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I Slept In The Conference Room At Comfort Inn O'Hare
My evening of July 9 was filled with the kind of mundane frustration that can come only from delayed travel. My husband and I were set to fly from New York City to Chicago and Chicago to Marquette, Michigan. Our flight out of New York kept getting pushed back and, despite receiving a seat on a plane leaving earlier than our original flight to Chicago, we still missed our connection in Chicago – the last flight to Marquette for the day. Since the delays were weather-related, we received a coupon for a hotel rather than a voucher. We found the shuttle and lugged our bags toward the long line at the Comfort Inn O'Hare. Once we had our key, we went to our room and opened the door only to find that we'd been placed in the hotel conference room.
Just beyond the gigantic oval table and whiteboard was a normal hotel bed. My husband called the front desk to make sure there hadn't been a mistake. They said we got the last room in the hotel because many passengers had been stranded in Chicago that evening and received airline coupons for the hotel. I wasn't at all perturbed. Having to wait around all day for delayed and missed flights only to be put up in an airport hotel is boring. This, on the other hand, was new.
A follow-up call with the hotel manager revealed that this "Conference Room Suite" is always available for guests to rent and that under normal circumstances, it costs more, too. Although I didn't see the room as a booking option on their website, business travelers occasionally choose this room over others. Distressed passengers typically stay in the room only if the hotel has been hit hard with delayed and canceled flights and has nowhere else to put guests.
Aside from the leaking ceiling and distance between the bed and television, I was happy to stay in the conference room. Not only did it give me a roof over my head for the night, but it gave me a good story, too. Have you ever been placed in an unusual hotel room?
[Photo Credit: Ben Britz]
A follow-up call with the hotel manager revealed that this "Conference Room Suite" is always available for guests to rent and that under normal circumstances, it costs more, too. Although I didn't see the room as a booking option on their website, business travelers occasionally choose this room over others. Distressed passengers typically stay in the room only if the hotel has been hit hard with delayed and canceled flights and has nowhere else to put guests.
Aside from the leaking ceiling and distance between the bed and television, I was happy to stay in the conference room. Not only did it give me a roof over my head for the night, but it gave me a good story, too. Have you ever been placed in an unusual hotel room?
[Photo Credit: Ben Britz]
Filed under: Business, Photos, Stories, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Airlines, Transportation, Airports, Budget Travel, News, Travel Deals
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
charles Jul 23rd 2013 11:04AM
We got "parlorized" at the Condado Casino on a Priceline stay once. We arrived during a Festival Weekend for a cruise. The only thing left was the Parlor of the Presidential Suite. Other than having a roll away and a sofa to sleep on, it was actually a very nice room. The Parlor had four TVs for Conferences, provided access to the Executive Lounge. Had three sofas and about a dozen chairs, Balcony overlooking the Caribbean and the Beach. Opposite side of the Hotel from the Casino. and was about 750 Square Feet.
Oh Yeah, it also had a Glass enclosed Shower that was visible throughout the room. But it was a room when the entire town was sold out.
Glenn Jul 23rd 2013 6:28PM
Had to sleep in El Hotel de amor (or something like that) in Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina when working nearby installing a radio system during Carnival.
Needless to say the Madam was very confused by two Australian guys (lead engineer and lead tech) and an American woman (project manager) wanted 3 rooms for the whole night and no working girls!
My company was pretty confused by the receipts we put in with our expense claims too - business cards from said establishment with $30 each written on it.