As the minimum wage continues to increase so will the cost of goods and services provided by a hotel. It is a trickle down effect. Electricity, gas, supplies, food goods will continue to cost the hotel more and more so therefore the cost of doing business increases for the hotel. The employees in the hospitality industry are among the least paid. A $60,000 camry? Let me introduce you to the Lexus. The car industry averages a pay rate of $30 - $35 dollars and this does not include the huge benefits package offered to each employee. This industry by the way is currently under the government bailout package but you don't see them lowering rates significantly. If you feel you are not getting the service you deserve from the hotel you are choosing stay at then please by all means choose to not travel or choose to stay somewhere else. We in the hospitality industry have to adapt and handle many diverse requests each and every day. We work when everyone else is partying or when everyone else is home with their families for the holidays. We are open 24/7 and 365 days a year. So, the next time you pick up the phone to book a room or when you go online to get the best deal remember that it takes many people to make a hotel run successfully. They are the Front Desk Clerks, Bellmen, Telephone Operators, Maintenance staff, housekeepers, laundry workers, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, cooks, chefs, bussers, security and many more you never see. Until you have worked in the industry and you know the overhead involved please don't judge and think we are just gouging the public or making loads of money. While lowering the room rate to increase occupancy may seem to be the answer from the outside looking in it is rarely the correct reaction. Room rates are based on a formula that takes into account what the cost is per occupied room. Hotels have a minimum they can charge for a room and still keep the doors open. So back to the increased cost of supplies... this increases the cost per occupied room and therefore prevents us being able to lower rates. So instead of hitting our industry why not look to the oil companies which has helped to raise all costs in this nation.

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