The entire city???? I know that NYC passed the ban on bars and restaurants, and NJ has followed suit, but in rooms, too?? Very odd.

Atlantic City anyone??

Why don't you all just come join me in Wildwood.

There are plenty of oceanfront hotels, a restaurant called 'Little Italy' and the boardwalk is entirely mob owned (or so I'm told) anyway.

Apple

I was just looking at Hotels in Atlantic City. My thinking was that TIS already booked and paid for her Airline tickets and is flying into Philadelphia Airport, which is still close to Atlantic City.

Keep in mind though that you are NOT going to get $89 - $109 per night rates for a weekend in AC. More like $169 - $299 per night for the weekend, depending on the hotel/casino.


Don Cardi

Becky and Gabe went through alot to get us those rooms there. If we cancel I would HATE for Becky and Gabe to get into any kind of trouble over this. Hey if you want to get another hotel, someone else find it I'm out.

Not to mention having to find/reserve a whole new restaurant for the Friday/Saturday dinners.

And except for those willing to make the hour or so drive out of the way...there goes the Moshulu.

Apple

Mig, Please understand that we appreciate everything that they did. We mean them no disrespect at all. I just can't see, personally, going through the travel and expense if you can't even smoke in your own room. But I will be happy to abide by whatever the majority decides.

Well when I called them earlier, the receptionist told me that this was true. However after thinking about this I decided to call them back and asked to speak to a Hotel manager. The manager said that although a new law was passed about non smoking restaurants and bars, as far as he knew it was up to the Hotel themsleves to take it a step farther and make it 100% non smoking.

He said that the Wyndham, which by the way is now called the Sheraton, is still booking smoking rooms and as of right now is NOT a 100% non smoking hotel.

City council approves smoking ban in Philadelphia

June 16, 2006
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- City Council approved a bill that would ban smoking in most public places, including many bars and all restaurants, and allow Philadelphia to join the ranks of other smoke-free regions.
The measure still needs approval from Mayor John Street and faces some amendments when the council reconvenes after its summer recess. Street said the bill was reasonable, but did not indicate if he would sign it.

The bill, approved Thursday, would exempt sidewalk cafes, specialty tobacco establishments, private clubs and so-called local taverns -- places where drinks alone constitute at least 90 percent of gross sales.

It is those "buts" that irk Jan Zarkin, owner of Rembrandt's restaurant. Zarkin said he would support the ban if it applied to all establishments.

"I simply want it to be fair," Zarkin said.

Council members expect to pass some technical amendments to the bill in the fall, including one that would make the ban effective in January. The other would grant permanent exemptions to local taverns instead of the temporary, two-year reprieve in the bill's current language.

Violators could be fined $25 to $300.

Fourteen states and at least seven countries have passed smoke-free workplace laws that include restaurants and bars, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.






Don Cardi

Yes, as of right now .

Did he give any indication that it will still not be a 100% non-smoking hotel two months from now?

Apple

1-215-448-2000

Ask for Dan. See what he tells you.


Don Cardi

Well, I already booked and PAID for my airfare, which I cannot change so if it's anywhere other than Philly, I'll be getting down with my own bad self!!.


TIS

You know, it may be easy for you to cheer because you do not like people smoking around you, and there's nothing wrong with that in itself. But before you go jumping up and down please keep in mind that our friend TIS has ALREADY paid for and booked her flight into Philadelphia Airport, and has planned her vacation around the gangsterbb weekend in Philly.

And let's not forget all the trouble that Mig and Becky went through to put this thing together.

So I think that instead of jumping for joy over this smoking ban, we need to come up with an alternate plan that will accomadate our friend from the west coast. After all she is the one that stands to lose the most because of this.


EDIT : Interesting. I searched for several other HILTON hotels in Philadelphia and found the site of a different Hilton hotel in Philly to say this :
All guest rooms are 100% nonsmoking and smoking requests cannot be honored.

Could this just be a HILTON HOTEL thing?


Don Cardi

Don Cardi...apologies (again) if I offended you, but my initial 'cheer' was in jest because I truly didn't anticipate the smokers in the group making this big a deal over it.

I mean, I understand how one would like to relax and smoke in a room they've reserved and paid for...but for a few days out of year it didn't seem like a life or death matter...especially when we are this close to the convention date.

You'll also note that in a later post I mentioned that even though it's a bit easier on my own lungs...I don't happen to believe in smoking bans in restaurants, bars or anywhere else where people have entered, paid and utilized of their own free will.

So, I continue to wait & see if all the rest of you decide to rearrange this entire weekend, that took so many months of discussion, voting, rate-negotiating, reserving and planning ... not to mention have everyone expect to pay nearly double the room rate they had initially anticipated...so that a few of us can have a cigarette or two in our rooms or 'the lounge'.

As for TIS I am aware of the fact that she's made her plans around the Gangster BB weekend. So unless she too is a smoker and WANTS to have a COMPLETE change of venue so she can smoke in her hotel room...that making ANY alternate plan would more accomodate the smokers than it would her.

How do you feel about it, TIS?

Mig has already indicated that her daughter went to alot of trouble to book where we are, and if I'm reading her post correctly doesn't think cancelling and finding a new hotel would be the best way to go.

And your suggested concern for these people doesn't quite fly because you've already stated that YOU will not stay at a hotel where YOU would not be allowed to smoke.

As with SB, I'm happy to comply with what the 'majority' decides.

So again...keep me posted.

Best,
AppleOnYa

Damn. This group has some hardcore smokers. It is it really absolutely necessary to go through all this just to be able to smoke in a hotel room?

I don't smoke in my house, so I am used to stepping outside on the porch to have a cigaret. If the hotel had smoking allowed in the lobby, or had a balcony you could step out on that would work for me. However, if it's a total ban onn the premises, even that wouldn't work for smokers.

Even though I really can't remember if they asked me if I wanted smoking or not, that's what I would have chosen. It seems for those of us who booked a few months ago, there should be an exception applying to people who booked before this law/rule. Woulda shoulda coulda!!!

My thoughts are: I am for booking elsewhere in Philly BUT I feel really badly for Mig & Becky who went through all the trouble and don't want to hurt them or piss them off. I hope they understand. Let's make sure though, before when/if we cancel this hotel, that it's not a citywide law.


TIS

P.S. We still can go to that Italian restaurant though right? It sounds good to me.

Man, I didn't know about this bill. Besides A/C, Philly was the last refuge for smokers in the area.

However -- not for nothing, and as a smoker myself, I really cannot see redoing all the plans we have made up to this point just to be able to smoke.

When I went to San Fran a couple months ago, the hotel was smoke-free as well. While I'm not gonna say I was happy about it, I sure didn't cry about it either. Smokers just went outside, like we do now when we go out to eat, and it wasn't that big of a deal.

But yeah - when you're in your room, and crack a window, what can they say or do? Bring some air freshener.

I really, really, really do not want to upset Miggy and Becky by switching hotels at this point...

Hmm, and just the other day this article came out, stating:

Becky is a sweetheart. Not only for doing all the legwork here, but simply because of the way she is BUT the hotel has screwed up. Surely they knew this new "law" was going to take effect before now. They should have never taken smoking room reservations in light of that "knowledge".

Who is Gabe?

'Gabe' is I believe the fellow at the hotel who worked with Becky on the Gangster BB 'block'.

When making the reservation, we were told to say we were with 'Gabe's Party' to get the special $89 rate.

Although I can't say that method worked out every time...

Apple

Apple,

Gabe didn't give you the "deal" price?


I don't want to give up just yet on this hotel, so I e-mailed them (too tired to talk :p )and asked if, since we reseerved our rooms in March,and weren't told of this law, if the rule/law applies, or if they are phasing it out from reservtions taken July one or after. Probably won't make any difference, but had to try.

TIS

When I first saw this news about the no smoking policy of this hotel, I had a "Sonny" reaction and instead of thinking things out first, I immedeatly made a post in haste.

But after giving it some thought, I'll tell you what I now feel.

When I go away, I usually do NOT book a smoking room, as my wife and my children do not need to have me smoking in the room. Like TIS, I also do NOT smoke in my home. I step outside to have a smoke.

Now when I booked this hotel, I booked a non smoking room. However I did so with the impression that I could go down to the lounge and light up if I needed to smoke.

Now many of you did book a room that allowed smoking. I remember clear as day that when I called, I was given the same option.

So basically as far as smoking in the room goes, it didn't and doesn't matter to me. And as far as the Hotel being 100% smoke free, well it means that we cannot smoke in the lounge either.

So even if we switch hotels, as far as smoking in the bar/lounge, we still will not be able to do it under the new law.

But for those who booked the room under the impression that they would be getting a smoking room, what the hotel has done to them is really not fair, and they have a legitimate gripe.

Whatever the majority decides is fine by me, because as I said, I booked a non smoking room anyway, and now no matter what hotel I go to, I cannot smoke in the bar anyway.

The smokers who were given the option and took a smoking room are the ones that need to decide what they want to do. And I'll go with whatever the decision is.

Mig and Becky - I know that I speak for everyone when I say that words cannot express how much we appreciate all that you have gone through in putting this thing together, and that we realize how hard Becky worked to get us a group rate.

The hotel definitely is at fault here, because as SC and a few others have said, there is absolutely no way that the hotel did not know this when they originally booked our rooms and offered us the option of smoking or non smoking rooms.

And that is absolutely no reflection on Becky or Mig. They both did a bang up job with putting all this together. And I think that we all must step back and really consider what went into getting this thing organized in the first place.


Don Cardi

" Apple, Gabe didn't give you the "deal" price? "

*********

Yes, I eventually got the special rate (or trust me, I would not have booked).

But when I first called and said 'Gabe's' party the lady didn't know what the heck I was talking about; had never heard of anyone named Gabe.

I got a little help from Cardi & tried again...eventually, all was well with the world.

As for the smoking law...it's possible the management of this hotel and others were aware of legislation being put through, but there was no specific date it would go into effect until just recently.

And if they DID know full well that a law would take effect beginning July 1st, they may have made the decision to go ahead and book smoking rooms anyway, so as not to drive away customers...figuring that they would lose some bookings but not all. And the cancellations would be easily filled by non-smokers or those on standby.

In that case it would've been a business decision.

Not personal Sonny...strictly business.

Apple

I've noticed people begin to "remember" more when Cardi gets invovled

DC, I was kind of thinking the same thing.

If the entire city (or at least the hotels we may choose from) have this law in effect, then our decision is made for us no?

I just don't want to draw this out any more than necessary. or cause hard feelings.

TIS

Out of curiousity I went into the Hotel's site and this is what I found :

Please Note: As of July 1, 2006, this hotel will be 100% non-smoking.



The rooms and rates that best match your preferences appear below. Select the room you'd like to reserve and click "continue", or you may view all rates.



Room rates shown are per room, per night. Click the rate to view complete rate details for your pending stay. To see a full description and photos for select rooms, click the room type.


BEST AVAILABLE RATE

199.95 USD 1 KING BED
199.95 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS
229.95 USD 1 KING BED JUNIOR SUITE
229.95 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS JUNIOR SUITE
199.95 USD ROOM SELECTED AT CHECK-IN


NET DIRECT RATES FULL PAYMENT IN ADVANCE. NON REFUNDABLE.

170.00 USD 1 KING BED
170.00 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS
170.00 USD ROOM SELECTED AT CHECK-IN

So as you can see the hotel is now officially informing everyone that there will no longer be any smoking rooms available for that weekend, or any more for that matter.

And if you look at the rates, you will see that Becky really got us a fantastic deal for our group.

And when you really think about it, how much time are we really going to spend in the room anyway?

Don Malta is right, a can of Air Freshner should do the trick!


Don Cardi

Thank GOD this appears to have worked out.



Although it would've been less of a drive...I really don't like Atlantic City .

Jumping up & down,
Apple

Well, let's see what SC & SB and any others who may not have read this thread yet have to say, to give everyone a chance to express their concerns. I just want everyone to be happy.


TIS

Well, since the smoking-ban subject began I've seen most convention attendees including SC and SB contribute to this thread and neither are too happy, but SB mentioned she'd 'go with the majority'.

Anyway, I think it'll be a safe bet to keep my reservation and plan on La Veranda on 8/19 ... unless I hear otherwise.

Apple

I got a little pissy to with my other post. Being Becky is my child I am more concerned with her reputation at work and I don't want her or Gabe or Sam(Gabe's cousin at Becky's work) to get in trouble.

Thank guys

Miggy, I'd rather just not smoke than to hurt you or Becky in any way. Gabe, well... Gabe... ehh... (haha, just kidding!)

We'll adjust, don't worry!!!!

Miggy, I'd rather just not smoke than to hurt you or Becky in any way. Gabe, well... Gabe... ehh... [/b][/quote]Gabe's OK..... I say to hell with Sam, though.

I'll talk this over with Lori tonight.