Just following the rules.
Posted on 09/02/2007 7:06:43 PM PDT by blam
Hilton becomes socialist, but prices stay same
By Jeremy McDermott, Latin America Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:21am BST 03/09/2007
It has been a landmark for the last 38 years, a point of navigation for taxi drivers and tourists alike, but now the Hilton Hotel in Caracas has been taken over by the state to become a "socialist tourism business".
"We want to put this hotel at the service of the people," said Eustacio Aguilera, the president of the Simon Bolivar Centre, the government cultural institution that owns the hotel. "Now everyone will have access to a great hotel and be able to enjoy it."
How the people will be able to afford a stay at the rechristened Hotel Alba Caracas is another question, as room prices will remain unchanged at £70 for the most simple rooms in a country where the average person lives on about £100 a month.
The word "alba" means dawn in Spanish and is also the acronym for a trade initiative which Mr Chavez hopes will make the region less dependent on trade with the United States.
Last week the 900-room hotel's operating licence expired and the government took it over, planning to take this flagship of international capitalism and turn it into a symbol of President Hugo Chavez's "Socialism of the 21st Century".
The takeover is just the latest example of nationalisation of key industries. In February telecommunications companies were taken over by the government and in May it was the turn of the key oil sector with the government taking majority control of all existing contracts and concessions.
The Hilton has refused to comment about the takeover, although it has no plans to abandon Venezuela where it has two other hotels.
lol, prices stay the same... hilarious
Guess if business takes me to Caracas I won’t be booking here to add to my HHonors points...
Try "STOLE the hotel"
I can imagine that in a couple of years a Motel 6 in Knoxville will be a better place to stay.
most of the mediterranean-settled countries have a desire for
failure.
The hail you say..........
For now.
And, by the way, why not comment? If someone stole my crap I would comment.
I would fer dang sure be making some loud and ticked off comments...
Socialists are like spoiled children. They always want what someone else has. Then when they get it, it’s all theirs.
The most selfish people on Earth.
What a joke.
Venezuela= Soon to be communist hell hole.
and here I thought Paris was adding politics to her list of accomplishments
Unless they're from the wrong side of the tracks?
Socialists are such hypocrites
Bring your own towels and make your bed before check out.
Bienvenidos al Nuevo: People’s Republic of Venezuela!
Coming soon: The “Caracas Wall”.
Complete with Russian-supplied Sniper-rifle towers.
It was stolen. That means it is ALREADY a perfect symbol for socialism...
Anybody in Venezuela with (anything) of value.
Better get out. Now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.