{"id":13425,"date":"2011-04-18T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2011-04-18T12:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=13425"},"modified":"2016-12-15T11:49:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T17:49:17","slug":"hotel-manager-receptions-worth-the-free-drink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2011\/04\/hotel-manager-receptions-worth-the-free-drink\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotel manager receptions: Worth the free drink?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mixing business with Bollywood: Residence Inn in Deerfield's Indian-themed manager's reception.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By Mark Chesnut<\/em><\/p>\n

Whether business took you to a Chicago hotel<\/a> or Boston hotel<\/a>, you may gotten an invitation when you checked into a hotel recently. Perhaps you\u2019ve even sipped a cocktail at one of them. But are hotel manager receptions really worth it? For travelers looking for free refreshments and perhaps a bit of local insight, the answer just might be yes.<\/p>\n

Long a staple at mid-priced properties, these events, which generally take place on a weekly or nightly basis, are more diverse than you might expect. Properties flying the flags of Clarion, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn and Wyndham all offer some sort of manager\u2019s reception, while those that cater to extended-stay travelers are often the most generous. Homewood Suites by Hilton<\/strong>, for example, serves a free light dinner and drinks from Monday through Thursday.<\/p>\n

And Residence Inn<\/a> tailors its events to the destination and clientele \u2014 at its Chicago Deerfield property, where guests include a large number of Indian consultants, the company hosts an India night once a month, complete with Indian food and Bollywood movies.<\/p>\n

Some guests have learned to use manager receptions to get travel advice or even effect change. At the Helix<\/a>, a stylish property in Washington, D.C., it\u2019s not uncommon for the staff to share tips about dining, shopping and sightseeing as they serve spirits and snacks during their nightly wine hour.\u00a0And at the Doubletree by Hilton San Juan<\/a> in Puerto Rico, the new lobby work space and free\u00a0 laptops are the direct result of comments a guest made to the general manager during the hotel\u2019s weekly invitation-only cocktail reception. It just might be worth grabbing a drink and chatting for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

Related resources<\/strong><\/p>\n