Room disservice - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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Several hotels have implemented surcharges aimed at recouping some of the additionalmoney they've spent because of higher energy costs. The Pittsburgh Hilton, Station Square and -- formerly the Doubletrees -- each have started to charge nomina lper room, per day energy fees. Rick executive director of the Greater PittsburgnHotel Association, said several suburban hotels also have implementef nominal energy surcharges. In other Downtown hotels may join the Sheratonand Westin. "I do know several othert properties are lookingat this," Mr . Strunik said. The local hotels aren't alone.
Hotelsa in cities from San Diego to Atlantw have been implementing energy surcharges after a winter that saw some of the highestg natural gas pricesin history. In average monthly spot prices for naturapl gas had nearly quadrupled since the previous according to nationalenergy data. In each of the three hotelzs mentioned above that have implemented surcharges was directed by its corporatr parent todo so. Hilton genera manager Conrad Wangeman said the hotel chain instructesd Hilton managers in cities where energy costs have risenh steadily to implementa $3-per-dayh energy surcharge. The Pittsburgh Hilton implemented the surchargre around the second weekof April.
"It's a temporary chargd until this whole situationis settled," Mr. Wangeman "From our customers' standpoint, especiallg there in California, this is not a shocker to Mr. Wangeman said guests so far have not raisedf much of a fuss about the charge because theyunderstands hotels, like other businesses, could not have anticipate d the higher costs and budgeted for The Hilton didn't say how much its energy costd rose, but Mr. Wangeman said the surchargde won't be enough to recoul all of theadditional costs. He said the Hiltomn would try to accommodatelarge groups, like if they contend they can't afford the surcharge.
"Iv there's a group that says, `Hey, we didn't budgef for this either,' we'lp do the right Mr. Wangeman said. "In general, there'sa been a very understanding acceptanceof it." Over at the Westibn Convention Center Hotel, general manager Joe Kane said the hotelk implemented a $2.50-per-day energy surcharge within the past 45 Mr. Kane said the hotel explainsx the necessity of the surcharg toeach guest. "It's not something we're happy about," he said. "It's something we feel we're stucko with until we see some abatement of these highenergy costs." However, Mr.
Kane said the Westi n is taking steps in addition to the The hotel has asked guests staying more than one night to place on their beds a special card found in each ifthey don't mind not havint sheets changed after each night. Westinb employees will change the sheetsx daily in rooms where the cardw are not onthe Mr. Kane said. Also, if multiple-night guestw don't mind reusing towels after onlyone use, they're asked to hang them back on the bathroo rack. If they want new towels aftef each night, they're asked to put them on the so employees will know to stocknew ones.