Hotel that Doesn't Have...Tea?

[Anonymous]

I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

Buy a big ol' box of Lipton from Giant and bring it with you and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

It seems super odd

[Anonymous]

And you are not in a position to make a demand at this point. If they say not, are you going to move the conference somewhere else? What would your employer say when you mention you are starting conference planning from scratch because you are being uppity about tea?

[Anonymous]

Cancel the booking.

[Anonymous]

My mother in law carries a bag of decaf tea bags in her purse. At every restaurant, she asks if they have decaf tea. Many do not. When the waiter tells her no, she lets out a big disappointed sigh and says “well just bring me some hot water”. Like it is the greatest sadness in the world. And makes her own tea.

I suggest this approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

Buy a big ol' box of Lipton from Giant and bring it with you and call it a day.

Would you say the same if a hotel said they didn't serve black coffee? Just bring a big ol' box of Nescafe?

[Anonymous]

Obviously I'm not going to cancel the event. But I feel like it is not difficult for them to just buy tea as a basic level of service for their customers.

To be clear-- I am not talking about only my own needs. I am certainly not the only person in a conference of 300 people who drinks tea.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it’s a weird island thing? Islands can be weird.

[Anonymous]

I think islands are more into coffee.

I'd bring a box of tea.

I'm also an avid tea drinker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s a weird island thing? Islands can be weird.

+1

If you are curious you should call neighboring hotels to see if they offer tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

Buy a big ol' box of Lipton from Giant and bring it with you and call it a day.

Would you say the same if a hotel said they didn't serve black coffee? Just bring a big ol' box of Nescafe?

I thought bringing a big box of tea is a great idea. And really, how many people drink tea? I think bringing one large box should more than cover it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

Buy a big ol' box of Lipton from Giant and bring it with you and call it a day.

Would you say the same if a hotel said they didn't serve black coffee? Just bring a big ol' box of Nescafe?

Yes, if that is the hotel I chose and paid for w/o asking about their beverage options beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously I'm not going to cancel the event. But I feel like it is not difficult for them to just buy tea as a basic level of service for their customers.

To be clear-- I am not talking about only my own needs. I am certainly not the only person in a conference of 300 people who drinks tea.

I will buy you 5 large boxes of tea on my GS-13 salary. You do not need to pay me back. I will even bring them to your house. All you need to do is put them in your suitcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for an org that is planning a multi-day event at a hotel in Puerto Rico. It is a large, major chain hotel in San Juan. Our meeting planner reviewed our food and beverage orders with the hotel today today, and since she and I are both tea drinkers, she confirmed what type of black/breakfast tea they serve. And the hotel told her that they don't have black tea. Not that they are out-- they just don't stock it at all. I told her that is unacceptable and they have to either get some, or discount our beverage service rate if I have to purchase tea for all of the tea drinkers at the event.

Am I being unreasonable to expect that a major hotel that hosts large events should have breakfast tea available? I am accustomed to being given limited/bad tea options at restaurants so I always carry some in my bag, but I've never been told by a hotel that they simply don't carry it.

I realize that in the grand scheme of life this is not a big deal, but I have been attending/managing conferences for 20+ years and this is not an issue I've ever dealt with.

Buy a big ol' box of Lipton from Giant and bring it with you and call it a day.

Would you say the same if a hotel said they didn't serve black coffee? Just bring a big ol' box of Nescafe?

Yes, if that is the hotel I chose and paid for w/o asking about their beverage options beforehand.

So you think it necessary to ask a major chain hotel in a major city in advance if they serve coffee? You wouldn't think that was a given?