[Assam] The Nano & not so nano stuff

[Chan Mahanta]

At 11:16 AM -0800 1/11/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote:
>  >>So, bed-bugs in Indian hotels is a rarity huh?
>>>Since I am no expert
>>>on hotel hopping in India I will just have to let
>
>But you surely are a hotel hopper in US and know that
>Luxury hotels in US DO have Bed Bugs.  Is it a rarity
>in US ... by your own admission NO




**** I have never encountered bed bugs myself. I read about the 
infestations in NYC in a magazine.  But I have also been fortunate 
enough now to go stay in hotels that are safer bets.

In recent years we have traveled a great deal around in the US. While 
we don't stay in four or five star rated facilities ( the star rating 
is for facilities and amenities we don't need -- we choose our hotels 
for location, cleanliness and room comforts , like the quality of the 
beds, the pillows, the air-conditioning and so forth) , we stay in 
good facilities, higher in quality than we used to choose in our 
younger days when the primary condition used to be the cost. But even 
then we never had any bed bug encounters.  Way back in our early 
years, our favorite used to be Motel 6. $ 6:00 per night. And they 
were clean and comfortable. There was always a Denny's nearby for a 
hearty eggs and ham breakfast with

But in tropical India it is present almost everywhere. You can tell 
by the telltale blood spots  on the mattress when you lift the bed 
sheet. Something I learned not to do any more if I can help it. It is 
par for the course.





>
>>>**** Hmmm! I wonder why THAT hotel had vacancy,
>>>while the rest were
>>>all full,
>
>I thought you had a little more commonsense.  We
>booked it in Advance ... through internet (HOJO site)
>if you want to know how.




>If the brand owner shruggs off responsibility, it only
>means unethical business practice.  
>Again,  I did thought you had more wit to understand
>this.


**** So what one might infer from it is that the American traveler 
does not care. They are far too unsophisticated consumers and are 
pleased to be ripped off by HOJOs of the world.   Is that what it 
means? I ask, because lacking common sense I seek expert advice. 
Perhaps an MBA will explain how HOJOs stay in business, if their 
business model is what KC experienced at Orlando and the quality of 
their franchise is defined by THAT HOJO in Orlando..



>  >That is more appropriate for you who  build his views
on India staying out of India for over 20 years.


*** I explained I am no Indian hotel hopper. My experiences are 
primarily with those around Kolkata airport.  And airport retiring 
rooms in Delhi and Kolkata. My very few stays in Delhi hotels were in 
very expensive ones where I have no complaint other than the 
exorbitant prices. Now I have found the Ahuja guest houses which 
serve my needs quite well.,



>  >I booked the hotel through Howard Johnson website and
booked it just because it had the brand label.

**** I see the problem: HOJO as the BRAND of choice .  BTW, where did 
that quality reference came from ? Hope it was not from some FOBs 
:-). HOJO ,even way back in the 70s  used to be the butt of jokes 
EVEN  here in the midwest. Many are operated by desis . That is how I 
associated its ownership.
If it was AAA rated, I would have gone to AAA for complaints.  They 
do care about their credibility.







>
>>>If I am not mistaken, Orlando  has more motels and
>>>hotels per square
>>>mile than most other cities in the entire USA
>
>Sure you are not mistaken ?  I mean you were pretty
>confident that HOJO is owned by Desi :-)
>
>>>if not the world. And
>>>THAT  HOJO becomes the the standard bearer of the
>>>industry?
>
>Hmmm ....  the same old game.  the Msn news on bed
>bugs talks about hotels OTHER THAN THAT HOJO.  Search
>the blogs and you will find numerous THAT HOJO/Days
>Inn/ Travelodge etc.  Let me know if you need some
>help in searching
>
>
>>>Kup Monduk. The proverbial frog in the well whose
>>>world view is formed by its confines.
>
>That is more appropriate for you who  build his views
>on India staying out of India for over 20 years.
>
>>>*** A very poor analogy. An automobile, a product,
>>>is different from
>>>a hotel FRANCHISE, a service.
>
>I booked the hotel through Howard Johnson website and
>booked it just because it had the brand label.
>Similarly you buy a product based on brand label. 
>
>If the brand owner shruggs off responsibility, it only
>means unethical business practice.  
>Again,  I did thought you had more wit to understand
>this.
>
>
>>   >Exactly  and so Bed bugs in some sleazy hotel in
>India
>>should not be considered as a bench mark
>
>
>
>>>**** Heh-heh!
>
>>>So, bed-bugs in Indian hotels is a rarity huh?
>>>Since I am no expert
>>>on hotel hopping in India I will just have to let
>>>the experts and the
>>>experienced judge that one.
>
>
>>   >We did move out a day after the incident  did not
>have
>much choice ... it was a holiday weekend.
>
>**** Hmmm! I wonder why THAT hotel had vacancy, while
>the rest were
>all full, in spite of bed-bugs and leaky bathrooms
>that must define
>the state of hotels and motels, except those horribly
>expensive five
>star rated ones!
>
>If I am not mistaken, Orlando  has more motels and
>hotels per square
>mile than most other cities in the entire USA, if not
>the world. And
>THAT  HOJO becomes the the standard bearer of the
>industry?
>Interesting indeed.  There is an ancient Oxomiya 
>phrase that
>describes the tack: Kup Monduk. The proverbial frog in
>the well whose
>world view is formed by its confines.
>
>But really it is an unnecessary defensiveness. No one
>is attempting
>to judge the INdian condition with an American
>benchmark. Looks tacky.
>
>
>>   >
>>However,  having choice does not justify the business
>>model of HOJO ... an  American Company.   Imagine you
>>buy a Tata Indica/Nano in Guwahati and if there are
>>problem,  Tata says your dealer should take care of
>it
>>.... we do not have any responsibility !
>
>
>*** A very poor analogy. An automobile, a product,  is
>different from
>a hotel FRANCHISE, a service. Consumers are protected
>by Lemon Laws
>against defective autos. Filthy hotel operation is a
>public health
>responsibility, regulated by local authorities. One
>would have
>thought an expert in American business practices would
>know the
>difference between a franchise and a product
>liability.
>
>
>
>
>At 10:28 AM -0800 1/11/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty
>wrote:
>>   >>Incidentally the bed-bug infestation in NYC is
>NOT
>>>>confined to sleazy
>>>>hotels. It is an epidemic even in some of the
>>>>city's glitziest
>>>>high-rise condos and apartment houses, a public
>>>>health crisis, almost.
>>
>>Exactly  and so Bed bugs in some sleazy hotel in
>India
>>should not be considered as a bench mark
>>
>>>>*** American consumers have many recourses. Easiest
>>of it is
>>>>availability of CHOICE.
>>
>>We did move out a day after the incident  did not
>have
>>much choice ... it was a holiday weekend.  In fact,
>>on day of incident we did not have ANY CHOICE except
>>moving to some 5 star paying a couple of hundred
>>dollars.   you will surely have such CHOICE
>everywhere
>>in India if you are ready to pay for 5 stars
>>
>>
>>However,  having choice does not justify the business
>>model of HOJO ... an  American Company.   Imagine you
>>buy a Tata Indica/Nano in Guwahati and if there are
>>problem,  Tata says your dealer should take care of
>it
>>.... we do not have any responsibility !
>>
>>
>>
>>>>I have no trouble believing that.
>>
>>>>Actually my very first experience in a Chicago
>>Travelodge in 1976
>>was very much like what these videos portray.
>>
>>>>But to suggest or imply that these facilities in
>NYC
>>or Chicago or LA
>>or SF or Boston define the hotel/motel scene in the
>>USA is what
>>defies ordinary logic.
>>
>>>>Incidentally the bed-bug infestation in NYC is NOT
>>confined to sleazy
>>hotels. It is an epidemic even in some of the city's
>>glitziest
>>high-rise condos and apartment houses, a public
>health
>>crisis, almost.
>>
>>Wonder where they came from.
>>
>>
>>>    >HOJO Franchisees are owned by various people.
>The
>>one
>>>I am talking about is owned by some hispanic person
>>>... but does that mean HOJO will shrugg off all
>  >responsibility ... I mean is it the American way of
>>doing business.
>>
>>
>>*** American consumers have many recourses. Easiest
>of
>>it is
>>availability of CHOICE. In more damaging instances
>>consumer courts
>>could be approached for damages.  If I go into a
>motel
>>that causes me
>>concern, the very first thing I do is to go check the
>>room out BEFORE
>>I pay and check in.
>>
>>I did that in Kolkata too, after I experienced  one
>of
>>those
>>three-star rated joints near Dum Dum the first time.
>>Next time I did
>>not go by the Pre-paid Taxi operator's recommendation
>>or the taxi
>>driver's urging. I went, checked the room, looked
>>around the windows
>>to see if the panes were all in, flushed the toilet
>to
>>see if it
>>worked , looked under the bed cover , turned the
>>shower on to see if
>>it worked or if it had hot water and so forth. In
>this
>>place with a
>>Rs. 2200/- per night  rate  the toilet did not flush.
>>It was a fast
>>good bye. UNfortunately the CHOICES were few. I had
>to
>>settle for
>
>
>
> 
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