Texas Hotel tosses out Falun Gong reservations - China Jiang Visit

Houston Chronicle ^ | 10-23-02 | DALE LEZON

[tallhappy]

HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Local & State

Oct. 23, 2002, 12:37PM

Another hotel tosses out Falun Gong reservations

Inter-Continental denies pressure from China

By DALE LEZON

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Two Galleria-area hotels have canceled reservations of Falun Gong practitioners in Houston to demonstrate against

Chinese President Jiang Zemin when he visits here this week.

"I don't understand what the problem is," said Lisa Nappi, a Falun Gong practitioner from Virginia. "This is America. This is a free

land."

Practitioners from around the world have come to Houston to peacefully protest what they consider Jiang's attempt to

eliminate their belief system. They say the Chinese government pressured the hotels to cancel their reservations because Jiang does

not like Falun Gong. The hoteliers said the Chinese government did not contact them.

Late Tuesday night, several hundred practitioners had a candlelight vigil outside the Inter-Continental Hotel, hoping to rent a

conference room there. Their contract to rent the room had been canceled earlier in the day.

"We think this is discrimination against Falun Gong practitioners," said John Nania, a practitioner visiting from Minneapolis,

Minn.

Tuesday, practitioners planned a meeting in the conference room, but late in the afternoon, hotel

staff said the practitioners did not show up on time. Jiang is scheduled to stay at the

hotel, in the 2200 block of West Loop South, beginning today.

Monday, practitioners said about 50 of their reservations were canceled at the Homestead Studio Suites next door to the

Inter-Continental. A Homestead spokeswoman said the hotel had overbooked the rooms and offered the practitioners accommodations at

the company's other Houston hotels.

Nappi said she paid $3,710 to use the conference room at Inter-Continental. She booked the room several weeks ago under the name of

her nonprofit group, FGM Public Media Inc., which she said produces programs about Falun Gong and traditional Chinese culture.

But late Tuesday, a hotel representative told her the reservation was canceled.

Inter-Continental spokeswoman Pamela Gilbert said Nappi's

group did not show up until about 3 p.m. but their contract required they begin at 6 a.m. The hotel returned the money to Nappi.

Gilbert said hotel management did not know that Nappi's company was connected to Falun Gong until some members asked to

be let into the conference room for their meeting Tuesday.

Gilbert also said that some practitioners asked hotel managers several weeks ago if they could protest on the property when Jiang

arrived.

Hotel staff did not want Falun Gong to use the room, saying the hotel "reserves the right" to protect its guests from disturbances,

Gilbert said.

"Since they had requested to protest earlier, we decided not to set up the (conference) room again," Gilbert said.

Monday, Falun Gong practitioners who had reserved rooms at the Homestead Studio Suites said hotel staff told them the

reservations were canceled because there were not enough rooms.

Homestead spokeswoman Karen Burk has said management at the company's Galleria hotel overbooked the rooms to make sure as many rooms

as possible were occupied if some people did not show up.

The Chinese government banned Falun Gong in July 1999, saying the belief system is a cult that uses mind control and manipulation

while openly challenging Chinese law. Practitioners have been arrested and jailed. Some claim they were tortured. Others said

practitioners have been killed.

The alleged treatment of Falun Gong members in China has gained the sympathy of the international community and some members

of the U.S. Congress.

[tallhappy]

Outrageous.

To this hotel - Inter-Continental - no respect, no business.

[tallhappy]

Here is the scumbag hotel we page, HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL HOUSTON

Let them know we do not appreciate them acting as point man for the Chinese Communist regime.

[tallhappy]

p

[Thane_Banquo]

I sent the following FReep message to them:

I am writing to protest your refusal to allow practitioners of the Falun Gong religion to stay at your hotel during the upcoming visit by Jiang Zemin, Premier of the People's Republic of China. I do not believe that hotels operating in America should cow-tow to Third World despots. Further, it is not right that, while you benefit from the protections of private property and free enterprise inherent in our system and our Constitution, you seek to deny the legal and Constitutional rights of Falun Gong supporters.

Please consider revising your stance.

[tallhappy]

Well done and articulate.

[elfman2]

"I don't understand what the problem is," said Lisa Nappi, a Falun Gong practitioner from Virginia. "This is America. This is a free Land"

And the hotels are "free" to cancel your psycho a~s! The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.

[Dog Gone]

Isn't it possible that they didn't want their hotel to be the site of a noisy protest?

[twigs]

"I don't understand what the problem is," said Lisa Nappi, a Falun Gong practitioner from Virginia. "This is America. This is a free land."

Absolutely. Now other potential guests have the freedom to take their busines elsewhere. Hope the word gets out. Capitalism at its best.

[batter]

Bump. I guess I won't have to worry about staying at those hotels next time in in Houston.

[hopespringseternal]

Most business types would gladly sell the rope to hang themselves with. Zemin may be a scumbag leader of an oppressive government, but he has a lot of money.

[Enemy Of The State]

Thanks for the p.

I smell a lawsuit coming on the horizon...after all..this is America :)

They may be able to cancel their reservations but they cant stop them from assembling just off the hotel property to practice their exercises in the morning.

May Jiang be blessed to see Falun Gong members everywhere he goes in the US :)

[Enemy Of The State]

SO lets freep the hotel chain in Huston... :)

[RightWhale]

To this hotel - Inter-Continental - no respect, no business

Generally businesses do not welcome protestors on their private property. A person may protest from his own front porch so long he does not annoy the neighbors. This is America and those are the rules.

[tallhappy]

Hoover's Company Capsule Database - World Companies


2002


Six Continents Hotels, Inc.


HOOVER-NO: 43761


Devonshire House, Mayfair Place
London United Kingdom


TELEPHONE: 44-20-7495-2500
FAX: 44-20-7495-2769

LENGTH: 185 words

EMPLOYEES: 35,514
ANNUAL EMPLOYEE GROWTH: 21.18%

FISCAL YEAR END: September

EXECUTIVES:
CHAIRMAN AND CEO: Thomas R. Oliver
CFO: Richard Solomons
EVP AND CIO: W. Douglas Lewis
SVP DEVELOPMENT FINANCE: David R. Smith
SVP GLOBAL INFORMATION SERVICES: Suzanne Marie Carr-Treece

SALES:
2001 SALES($mil.)- 2,792.81
1YR SALESGROWTH- 20.75%

INCOME-STATEMENT:
2001 NET INC. ($mil.)
1YR NET INC. GROWTH

DESCRIPTION: As long as you're not visiting the South Pole, Six Continents Hotels (formerly Bass Hotels & Resorts) has somewhere for you to stay. A subsidiary of UK leisure giant Six Continents, the company operates or franchises more than 3,200 hotels in about 100 countries (almost 60% of profits come from its North American hotels). Six Continents Hotels' brands include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, and Inter-Continental, and have a total of some 515,000 rooms. Its Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn hotels feature separate bedrooms and kitchens for extended stay travelers. Six Continents has been expanding its hotel unit, which provides 40% of overall profits, after selling its famous Bass brewing operations to Interbrew.

KEY-COMPETITORS:
Accor
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts

INTERNET : http://www.sixcontinentshotels.com

[I_Publius]

I now know where I'll be staying the next time I travel to Houston. That cult is worse than the Heaven's Gate group over in Cali. Too bad, so sad.

Darn, I sure don't sound very tolerant!

[drjimmy]

You might want to send a copy to the President's father, who was having a grand old time eating dinner with Jiang at the hotel.

[tallhappy]

Oct 24, 2002
We know what it takes to make Summits happen!
77 Heads of States at the InterContinental
Phoenicia for the past 7 months…

March 12, 2000, the InterContinental Phoenicia re-opened after 25 years of
closure.

March 23, 2002, the InterContinental Phoenicia welcomes Ministers and
Heads of States, hosting the 14th Arab League Summit.

October 18th, 2002, the InterContinental Phoenicia is the official venue for
the 55 Heads of States coming for the IX Francophonie summit in Beirut.

Following 2 years after its reopening, the InterContinental Phoenicia
regained its position as the Local, Regional and International Conference
Center.

After successfully hosting the Arab League Summit, the InterContinental
Phoenicia has welcomed 55 heads of States from around the world who
convened in its Grand Ballroom for the IX Francophonie Summit.

500 million people, from Mali to Quebec, from the Caribbean to Algeria, and
from France to Cameroon, have watched closely the event on television.

One of the biggest historical events to take place in Lebanon has been
closely monitored by around 500 million people, from Mali to Quebec, from
the Caribbean to Algeria, and from Belgium to Cameroon

The dedication of all the Team Members of the InterContinental Phoenicia
made this event a true success. Preparations started on all the levels of
the Organization, including special protocols and service standards
trainings, internal management organization, etc…. On the organizational
level, a committee has been established from within the hotel to liaise with
the Lebanese government in order to evaluate the situation and set up the
necessary plans and strategies: logistics, security, reservations,
preparations, etc.

The hotel hosted delegations from the following countries: France, Canada,
New Brunswick, Luxembourg, Guinea Bissau, CF Belgium, Sao Tome, Guinea,
Federal Belgium, Senegal, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Djibouti, Gabon, Tunisia,
Cameroon, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Czech Republic, Suisse,
Egypt, Benin, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lithuania,
Seychelles, Vietnam, Togo, Quebec, Maurice, Morocco, Monaco, Mali,
Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Vanuatu, Laos, Burundi, Central African Republic,
Congo Brazzaville.

On October 21st, 2002, the InterContinental opened its doors again to its
valued clientele to discover the new francophonie-flavoured recipes in all
its restaurants.

Facts & Figures:
? In 1880, the geographical expert Mr. Onesime Reclus came up with the
idea of a Francophonie summit in order to describe the tradition and habits
of the francophone world and French colonies.
? 170 million of people speak French; it is the second talking language just
after the English.
? 500 million people are Francophone (living in the 55 countries)

History:
? 1986: the I° summit held in Paris
? 1987: the II° summit held in Canada (decision taken to hold the summit
every two years)
? 1989: the III° summit held in Dakar
? 1991: the IV° summit held in Paris
? 1993: the V° summit held in Maurice
? 1995: the VI° summit held in Cotonou
? 1997: the VII° summit held in Hanoi
? 1999: the VIII° summit in Monkton
? 2002: the IX° summit held in the most glorious city in the Mediterranean
BEIRUT, and specifically at the InterContinental Phoenicia.

For further press information and supporting photography, please contact:
Six Continents Hotels (BGB - agency):
Virginia Webb
Email: virginia@bgb.co.uk
Tel: +44 20 7233 2300

http://www.pressoffice.sixcontinentshotels.com/view_release.cfm?id=681

[Enemy Of The State]

Thanks for the info. Ive already taken the liberty of sending them a nasty-gram via the website provided above. Should I receive any reply I will be sure to post the contents.

Regards!
EOTS

[tallhappy]

They paid for rooms and conferences.

[RightWhale]

They paid for rooms and conferences.

That would be a contract right there, but then they wanted the contract modified, so the contract was voided.