27 April 2006

This thing stinks from the bowels of hell. I’m not really very business savvy, nor do I care to be, but even with my limited capacity to grasp the business decisions made by Hilton Corp in their dealings with Fran O’Briens, it seems to me that Hilton is making some bad choices here.

Buzz Paterson has a letter posted over at the Mudville Gazette that lays it all out.

In the meantime, the Hilton stopped paying Fran O’Brien’s for the room service they provided to guests that were billed their hotel room. The Hilton continued to give different accounting excuses on why it could not be paid until more than 6 months had gone by and the amount owed exceeded the amount in one month’s rent. Hal, being the smart business man that he is told the Hilton to use the money owed toward that month’s rent. The Hilton came back saying no way and took it as a non-compliance of rent payment.

At about that time, the Hilton stopped all voice and email response to Hal’s constant contact. The Fran O’Brien’s lease was up at the beginning of 2006 and Hal repeated contacted the Hilton, but was never given the courtesy of a response either way. Because the lease expired and Fran O’Brien’s was going month to month because no one told them otherwise, the Hilton Corp decided it was within their right to increase the rent 100%. That’s right folks the Hilton Corp doubled the rent in an effort to force Fran O’Brien’s out of business. When the Hilton finally saw that Hal and Marty were not folding, they sent them an eviction notice to be off the property within less than 30 days. That folks is Hilton’s way of doing business.

Matt add his two cents much more eloquently than I could. I found myself nodding as I read each word.

Hal and Marty do not treat our men and women as heroes. They do much better for those who gave us so much and are away from their units, their hometowns, their friends recovering from their wounds.

Hal and Marty treat our wounded troops like family.

And that’s something that the corporate suits at HILTON won’t understand.

I’ve never met Hal and Marty, but I’m extremely grateful for their treatment of our Wounded Warriors, and it is more than just treating them to a steak dinner on Friday night, but I am a part of that “family” of Soldiers and have myself made a business decision.

You see, there’s business, and there’s the right thing to do. Fortunately for me, my business decision just happens to be the right thing to do. I will no longer stay at any of the Hilton Hotels or their affiliates.

Andi has another way you can help.

Thank you for the literally thousands of e-mails generated to the management of the Hilton Hotels Corporation on behalf of Fran O’Brien’s Stadium Steakhouse and the troops. You were so effective that they closed the e-mail addresses we published. You can still reach them through the Hilton Honors website - hhonors@hilton.com.

My heart is heavy with the thought that Fran O’Brien’s will no longer take care of our Wounded Warriors and at how Hal and Marty are being treated after taking such good care of my family members. Don’t mess with my family. What say you? Sgt Hook out.

UPDATE: The latest info is up at Andi’s.


Posted by Hook @ 0127 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Army Times & Heroes & Soap Box


Soldiers' Angels New York linked with Save Fran O'Brien's


11 Comments »
  1. The more you read about it, the worse it seems to get. I think Hilton has a PR disaster on it’s hands. It’s a sorry way to treat anyone, but Our Soldiers and people who care for them, certainly deserve better.

    Even CBS News had a pretty good piece on it one night this week. I’ve a feeling there’ll be more fallout from this than Hilton expected. I’ll avoid any of the Hilton Family of Hotels & the word is certainly going round.

    Comment by MissBirdlegs in AL — 27 April 2006 @ 0330


  2. This really pisses me off. I travel with my Job and I will make my employer aware of this… in fact, everyone who reads my blog will be aware of this. Thanks Hook… kiss off Hilton.

    Comment by Shelleigh (aka Pixie) — 27 April 2006 @ 0457


  3. What did they call that thing that kept you out on the public square in the heat or cold all day long, subject to public shame, open ridicule and squishy old fruit, your arms, neck and sometimes feet stuffed thru the holes? Oh, I just remembered, the stocks. If Hilton Corp. go thru with this, I think we should revisit that oldie but goodie.

    More realistically, I hope and pray that the Hilton has indeed got a PR disaster on it’s hands from this, as Miss Birdlegs says. The bigger, badder and deeper the hole they’ve dug for themselves, the better.
    Fix this in time or keep digging, Hilton.

    Comment by Beth* A. — 27 April 2006 @ 0537


  4. The Hilton is too stupid to get out of their own way … Even if I accept that the local yokels were brain-dead, it’s hard to imagine that some higher power in the corporate entity didn’t point out the error in their ways. Un-friggin-believable!

    Comment by Barb — 27 April 2006 @ 0543


  5. I cut up my membership card and will NOT be stayin’ at any of their establishments.

    This “business decision” Hilton made goes against everything I’ve known or done. I simply don’t understand it. Period.

    Like I tell my nieces and nephew - every action causes a reaction. I don’t think Hilton is looking beyond the end of their nose. I’m thinkin’ they aren’t gonna like the REACTION that comes.

    Didn’t they learn anything from Dan Rather?????

    Comment by Tammi — 27 April 2006 @ 1437


  6. Happy birthday!

    Comment by Jay — 27 April 2006 @ 1502


  7. Save Fran O’Brien’s

    There are only 3 days left until Fran O’Brien’s lease runs out. Fran O’Brien’s is a restaurant located in the Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC which offers free steak dinners to recovering service members at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital…

    Trackback by Soldiers' Angels New York — 27 April 2006 @ 1704


  8. Hi Hook! As you know, I’m not military, but I am a supporter of all who are. I had the privilege to be at Fran’s last Friday night with many of ‘our guys’ and there was an electricity in the air that you could truly FEEL. One of our own gave a truly rousing speech that nobody could have NOT applauded…unless you’re a Hilton or Code Pink apparently. I hope with all I have that the Hilton’s really suffer a noticable loss.

    Comment by SK — 28 April 2006 @ 0112


  9. I signed the petetion a while back… and I too refuse to stay at any Hilton owned franchise

    Comment by Shayna — 28 April 2006 @ 0229


  10. What say I? To he** with the Hilton, this is a disgrace to say the least.

    Comment by Gypsy — 28 April 2006 @ 0423


  11. I’ve sent two emails to Hilton, and signed the petition. I will never again stay at a Hilton unless they smarten up and do the right thing. (Not holding my breath.) I am so peeved! And on a change of topic…

    Happy birthday! And thanks.

    Comment by ahriman — 29 April 2006 @ 0244


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