Butt out, Westin . . . smokers have needs, too
By Beth Teitell
Wednesday, December 7, 2005

"Westin hotels going totally smoke free"

- Boston Herald, Dec. 6

Speaking as a guest, let me say this: Lay off, OK?

It's not enough that hotels (all of them, not just the schoolmarm Westin) guilt you into re-using sheets and towels for days on end, for the sake of the environment, now they're going after your personal vices.

"Isn't debauchery why you go to a hotel?" a "social smoker" asked. "You can't smoke in your own home anymore. You can't smoke in bars. The hotel room is the last place where you can light up."

Well, break out the emergency Febreeze, because industry observers are predicting that other hotels will probably follow the Westin's lead, which will leave traveling smokers lighting up in a few sad little designated nooks.

Until, that is, some hospitality genius opens an all-smoking hotel. Now that's a niche demographic. Abundant ashtrays, no questions asked, and no telltale evidence on the credit card statement.

Uh, honey, what's this bill from the Butt Motel?

"It's bad enough they put gyms in hotels," the social smoker added.

What's next, eat-your-peas-they're-good-for-you-wise?

I got David Connor, the general manager for the Westin Boston Waterfront (opening June 25, 2006), on the line. "Are you going to take the M&Ms and liquor bottles out of the minibar?" I demanded.

"No," he said. "That's your choice. If you eat an M&M it's not going to bother the person next to you."

"What if that person is your spouse who wants you to lose weight?" I asked.

Connor declined to get involved in marital relations, so I asked if the Westin would ever have special "non-tempting rooms" modeled on the candy- and tabloid- free checkout stations at grocery stores.

"That remains to be seen," he said (which I interpreted as "no way," given the mint hotels make off in-room dining options).

While we were on the topic of calories, Connor mentioned that the Westin has special Westin Workout rooms that come equipped with exercise equipment and DVDs. Gee, that sounds like fun, staring down an unused treadmill for your whole "vacation."

It's almost enough to make a girl light up just to deal with the stress.