Post #574876 by Cammo on Sun, Feb 6, 2011 6:50 AM

"Perhaps the reason they "go beige" is to assist the public relations aspects of the businesses and organizations they hope to attract to their hotel and conference centers. Because of increased stockholder, board and public scrutiny, business travel and conferences must appear justified and a good use of funds. If the venue doesn’t look like “serious business”, if it looks like an excuse for too much fun, it could cast doubt on the real reason people spent money to attend the conference. Toned-down decor and a beige look reinforces that this is primarily about work, and only incidentally about entertainment. Beige provides cover. Vegas appears like frivolous, crazy fun - and it is - and it might be the destination of choice, in different times. But lately, Vegas trips have gotten companies criticized for going there and spending money. A company, or even a government agency, may need to hold conferences, but they also wish to avoid the criticism that they are wasting money on contrived excuses to have fun. They need for the venue to look more business than pleasure, even if they intend for the conference to be fun for the attendees. Beige is business, and doesn't attract criticism of expenditures like dense tiki decor and drinks named, e.g., "Vicious Virgin" would."

Just to let everybody know, this is EXACTLY RIGHT, but somebody else nailed it even closer, and it's a LOT more involved than this. For instance, who exactly is being placated with beige; how would a stockholder know or care where a businessman went in March of 2009 and the color of the walls there? Give me some time, go have a Vicious Virgin or two and I'll explain in due time...

...and let me add that TC posters have got to be the smartest crowd of rascals on the internet.

What's all this St. Louis stuff? Take it outside, boys.