Hotel that Doesn't Have...Tea?

[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?

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.

Lots. Lots of people drink tea.

[Anonymous]

I work for a major hotel chain. That is weird. They have hot water for f sake.

Complain above her head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for a major hotel chain. That is weird. They have hot water for f sake.

Complain above her head.

+1 it's so easy for them to supply tea. It seems like they should be able to do it for a major conference even if it's not their norm.. it's not rocket science.

If you were just a regular guest I'd be on the bandwagon of bring your own tea bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

That's what you say.

[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.

See, the thing is, you did ask ahead of time if they had the tea you want because you knee it wasn't a given that they would have it. When you ask a yes or no question you should not be surprised that the answer was no, it is a legitimate answer. If you thought your preference for tea was ubiquitous as water you would not have asked about it ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

It sounds weird enough that I'm wondering if she didn't understand what you're asking. I'd call again tomorrow and see if they can just tell you what type of tea they carry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds weird enough that I'm wondering if she didn't understand what you're asking. I'd call again tomorrow and see if they can just tell you what type of tea they carry.

I agree. Your constant reference to "breakfast tea" is confusing. I wouldn't know what that was and would not promise to have it if a guest said they required it.

Say "Earl Grey" - I bet they'll say "Oh sure, we have that."

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been to a hotel in the world that didn’t offer hot tea. But I do know that Starbucks in London doesn’t have Iced Tea.

[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.

Is the conference going to be attended only by UMC females over the age of 60 who live in urban areas of blue states?

If so, tea is a must-have.

Sorry for being so snarky, but you’re in a bubble.

Tea (esp hot tea) is consumed by a very small subset of the population. Not at all surprising that a resort wouldn’t stock it.

[Anonymous]

Conference planner here. Tea is a standard part of beverage service. If they don’t include it as the default, they should be able to provide tea as long you are requesting in advance. Tell them what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is the conference going to be attended only by UMC females over the age of 60 who live in urban areas of blue states?

If so, tea is a must-have.

Sorry for being so snarky, but you’re in a bubble.

Tea (esp hot tea) is consumed by a very small subset of the population. Not at all surprising that a resort wouldn’t stock it.

LOL and you are basing this on what, exactly? Aside from the fact that large parts of world drink primarily tea, in my office of 25 we are half tea, half coffee drinkers. Our tea drinkers include younger people and men.

[Anonymous]

of all the problems in the world to deal with tonight . . . . just bring your own bags. done

[Anonymous]

I was at a conference hosted at a Marriott in the fall. Only herbal tea in one corner the first day. It got better after a bunch of us asked I guess. But in parts of the world where tea isn’t a standard beverage I wouldn’t necessarily expect a chain hotel to carry it. Either bring your own or do without.

[Anonymous]

Most likely, they are confused by the "breakfast tea" request. Just ask for tea. Better yet, look up the menu for the hotel's restaurants. I bet it's on there.

Less likely, it's because people only drink coffee since coffee actually comes from Puerto Rico and it's good.. so why bother with a substitute (tea) that is not local?

[Anonymous]

Tea isn't popular in PR

http://cazort.blogspot.com/2012/06/tea-in-puerto-rican-supermarket.html