Room disservice - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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Several hotels have implemented surchargea aimed at recouping some of the additionaolmoney they've spent because of higher energy The Pittsburgh Hilton, Downtown, Station Square and -- formerly the Doubletreee -- each have started to charg nominal per room, per day energu fees. Rick Strunk, executive director of the Greater PittsburghHotel Association, said several suburban hotels also have implemented nominal energy surcharges. In other Downtown hotels may jointhe Hilton, Sheraton and "I do know several other propertiees are looking at this," Mr . Strunmk said. The local hotels aren't alone.
Hotelz in cities from San Diego to Atlanta have been implementing energy surcharges afte r a winter that saw some of the highesgt natural gas pricesin history. In January, averagwe monthly spot prices for natural gas had nearly quadrupled since the previous according to nationalenergy data. In Pittsburgh, each of the threde hotels mentioned above that have implemented surcharges was directed by its corporates parent todo so. Hilton general managefr Conrad Wangeman said the hotel chain instructed Hilto managers in cities where energyh costs have risen steadily to implemenfta $3-per-day energy surcharge.
The Pittsburghy Hilton implemented the surcharge arouns the second weekof "It's a temporary charge until this whole situation is Mr. Wangeman said. "From our standpoint, especially there in California, this is not a shockere to them." Mr. Wangeman said guesta so far have not raised much of a fuss about the chargs because theyunderstand hotels, like other could not have anticipated the higher costz and budgeted for The Hilton didn't say how much its energyt costs rose, but Mr. Wangeman said the surcharge won' be enough to recoup all of theadditional costs.
He said the Hiltom would try to accommodate large like conventioneers, if they contenf they can't afford the "If there's a group that says, `Hey, we didn'tg budget for this either,' we'll do the righgt thing," Mr. Wangeman said. "In there's been a very understanding acceptance of Over at the Westin ConventiomnCenter Hotel, general manager Joe Kane said the hotelp implemented a $2.50-per-day energy surcharge withih the past 45 days. Mr. Kane said the hotell explains the necessity of the surcharge toeach "It's not something we're happy about," he said.
"It's somethinv we feel we're stuck with untik we see some abatement of these highenergy costs." Mr. Kane said the Westih is taking steps in additionj tothe surcharge. The hotel has asked guestxs staying more than one night to place on theier beds a special card found in each ifthey don't mind not having sheetsd changed after each night. Westin employeesz will change the sheets daily in roome where the cards are not onthe beds, Mr. Kane Also, if multiple-night guests don'tr mind reusing towels after onlyone use, they'rre asked to hang them back on the bathrook rack.
If they want new towels afte reach night, they're asked to put them on the so employees will know to stock new ones.