a townhouse for the weekend?
Any conference - no matter the content - makes the stay of other guests unpleasant. I wish there was a requirement for all hotels to announce the dates on their website during booking.