Post #177005 by Rum Numb Davey on Wed, Aug 3, 2005 2:15 PM

Tikibars:

Man..what a story, Brother! Brought back bad memories too! I spent some time in Chicago consulting for Lettuce on revamping their wine and spirits list for three properties in the the early 90's.
I was living in a mundane Oakwood building and bored so I made the sojourn out to various Windy City bars and found some great hangs. One of my favorites was the Duke of Pearth, for some decent fish and chips and a wee dram or two (or five).
I met a chap there, who worked at Buckingham's in the Chicago Hilton Towers and he told me about their extraordinarily single malt selection and I met him there on that week-end. I met the manager, and we shared many antedates, stories, and mused through the evening on Single Malt Whisky. On him learning that I was a lifetime member of the Keepers of the Quaich in Scotland, he invited me to conduct a tutored tasting for members of the SMWS who lived in the Chicago Metro area. I was reluctant, as I was technically on the clock of Lettuce which was a very decent gig. I told the GM that my fee was $150.00 per hour to conduct the tasting, and I would have to ask VP of Operations at Lettuce if they minded some freelancing by me on "my Time." I learned that they did not mind what I did in the evenings after I left Shaw's and I could do as I pleased.
Thinking this to be a fun side project, I told the GM that it was a GO. We decided to conduct the event the event the following Thursday evening and they would do an email blast to their regular customers and contact SMWS members locally. We agreed I would put together a work-booklet to help the attendees follow along the tutored tasting and sensory evaluation training. I spent about 4 hours the next few nights at a Kinko's preparing the aforementioned document.
Needless to say, on the night of the event eleven people showed of the 15 or so RSVP's. A great group of very nice people, and we had the best time. Everyone gushed to the GM about the event, and many stayed after the 2 hour presentation and we all drank copious amounts at the bar.
The staff and guests all seemed very pleased and all claimed to have learned so much.
It started to go wrong, when I was presented a bill for around $90.00 or so dollars. Perhaps, it was wrong for me to assume, but the host or guest speaker is rarely charged and generally comped by the House as a courtesy. I called the GM over and told him I would appreciate if he would deduct the amount from my $300.00 fee and cut me a check for the remainder and I really enjoyed the evening. He claimed that "my check" would be paid by the F & B Manager of the Hilton Towers. I politely told him that I probably could not find the time to return as my last two days with Lettuce would be concentrated and time consuming. I asked if he could take the amount from Petty Cash as a courtesy and be reimbursed by F & B the following. He stated rather ominously that he could not do that either.
The GM wrote down the name of Art Allis and a phone number to reach, and I thanked him. I paid my bar tab, which with tip came to $120.00 and departed back to my temporary digs.
The next day I left a message for Art Allis, and got no return phone call which is not that unusual. I called back and talked to his assistant, and explained I would be by the Hotel Lobby on Friday evening to pick up check and she rather cheerily assured me it would be there. I was leaving the following morning back to San Francisco from O'Hare. After a long walk and cab ride to the Hilton Towers I inquired to the Evening Shift Manager that I was there to pick up my check. She was nice, but stated nobody told her anything. Frustrated, I went back up to Buckingham's to see the GM. He wasn't there and had left for the evening, as well. I left a nice note for Mr. Allis letting him no I would submit a formal invoice to him from San Francisco, and I told him how much I enjoyed his restaurant and Scotch Bar.
I did exactly that and all I got was bumpkis. No reply and no call back. I talked to the GM again and he kept assuring me over the phone that it would come. Still weeks later, nothing. I left messages on his voice mail several more times, and finally, sent a scathing letter to his office letting him know how unprofessional and dishonest the Hotel was in not honoring the agreement.
It is not the money, I spend $300.00 on a good dinner or on ebay buying Tikis. It is the principle of the thing. I did not ask the Hotel to do a function there, THEY asked me. I told them my price and they agreed. Regardless, of whether or not the GM had the Proxy of Mr. Allis is not my concern. It has to be honored and I expended resources in time and money to support them and their venue.
It angered me, and changed the way forever, that I do events.
I agree with Tikibars, we cannot allow Trader Vic's Frigate to be sunk by those Skallywags at Hilton. The only Hilton I like is Paris when she eats a greasey Cheeseburger from Carl's Jr in her very small bathing suit.
Perhaps, we could get Holden to cast that image into a Tiki. Tiki Paris in bathing suit holding a cheeseburger! On no, I opened up the Cheeseboogah cheeseboogah cheeseboogah cheeseboogah. No Coke arguement again from Buffethaters! Opps..sorry guys!