Warning - Do not patronize Hyatt properties UPDATE PAGE 4

[Mescalero]

I tried to look up a way to send an email but could not find it.

[JohndeFresno]

I tried to look up a way to send an email but could not find it.

I'm mobile right now. Hard to type and cannot cut and paste. Enter these words into Google search box:
Contact the ceo hyatt

You will get the gateway site. I prefer snail mail for complaint of this nature with my verifiable true name and address for full effect. Address above in this thread.

[stew71]

It has to be that particular Hyatt. My sister works in management at the Hyatt in Incline Village, Nevada. She's never heard of that corporate policy. Nor would it fly in Nevada.

[Birdman]

Sorry to hear about the trouble you all went through. This is some good conversation and we're all picking up some good ideas about how to handle these issues. Ain't nuttin simple these days.

[JohndeFresno]

It has to be that particular Hyatt. My sister works in management at the Hyatt in Incline Village, Nevada. She's never heard of that corporate policy. Nor would it fly in Nevada.

Please get back to us. I have several family members in law enforcement, many retiree friends who travel, and several shooting and hunting contacts - who also travel.

I have been contacting a considerable number of folks to permanently blackball Hyatt. If this is a screwy one-state or one-site policy, Hyatt needs to jump on it and make corrections. I'm serious as a heart attack.

[sore shoulder]

It has to be that particular Hyatt. My sister works in management at the Hyatt in Incline Village, Nevada. She's never heard of that corporate policy. Nor would it fly in Nevada.

The general tone of 86ers experience with corporate indicates to me they don't care about patrons 2A rights, and I wouldn't hold up NV as a pro gun haven considering they gave us Harry Reid and continue to re elect him.

[jeepnik]

Well, it's been days, and Brock Shacklett from Hyatt hasn't replied to my email in which I specifically ask him if it was a coporate policy, or that of the individual hotel. Seem they don't want to be pinned down. Which of course means, they don't really need my money.

[AJMD429]

This is some good conversation and we're all picking up some good ideas about how to handle these issues. Ain't nuttin simple these days.

Yup. Us 'fiercely independent' types (generally correlates with gun ownership) are having to learn corporate-speak stuff like how to 'network', and so on...

[Treetop]

I attended my first gun show, sometime in the early 70s. It was held in the banquet room of the Shamrock HILTON Hotel in Houston, Tx.!

They've been gun friendly for a long time!

[JohndeFresno]

I attended my first gun show, sometime in the early 70s. It was held in the banquet room of the Shamrock HILTON Hotel in Houston, Tx.!

They've been gun friendly for a long time!

Now that Embassy Suites is under the Hilton umbrella, I can say that Hilton hotels are my top choice, anyway. When funds allowed it (or State discount rates were in effect), I always stayed at Embassy Suites (with their excellent free full banquet breakfast) or else the Hilton with its excellent service.

[Chas.]

...I always stayed at Embassy Suites (with their excellent free full banquet breakfast)...

That free bar in the evening isn't bad either. Embassy Suites is also my favorite.

[86er]

I asked for clarification as to whether CCW holders can carry firearms or keep firearms in their rooms or vehicles. I also asked (again) whether or not the security personnel is licensed and bonded by the State. I specifically asked for the company policy. Obviously the company is not going to say any more than this - and leave unanswered questions.

February 5, 2013

Dear XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX,

Please accept my apologies in the late response. The safety and security of our
guests and associates is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, our hotels
prohibit anyone other than authorized law enforcement officers from carrying a
firearm on hotel premises, except where state or local laws and relevant permits
say otherwise.

In most instances, guests bringing firearms to our hotels will be asked to check
them with the appropriate hotel staff. Guests who refuse to comply will be asked
to leave the hotel premises, which are private property.

Best regards,

Jeff

Jeff Babcock
Director of Rooms
HYATT REGENCY HILL COUNTRY RESORT AND SPA
9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, San Antonio, TX., USA 78251
T: + 1 210.520.4012 F: +1 210.6811.9681 E:jeff.babcock@hyatt.com

[2ndovc]

C.S. response!

jb

[sore shoulder]

So does the Hyatts policy violate TX state law?

[FWiedner]

So does the Hyatts policy violate TX state law?

No.

... but asking that a legally possessed or concealed firearm be surrendered to a third unknown party does (in my mind) seem to facilitate a potentially illegal transfer, or perhaps even create the opportunity to be accused of "brandishing" that firearm, depending of course on how/where that surrender might be performed. Personally, I think anyone would be stupid to engage the process.

[AJMD429]

[... but asking that a legally possessed or concealed firearm be surrendered to a third unknown party does (in my mind) seem to facilitate a potentially illegal transfer, or perhaps even a create the opportunity to be accused of "brandishing" that firearm, depending of course on how/where that surrender might be performed.

Gotta admit, if some hotel-yahoo decided to tell me I had to 'surrender my firearm' to them for 'secure storage', at some point during my explicit instructions as to exactly what one of their orifices they could use for 'secure storage', there just might be a bit of 'brandishing' going on. . .

[1894c]

[... but asking that a legally possessed or concealed firearm be surrendered to a third unknown party does (in my mind) seem to facilitate a potentially illegal transfer, or perhaps even a create the opportunity to be accused of "brandishing" that firearm, depending of course on how/where that surrender might be performed.

Gotta admit, if some hotel-yahoo decided to tell me I had to 'surrender my firearm' to them for 'secure storage', at some point during my explicit instructions as to exactly what one of their orifices they could use for 'secure storage', there just might be a bit of 'brandishing' going on. . . :o

OUCH... :O

[Hobie]

#1 - do they have metal detectors on the doors? Not on any I've seen.
#2 - do they ever ASK if you have a gun? Not any I've checked into.

My feeling is that if I'm not breaking the law, and I never do (of course), then they don't need to be involved in anything other than the room rental. If I were to break the law, any law, I certainly wouldn't try to make them aware of it!

FWeidner has a good point about an illegal transfer. Who knows, the desk clerk might even be a prohibited person.

We have more problems finding a hotel that lets us stay with our dog. There is no way I can sneak a 20 lb dog who wants to "speak" to people we meet in the hall as we go to do the business every couple of hours.

Wasn't the original problem that the clerk was refusing service to POLICE OFFICERS? Aren't those the people exempted under the policy? I think you should have pushed the idea that a policy so confusing to staff isn't a policy worth keeping as it is costing the company money.

[Fircrest911]

The heiress to the Hyatt empire is very anti Second Amendment and is a big fundraiser/donor to the President and to the mayor of Chicago.
Search on "Pritzker" family.

[AJMD429]

Wasn't the original problem that the clerk was refusing service to POLICE OFFICERS? Aren't those the people exempted under the policy?

As far as I'm concerned, when on-duty, a 'police officer' has LESS of a 'right to carry a gun' than an ordinary citizen, in that they are doing it as part of their job, and thus can be told as to what type of gun, what cartridge it may be chambered in, the magazine capacity, the type of bullets used, and so on, whereas the 'mere citizen' cannot legitimately be so limited. Off-duty, the cop has the greater, God-given, rights of an ordinary citizen.

[Blaine]

Why say a thing?

[Old Ironsights]

I never bring gun cases in past the front desk. They always come in through an exterior door closer to my room.

The front desk flunkies can pound sand.

[Tycer]

btt

[Griff]

Actually, this would be an update:
New Law Effects Hotels that Restrict Firearms TX

[Model 52B]

Here's my take on it. I take federal review teams to various parts of the country and canceling a reservation with 5-7 people for a full week over an issue like this does get noted by management, so make your customer preferences known. They need to be able to demonstrate the lost revenue of a "no guns allowed" policy exceeds the potential liability costs associated with having guns on the property.

Obviously, I prefer to stay at a gun friendly establishment and I spend my money accordingly. However, if we can skip the gratuitous jumping to anti-second amendment politics for a minute, I can partly see where the hotel may prefer to have firearms locked up for two reasons not related to anti-gun politics:

1) Some folks are just plain stupid and can't follow 4 basic gun handling rules, so AD's happen. The lawsuit over a guest getting killed or wounded by another guest's AD would be epic and is the kind of thing that wakes corporate lawyers and insurance actuaries up in a cold sweat at night.
2) Hotel security can be a problem. What happens when a guest's firearm goes missing during the day when they are not in the room?

If they want to adopt anti-gun policies, that's ok with me - I'll just stay elsewhere but I'll let the corporate officer know why so they are at least aware of the costs and customer preferences involved.

Practically speaking, when I travel my concealed carry weapon stays concealed. Unless there is legally sufficient sign posted it's still basically "don't ask, don't tell" and everyone stays happy. There's no reason for anyone to bring it up.

If I am carrying a long arm for anything other than a dedicated hunting trip, it's more likely to be a take down model that can be carried in a discrete case or inside a larger suit case or 2 suit bag. If it has to be left in the room at all, being locked in a discreet case and inside a suit case makes is a lot less obvious to any of the hotel staff who may enter the room during the day, removing a temptation to steal it. The same thing applies to airline travel. A properly checked and locked firearm inside a large suitcase will attract a lot less baggage handler attention that a hard side gun case all by itself.

If I am on a hunting trip and the hotel has a secure parking garage or a well lit parking lot with security cameras, I'll leave the rifle or shotgun in the car, either in the trunk or in the back out of sight, generally in a locked hard case that is itself locked to the vehicle making a quick smash and grab impossible. I do the same thing with my concealed carry weapon when I have to leave it in the vehicle, using a steel gun vault that fits under the seat and is cable locked to the structure.

In short, unless it's legally posted property, it's not really an issue with concealed carry, and I have to have a really good reason to bring a long gun into a hotel in the first place, and I'm hard pressed to find one on most trips. Thus, it's just not much of a problem.

----

As for TX, it remains to be seen whether the proposed bill passes. I suspect Hyatt will post on their website rather than change policy, but on the plus side, it will give them a clear indicator of any drop in sales that results. Of course it could work the other way with the anti-gun libs wanting to stay at Hyatt properties and increasing bookings and revenue. If that happens then the net effect is really bad as it could and probably will spread to other chains. Consequently, I'll wait and see whether this is a good thing or not in the big picture. And in TX, the notification requirement also largely strips the "don't ask, don't tell aspects" from the situation as customers can no longer remain ignorant of the policy and not advertise the presence of weapons in baggage or vehicles.