Anyone know what is going on with the high end hotels???

[Michael Wayne]

I posted a version of this a month ago and got very little response. I believe I have discovered a very serious problem in our biz guys. I am asking escorts and clients to please respond to this. An example: I spend 6 days in NOLA for mardi gras and heard from and saw many old regulars and some new local clients as well. I was called to several mid-level hotels and had EXCELLENT sessions. The trip overall was a success despite the violent crime crippling nola these days. The part of the trip that DISTURBS me is that I did not have one client or even an INQUIRY from the Ritz, the Windsor Court, the JW Marriot, The Marriott Canal, the Sheraton CANAL, THE HILTON RIVERSIDE, the Royal Sonesta or the Royal Orleans. Now, when I lived and worked in nola I heard from all these hotels all the time but ESPECIALLY so during mardi gras. I noticed the same thing in my recent tour in TAMPA- only one high end hotel appt. I am now hearing from very few high end South Florida hotels but from many mid-level chains and mom/pop hotels . The other escorts I have spoken to mostly confirm this..WHY IS THIS??????? Atlanta seems to be the only exception in my experience..........as far as nola for mardi gras is concerned I have 2 observations: 1. The super hot guys (escorts and circuit boys) were not there this time. Great dancers but not the usual traveling touring escorts. 2. The big time, big money clients who call every year were not there and were not calling anyone else I spoke to. This seems to be the result of the violent crime. Overall the crowds were the biggest ever though and hotels were near 100% occupancy.

[corndog]

Mikey, may I respectfully request that you stop bashing New Orleans crime every chance you get? I live in the French Quarter, and although I can't claim that it is crime free, I don't think that crime in this, or any other tourist oriented neighborhood of New Orleans, is worse than it's ever been. There has undeniably been an uptick in crime in other parts of the city, primarily criminals-against-criminals, but tourist areas are well patrolled and as safe as any other urban city. I know you had a bad experience, and I'm sorry for that, but your comments about crime here aren't constructive, and only serve to scare away the precious tourists which are the lifeblood of our community.

 

As far as the high end hotels, it seems to me that as Mardi Gras has grown bigger and bigger in the last few years, the hotels get more and more expensive, and Mardi Gras becomes more and more heterosexual. As far as I can tell, business in all the gay bars was off considerably for this year's Mardi Gras, even though the city seemed packed with people. I think Southern Decadence has taken over as the main gay holiday here.

[maxwellissmart]

I posted a version of this a month ago and got very little response. I believe I have discovered a very serious problem in our biz guys. I am asking escorts and clients to please respond to this. An example: I spend 6 days in NOLA for mardi gras and heard from and saw many old regulars and some new local clients as well. I was called to several mid-level hotels and had EXCELLENT sessions. The trip overall was a success despite the violent crime crippling nola these days. The part of the trip that DISTURBS me is that I did not have one client or even an INQUIRY from the Ritz, the Windsor Court, the JW Marriot, The Marriott Canal, the Sheraton CANAL, THE HILTON RIVERSIDE, the Royal Sonesta or the Royal Orleans. Now, when I lived and worked in nola I heard from all these hotels all the time but ESPECIALLY so during mardi gras. I noticed the same thing in my recent tour in TAMPA- only one high end hotel appt. I am now hearing from very few high end South Florida hotels but from many mid-level chains and mom/pop hotels . The other escorts I have spoken to mostly confirm this..WHY IS THIS??????? Atlanta seems to be the only exception in my experience..........as far as nola for mardi gras is concerned I have 2 observations: 1. The super hot guys (escorts and circuit boys) were not there this time. Great dancers but not the usual traveling touring escorts. 2. The big time, big money clients who call every year were not there and were not calling anyone else I spoke to. This seems to be the result of the violent crime. Overall the crowds were the biggest ever though and hotels were near 100% occupancy.

 

Mikey, I think it has to do very little with crime and more to do with how much businesses are willing to spend towards putting their employees up in nicer hotels. And so what if clients are now staying at the Hampton Inn as opposed to the Omni? I'm not sure I get what the concern is here—since it doesn't affect my rate or the number of clients who are contacting me.

[adriano46]

I have to agree with what maxwellismart wrote.

 

When it was up to my company, I often stayaed at very high end hotels that offered great discounts to pump up their business. Sadly, given the state iof our economy, those discounts are not that apparent.

 

Now when I go to book for a trip (and on MY own dime, and not my company's), I have to work out a number of details, that include also the discount for the room that is included, the amenities, the location of the hotel, and comfort of the room. I often turn to the well-known discount hotel sites such as hotel.com, expedia.com, and priceline.com as an example, choose the location, and see what I can get for a reasonable price, and let's admit it, guys, these days few of us have expense accounts that give us the freedom to choose a room that will be $300 or more per night. Oh to return to the days when I could stay at some of the most wonderful rooms in NYC and other major cities both here and in Europe and Asia and enjoy beautiful rooms, suites, lots of extras thrown in, and have time (and money) to hire some great escorts to pass the time!

 

I also hire in a more conservative fashion. I treasure a few really great escorts I have met in recent years (and months), and tend to hire a "sure thing" than to experiment with new guys. One guy I met recently in NYC I hope to see over and over in coming months -- he was exceptional in ways I have not found among many of his fellow escorts.

[raulgmanzo]

Mikey, may I respectfully request that you stop bashing New Orleans crime every chance you get? I live in the French Quarter, I don't think that crime in this, or any other tourist oriented neighborhood of New Orleans, is worse than it's ever been. ...

 

While my experience is annecdotal and likely to be statistically meaningless I'd like to say that I felt safe walking around New Orleans.

Yes I walked many many miles and often late at night and in the wee hours in the morning going back to my hotel after seeing clients etc.

Not just in the French Quarter but in the Marigny (loved it!), downtown, and garden district, Iberville, Storyville, Uptown etc.

 

Yes it is true that I am a freak for walking and exploring and as a tourist I often walk 10, 20+ miles in a day

 

Also drove elsewhere around the city and yeah I saw some rough areas but a hell of a lot of friendly people, maybe though they were simply charmed by the fact that I was charmed to even just hear their accents!

 

Oh and yeah as far as the original point of the thread I agree with Maxwell, doesn't matter to me where they stay, and I do think a lot has to do with businesses being tighter with travel budgets.

 

Having said that though I note that a few upscale hotels still lower their prces to competitive levels at times. So I do still get calls (mostly here in Chicago of course) to high end even ridiculously posh hotels. Sometimes the client paid big bucks for the glitzy giant 5 star suite and other times they simply got a good deal on priceline or upgraded etc.

[Bosguy]

I don't believe this issue is unique to any one city. The current rates of airlines and their "partners" are becoming generally extremely expensive for working guys and hiring guys. Now, we have to really shop around for the best deals in flights, hotels, and rentals before deciding where, when, and if we are going to travel. Hence clients may be staying in nice, reasonable properties versus the posh Name properties.

 

Boston Bill

[Michael Wayne]

CORNDOG AND JACKSTER: NO ONE LOVEs NOLA MORE THAN ME! i LIVED AT 1201 CHARTRES IN THE QUARTER! No one is cheering harder for chief Serpas than me. I applauded when he rode on a horse to the Bourbon street awards tuesday. For the past 5 years I was considered by many on here and elsewhere as a spokeman for the greater nola convention and tourism people (lol) I was attacked at gunpoint on the 900 block of Bourbon at 6 pm a while ago BUT I STAYED!!!! THEN I had 3 clients mugged IN THE QUARTER in one week!That is when I decided to move. I returned for Mardi Gras anyway and had a great time! I am just saying that if you go be careful and think safety FIRST. Do not drink alot and walk alone cause you are a target. mY COMMENTS ARE AN honest CONCERN FOR folks safety, that is all. But, it seems that the wisdom of the board is for me to not express any concern for the safety of clients there so I will not say another damn word about it. ok? not a problem...........please go to nola and eat, drink and be merry- just use common sense!

[Michael Wayne]

the point of the thread

 

it was not to be NOLA but the hotels (high end) I guess I just have to deal with a changing playing field. Seeing a client at the RITZ just feels better than the Hampton. That being said, the Hampton is on My budget so I can relate to it. I just feel important at 4 and 5 star hotels! lol!

[adriano46]

it was not to be NOLA but the hotels (high end) I guess I just have to deal with a changing playing field. Seeing a client at the RITZ just feels better than the Hampton. That being said, the Hampton is on My budget so I can relate to it. I just feel important at 4 and 5 star hotels! lol!

 

I recently had the very sad experience of being booked (by my secretary) into a nightmare of a hotel in a very bad section between Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea in NYC (I mean it was awful, and I am a New Yorker!). Room smelled; furniture was ratty - some pieces broken; bathroom had not been thoroughly cleaned. Ugh. I had wanted to meet a guy on the first night as I had free time, but was too embarrassed to have him into the place -- and I have nothing but the deepest respect for one guy who agreed to come the next day, and again I was embarrassed to even see him in such a room (it was 90% bed and hardly any room to walk). That this escort was really HOT, handsome, and extremely knowledgeable on the service-end of thingsz was the only bright spot on what was a horrible stay.

 

Maybe it is me, but I find it important - if I am inviting the escort to ME - to have a place that is clean, inviting, roomy, comfortable, and has a very good bath/shower, fridge for refreshments (I always ask a guy before he arrives what he likes to drink, and I provide it if reasonable [most want simply water or juice, only an occasional one would ask for wine]) and I would hope there would at least be two chairs or a comfortable sofa to begin with before oving on to the bed. I's me, I know, but in a way, I would like to treat the guy coming to me to something nice; not some threadbare room in a dingy dirty hotel.

 

Sadly, NICE roomy hotels with 3-star rates are few and far between these days, and the tendency to rooms with minimal comforts is scary.

[Stagger]

I will be in Nola for French Quarter Fest like I am every year at the Marriott on Canal. When you look at the rates the hotels are charging, it is easy to see why guys aren't booking the luxury brands right now. In searching for rooms for Mardi Gras and Jazzfest, the room rates at these places were well in excess of $400 a night. I would much rather use my $$ to secure the services of an escort such as Mikey and stay at a mid level joint. I think it's all about what a guy would rather use their cash on and Mikey you should still feel special because the guy has chosen you and not some other guy, regardless of where he's staying!

[cany10011]

This is a nice interesting observation. Although a nice luxury hotel with great views are great, However, given the choice, when i am invited to conferences in NYC (where i reside), i'd rather sleep in my own bed than the St. Regis or Mandarin Oriental. They're great to check out and have fun in but i travel too much for work and would prefer stay in the comfort of my own place. My cat and dog miss me enough that i'd rather be home for them.

[nate_sf]

This does not directly answer your question, but a friend of mine just got back from the Monterrey Peninsula and says for the first time in anyone's memory the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am did not sell out. Even in recent years in the depth of the recession it apparently sold out, but not this year. I don't pretend to know anything about golf tournaments so certainly someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was interesting. As others have noted, maybe the expense accounts are not what they were, people are spending money on other things, or they don't have the money to spend. Maybe people are giving their discretionary income to Super PACs instead of escorts or high-end hotels, given the election year? That money's gotta come from somewhere.

 

I often book hotel rooms to meet clients, and I've noticed in the last year or so it's been harder to get good rates on 4 star hotels. As others have said, the fancier hotels may not be offering the deals they were before, or alternatively they may be already well booked up so the guy looking for a value ends up in a 3 star. This past week I booked a 3 star though Hotwire and to my surprise and disappointment it ended up being a Best Western Plus. Nothing wrong with the place, perfectly decent, but not the kind of place I'd really want to have an appointment. I was embarrassed to meet a client there. Adriano, I feel your pain! Even so, it was not particularly cheap. A year ago I could have spent the same amount and got into a Hyatt or Marriott and still not spend an arm and a leg, so something is going on.

[Michael Wayne]

ok. thanks guys. This confirms my thesis that there is a problem. I totally agree with STAGGER (every word) . I am not snobby at all and I have never had a certain standard of hotel that I would see. I have made a living off of hamptons and courtyards and (dare i say it?????) RED ROOFS. I have seen guys in motel sixes before. So that being said I think my dick gets a little harder at the RITZ, etc. I think cause I am more comfortable and more relaxed. I am 99.99% sure the cops wont use the Marriott Marquis in ATL for a sting! lol! I also don't feel guilty taking my fee in high end places. I have left low end hotels before and thought to myself, "I really hope I did not just get his kids food money???" seriously! or his rent money?

[Cal28]

Whenever I travel, I do tons of hotel research beforehand, so that I can try to land on a place that feels like a bargain but also seems to be a cut above the rest. It's time-consuming to do it, but for me, trip planning is all part of the fun. (I realize that that's not the case for others.) Time and again I've gotten rates at Hyatts, Westins, Kimptons and the like that rival Hampton Inns, Hilton Garden, etc. Doing more than a bit of legwork helps, as does the AAA discount. (I never fall for the advance purchase rate, because plans change. I'm also not the type to book a hotel on Priceline without knowing its name.)

 

And now that I've begun to entertain gentleman callers, be they escorts or other "guests," I am all the more compelled to find nicer accommodations. Nothing too snobby -- I can't remember the last time I paid more than $300 a night, anywhere -- but nicer. Oh, and always be sure to check http://www.bedbugregistry.com, before hitting that reservation button, guys... not just for yourself but also for your "guests."

[Guest joeburger]

maybe it might have to do with the economy. people are cutting back and not staying in the high end hotels in order to make the most of their trip. if crime is affecting the area then that will scare people off and they will stay else where. over all i think it's the ripple effects of the economy, it will get worse before it gets better.

 

joeburger