I’m going to ask you to do a bit of light reading, and then I’ll ask you to pick up a phone, write a letter, or send an email. Maybe a couple of emails.
But first the reading:
I’m Jim McDaniel, webmaster for the 174th Assault Helicopter Company’s web site. I refer you to one of our web pages that I put together back in 2004. It is about Hal Koster, one of our 174th crew chiefs from Vietnam. Hal crewed the UH-1C SHARK gunships that I flew 1967-68. Hal and I flew together. Please see the page about his restaurant and his support of our veterans at http://www.174ahc.org/koster-iraq.htm.
Now, having read the page, Hal has continued to host our veteran amputees every Friday night. I have been to several of the dinners, and it is absolutely WONDERFUL what Hal has been doing at significant effort and personal expense (every dollar he spends on our veterans could be money he puts in his pocket). You really have to be one of these dinners to fully appreciate what this means to these soldiers.
Well I received this message (below) from Jack Cunningham, and I couldn’t believe it. I was last in Hal’s on St. Patrick’s Day, and Hal didn’t mention his difficulties to me then. I just called Hal and he confirmed for me this report is TRUE. Hilton has terminated his lease and the restaurant has been ordered closed on April 31 (just over TWO WEEKS from now). Apparently Hal’s support of our wounded veterans is playing a MAJOR part in Hilton’s decision to shut him down. Part of it is that Hilton has refused to put in wheelchair access to the restaurant and their concern over liability if one of the amputees should be injured in the restaurant.
Oh, there’s a great deal more at that source link, and FbL, who alerted me to this mess has more as well. Go on, read it all. I’ll wait.
Are you back? Did you read it all? Are you angry?
Don’t be. It’s just business, the kind of hard-eyed cost/benefit analysis that businesses make all the time. The Hilton people apparently looked at all of these wounded soldiers, many of them in wheelchairs, coming every Friday night to the premises they leased out , beckoned by the lure of free food (in a place where a T-bone can run you $30) and beverages and what they saw was not mutilated American heroes who have served their country to the utmost extremity of personal sacrifice and pain moving along a path towards recuperation and recovery in the company of comrades, sponsored by another hero who did not forget what it was like to come home from an unpopular war and determined, at his own cost, to make a difference for these men and women.
No, instead they appear to have seen potential lawsuits and possible liability. They saw risk, and lost revenues. What are the feelings of one restaurateur against these unpalatable corporate risks?
Nothing.
What are the marginal costs of the feelings of these little people who anyway volunteered for all of this, and now look what happened to them?
Hard to say.
But let me stop there, because all of that is getting my blood up, and making me angry. And this is not an emotional issue – it’s just business.
So let’s get back to business. Sometimes a corporation makes a risk decision which seems straightforward, but isn’t. Sometimes there are hidden risks. Like the risk that you, gentle reader, might learn of this business case analysis and come to some conclusions of your own. That you might, at my personal request, do something:
You might call or email the Hilton Corporation’s representatives, Dan Boyle (212) 838-1558 (daniel_a_boyle@hilton.com), or Brian Kellaher (202) 393-1000. You might tell them, in as unemotional a way as possible, that you have recently learned about their corporation’s decision not to renew Fran O’Brien’s lease. You might intimate that under the circumstances, the decision has surprised you – you had thought a great deal more of the Hilton brand, but were apparently mistaken. You might inform them that, should this decision stand, you have regretfully concluded that you and your family will no longer be able to do business with the corporation – ever. You might add that this decision is sufficiently troublesome to you that you have decided to contact all of your friends, and let them know what has happened here, and what you have decided. That you will encourage your friends to take the same stand as you have.
You might even call or write your Congressman, and ask his staff whether or not a decision like this in any way goes contrary to the spirit and letter of the American’s with Disabilities Act. If it doesn’t (and it probably doesn’t), you could ask him to look into whether it ought to, at least in the specific case of Hilton Corp and Fran O’Briens. There is an election coming up, after all. What Congressman wouldn’t relish the opportunity to stand in front of the mic, flanked by wounded soldiers, in front of the corporate facade?
But don’t be angry, gentle reader. This is just business. And sometimes, businesses make mistakes. Look at this as an opportunity to help Hilton recognize that they have miscalculated the risk/benefit analysis, that there were hidden costs behind what seemed a straightforward decision. In cold, unemotional terms.
But do act quickly. The lease expires at the end of this month.
Do it.
Do it for them.
For the rest of their lives, they will live with the consequences of what they did for you.
Bravo, Lex! Thank you so much for posting about this. As I mentioned over at the Castle, I think Hilton has done the knee-jerk thing instead of recognizing what a boon it could be to them if they got out in front of it.
For example, the story could be “Hilton Hotels partners with Fran O’Brien’s to ensure that our wounded heroes continue to fellowship and heal in a supportive environment.” But they chose the knee-jerk option, instead. Like you said, bad business decision.
Polite and courteous email sent, with proper helping of guilt.
Couldn’t Hilton re-direct a bit of their advertising budget to make Fran’s ADA compliant? And then toot their own horn about it? My job description isn’t rocket scientist, so surely among all those suits one could have come up with the same idea.
A more sinsiter possibility has been raised by at least one Vietnam vet who suggests that maybe the hotel in which Fran’s operates thinks that having a bus from the hospital disgorge large numbers of obviously-wounded soldiers at their doorstep every Friday night is “bad for business” (as some business apparently did in the early ’70s).
I have no way to determine the accuracy of that idea and I’m neither condemning nor endorsing it. But it certainly raises my eyebrows when I consider that the hotel has not given Fran’s an explanation for non-renewal of the lease.
I sent off a nice, polite e-mail yesterday as soon as I saw this pop up on Mudville Gazette…
Sent a polite email myself. Also referenced forwarding comment to the http://www.anysoldier.com/ site where tens of thousands of supporters refer.
Included site ref in case any were interested in supporting troops.
Thanks for the heads up Lex. We get a lot of visitors to our facilities for audits and I informed Mr. Boyle (No relation that I know of, but….) that I would recommend alternate accommodations with an explanation why.
Fran O’Briens will find another place to operate and I’ll go there next time I’m in DC.
I have e-mailed, and also passed this on to a friend of mine w/ ties in congress AND a politically active handicap. Her family has done business with Hilton and may still have reasonably close ties. We’ll see. I wish them luck.
I gave a phone call and left a message with Mr. Boyle. I let him know that frankly, neither I nor my family will be using their facilities in the future. Furthermore, I asked if he considered the risk of further publication of the matter? Perhaps there is some unforseen risk in doing business this way.
Good news at the moment! They are in negotiations again.
Mail off. Reasonably polite. Further mails on the way to Boortz and Hannity and various members of Congress.
Thanks for the heads up, Lex.
Text of email sent:
Dear Mr. Boyle,
I just read about the decision that Hilton Hotels has made regarding the restaurant and possible reasons Hilton has for ending the lease.
I also understand that I may not know all of the facts, but when I hear that Hilton is closing a restaurant because too many disabled military folks were visiting, and that it would ‘cost too much’ to renovate. I tend to assume that the report is accurate.
No, I not going to threaten to never darken your door again because of this, but I will tell you that as a partner in my firm, I will tell our travel coordinator to consider other alternatives to Hilton. I will also be passing the word around to my friends and urging them to do the same.
Hilton in the final analysis, must make the risk/reward decision between renovating the place and closing it. The relatively few dollars it may cost to make the restaurant ADA compliant will pale in comparison to poor publicity and lost revenue.
Regards,
William G. Bolton
President, Esplanade Partners Inc.
Email sent to Doyle :
“Please cancel my Hilton H-Honors membership # xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reason : Hilton legal mercenaries’ action in closing Fran O’Brien’s in DC.
And I’m sure those weasels all say “Oh, but we support the troops.”
Thanks for the heads up Cap’n. My daughter works in the tourism industry in Puerto Rico and has lots of contacts in the trade. She is advising clients to consider Hilton’s decision when they book accomodations on the island. She will be kind enough to share this with Mr. Boyle. I spent this past evening making tentative plans for a Retired Seabees of America reunion in PR; I know where they (all 400-500 of them) won’t be staying.
And don?
And don’t forget that it’s not just “Hilton” hotels. The Hilton “family of hotels” includes: Conrad Hotels, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites and Scandic Hotels.
Done – and travel arrangements change accordingly.
Seeing this swift response made me think of the Scots Gathering of the Clans. So of course the perfect soundclip to accompany this noble effort would be:
Braveheart Sountrack, by James Horner
Track 8: Making Plans/Gathering the Clans
May the pipes inspire you and strike fear in the mustard seed hearts of corporate accountants everywhere.
So Hilton, you mess with one of us…
You mess with of us –the Lex BlogClan…:)
Fran O’Brien’s Update…
it’s appearing more and more that Hilton has made a very poor business decision based on surface-level analysis of profit/loss (as Lex has theorized). And it’s also becoming clearer that they have treated Fran O’Brien’s very shabbily, possibly to t…
Last lines should be:
You mess with one of us– you mess with ALL of us
After I calmed down a bit, I sent off a polite e-mail. Told Mr. Boyle that, in light of Hilton’s decision, I would take my commerce elsewhere.
However, should Hilton reconsider this decision, I would reconsider mine.
I received the following response. Anyone else getting anything?
Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton.
Thank you for your expression of concern regarding the Fran O?
I received the following response. Anyone else getting anything?
Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton.
Thank you for your expression of concern regarding the Fran O’Brien’s restaurant. I appreciate your interest and would like to take this opportunity to respond to you personally.
For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement, the Capital Hilton has elected to terminate the lease with the operator of Fran O’Brien’s restaurant at the hotel. This decision was not at all related to the Friday night dinners for disabled veterans but rather a result of lease negotiations that failed. The hotel has offered to host and sponsor the May 5, 2006 dinner and expressed interest in working closely with Walter Reed so that the Friday night tradition can continue. Furthermore, the hotel is in discussions with one of the sponsors of the Friday night dinners to continue their support of the dinners.
The Capital Hilton prides itself on its involvement and support of many community organizations and events and has provided complimentary or discounted rooms to families with veterans in the hospital, donated facilities to military organizations and most recently hosted a meeting for 300 people.
Sincerely,
Brian Kelleher
General Manager, Capital Hilton
This is the response I received to the e-mail I sent:
Gmail K L Baker
** Fran O’Brien’s **
1 message
Matt Bitzer Fri, Apr 14, 2006 at 4:44 PM
To: Matt Bitzer
Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton.
Thank you for your expression of concern regarding the Fran O?
This is the response I received to the e-mail I sent:
Gmail K L Baker
** Fran O’Brien’s **
1 message
Matt Bitzer Fri, Apr 14, 2006 at 4:44 PM
To: Matt Bitzer
Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton.
Thank you for your expression of concern regarding the Fran O’Brien’s restaurant. I appreciate your interest and would like to take this opportunity to respond to you personally.
For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement, the Capital Hilton has elected to terminate the lease with the operator of Fran O’Brien’s restaurant at the hotel. This decision was not at all related to the Friday night dinners for disabled veterans but rather a result of lease negotiations that failed. The hotel has offered to host and sponsor the May 5, 2006 dinner and expressed interest in working closely with Walter Reed so that the Friday night tradition can continue. Furthermore, the hotel is in discussions with one of the sponsors of the Friday night dinners to continue their support of the dinners.
The Capital Hilton prides itself on its involvement and support of many community organizations and events and has provided complimentary or discounted rooms to families with veterans in the hospital, donated facilities to military organizations and most recently hosted a meeting for 300 people.
Sincerely,
Brian Kelleher
General Manager, Capital Hilton
“For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement.”
Typical spin-doctoring. Requires elaboration.
For the record, my uncle was an Iroquois mechanic with the RAN in Vietnam, so I may be biased.
Yeah, that line about “inability to reach a new lease agreement” is a little hard to swallow. According to the owners of Fran O’Brien’s, they repeatedly asked for the parameters of a potential new lease and were were repeatedly assured that it was being developed. However, they were never given specifics, so no “agreement” was even attempted by Hilton. I swear, the more I learn and the more I read, the worse Hilton looks.
Maybe it’s because it’s been a L-O-N-G week or maybe my blonde roots are beginning to creep toward the light but I’ll be dipped if I can figure out how to leave a trackback. I wanted to do so for my post : http://homefrontsix.blogspot.com/2006/04/i-apologize.html
- hfs
Done as requested.
As of April 15th at 6:30, I have received nothing, nada, zippo, and even less.
They are now ‘officially’ on my S*** list.
Brian can claim this has happen for strictly business, well guys and gals lets Roll. History does repeat. My wife and I are canceling our Hilton Honors membership and encourage all to do the same. This program has no honor. State your business reasoning Brian, or is being too concerned with lawsuits got your tongue.
Fran O’Brien’s: What Now?…
It sounds like it isn’t going to be possible for Fran O’Brien’s to stay at their current location. But there are several actions you can take that may yet produce something good….
So many of you were astonished a few days ago when I put out some of the previously unheard details on what the Hilton Corp has done in negotiating a new lease with Hal and Marty that I thought I would give you the actual details and let you decide for yourself who is really at fault here. The Hilton has contended in comments in response emails and to the media that the departure of Fran O?
So many of you were astonished a few days ago when I put out some of the previously unheard details on what the Hilton Corp has done in negotiating a new lease with Hal and Marty that I thought I would give you the actual details and let you decide for yourself who is really at fault here. The Hilton has contended in comments in response emails and to the media that the departure of Fran O’Brien’s from the Capital Hilton is purely a business decision because Fran O’Brien’s has not been paying their rent. In all actuality, that is a true statement, Hal has not paid the rent in a few months and here is why.
Fran O’Brien’s not only served customers in their restaurant, but they also served hotels guests via room service. The Hilton once paid Fran O’Brien’s on a monthly basis for those room charges until sometime in 2005. The room service payment to Fran O’Brien’s was halted and when Hal questioned why he was told there were new accounting rules and the payments would now be every 120 days. Accepting but not liking the answer, Hal said okay. 120 days came and went, Hal questioned again when his room service payment could be expected, he was told that it was not 120 days, in reality it was 180 days. 180 days came and went as well and Hal once again questioned where his money was. The Hilton told Hal to be patient he would get it (you should begin to see the theme here). At that point the Hilton owed Hal more than he owed them in rent, so Hal asked to apply the room service charges to the rent in which the Hilton came back with a firm “NO”. So Hal stopped paying rent and told the Hilton to use what they owe him. I would have done the same and I know most of you would too. Bottom line figures are: The rent monthly for the Fran O’Brien’s location was $12,500, and $2415 for utilities totaling $14,915. Hilton owes Fran O’Brien’s $68,061.73 in room charges. Fran O’Brien’s owes the Hilton $59,660 in rent and utilities including April Rent and utilities (Jan – Apr). In actuality the Hilton owes Fran O’Brien’s $8401.73, in the end the Hilton makes out in the deal by evicting Fran’s, I’m sure they will not be paying the $8401.73 they owe Hal.
To top it off, since no resolution was made on a new lease before the old one expired, Fran’s is going month to month and is considered in “holdover” status. Therefore the Hilton can charge Fran’s what ever they want in rent, so they did; they raised the rent to $25,000 per month, a 100% increase. Another good business decision by Mr Kelleher and the Hilton Corp!
Bottom line here the Hilton, for whatever reason has been strategically using tactics to force Fran O’Brien’s out of the Capital Hilton hotel, we don’t know the real reason why for sure only speculation. We do however know that the Hilton did studies and committed to putting an elevator in near the Fran O’Brien’s main office. Just before construction was to begin, the surveyors found the location they were going to use had structural support beams in the way and to put an elevator where they originally wanted was going to be too expensive, thus the project was scrapped.
Because the old Fran O’Brien’s lease was in place for years the fact of not being ADA compliant was grandfathered in and Fran’s did not have to have been in compliant. Since the lease is now a total renewal and not an extension, the Fran O’Brien’s facility would have to be ADA compliant. Which leads many (myself included) to believe that this is something the Hilton is not willing to pay for, thus termination of the lease.
On the surface this all appears to be a business (albeit a poor one) decision made by the Hilton Corp. People are focusing in on it being about the wounded service members and their families. Although it is not the root of the cause for the Hilton to act the way they are, but it does play a small role in it. The use of the restaurant by disabled people military or not is the root cause, it has however gained national attention only because the wounded and family are going to be missing out on an important part of their recovery, solely because no one in the Hilton corporation feels it is cost effective to spend the money on an elevator. I find it hard to believe that a company such as Hilton would see it that way, especially since they having been recording record profits the past few years, but they do, and the only way we as American’s can do anything about it is to hit them where it hurts and that is to not give them any business.
One more note and I’ll quit rambling. If there is anyone in the world who should be given special consideration for acts of kindness and good it is Hal and Marty. The Hilton should be bending over backward to do whatever they can in helping Fran O’Brien’s remain open to include adding an elevator. Instead of pushing this aside and getting all the bad publicity, they should be embracing the idea. They are beginning to see the effects of negative publicity among veterans groups; they should be tapping into this as a positive. Veterans groups are extremely loyal customers and often will pay more for goods and services to those companies who are loyal to them. Hal and Marty deserve and need special recognition for the sacrifices they have made for our wounded. If the Hilton won’t do it, I would hope someone out there reading this has some connections that can help offer a good solution. As always, thanks again for any support you can give us in telling the Hilton Corp just how you feel. I suggest staying away from making your comments to Mr. Kelleher, he is deaf to all of you, make your thoughts be known to his bosses at Hilton Corporation. Thanks again.
Andrew
Contact:
Thomas Keltner,
Executive Vice President,
Hilton Hotel Corporation,
9336 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210
FAX: 310-205-4599
My original note below for those of you who missed it.
I’ve sat back long enough biting my tongue and listening to the rhetoric coming from the Hilton Corp concerning the closure of Fran O’Brien’s and I have finally had enough. I keep hearing that the closure of Fran O’Brien’s was a business decision, what does that really mean? I can give you some insight on how the how and what the Hilton Corp considers a “business decision”. Having been a volunteer in helping Hal and Marty for over two years, I have watched this unfold and it is very upsetting to see any company, not to mention one as large as the Hilton behave in such a manner. Here is the history:
Hal and Marty contacted the Hilton Corp last year, one year in advance of their lease expiring to get things going for a new lease. In their original proposal Hal asked for some items that any normal human being would consider a landlord’s responsibility. They asked for new carpet, some bathroom and other area upgrades, and the big kicker…an elevator or some other means to get patrons (not just military members) down to the restaurant without having to go through the crowded storage bowels of the basement where the current service elevators are. Hilton’s response to Hal and Marty was that we are going to renew your lease, but the elevator is off the table and once YOU have made the area improvements that are being requested, we will sign a new lease. Let me make that clear, the Hilton wanted the new carpet, bathroom and other area improvements done by Hal and Marty BEFORE they would consider giving Hal a new lease. That’s good business, right? Hal being the smart business man that he is, stated “let’s sign the lease first then I’ll make the upgrades”, to which the Hilton said “let’s talk about it” and stood behind their statement that they ARE going to renew the lease once it all gets worked out. Hal took them at their word, but was very smart not to make any upgrades until a lease was signed. Months go by and Hilton’s position was, “we still want you there, but upgrade yourself before we sign a new lease for you.”
In the meantime, the Hilton stopped paying Fran O’Brien’s for the room service they provided to guests that were billed their hotel room. The Hilton continued to give different accounting excuses on why it could not be paid until more than 6 months had gone by and the amount owed exceeded the amount in one month’s rent. Hal, being the smart business man that he is told the Hilton to use the money owed toward that month’s rent. The Hilton came back saying no way and took it as a non-compliance of rent payment.
At about that time, the Hilton stopped all voice and email response to Hal’s constant contact. The Fran O’Brien’s lease was up at the beginning of 2006 and Hal repeated contacted the Hilton, but was never given the courtesy of a response either way. Because the lease expired and Fran O’Brien’s was going month to month because no one told them otherwise, the Hilton Corp decided it was within their right to increase the rent 100%. That’s right folks the Hilton Corp doubled the rent in an effort to force Fran O’Brien’s out of business. When the Hilton finally saw that Hal and Marty were not folding, they sent them an eviction notice to be off the property within less than 30 days. That folks is Hilton’s way of doing business.
Having said all that, business decisions have to be made, and sometimes they are not always what we want. But how you act and the integrity behind how you conduct that business is what really should be examined here, and the Hilton should suffer monetarily by losing business from angry people worldwide. They did not and continue not to have any form of integrity what so ever.
The Hilton continues to do damage control by making statements like they support the troops by moving the dinner to another restaurant and they have been there supporting the dinners all along. That people, really pisses me off. With the exception of this past Friday the Hilton has never helped out or been involved in any Friday Soldier dinner for the past 2 ½ years we have been doing this. It was comical this past week, they saved a parking spot for our bus, escorted us down to an elevator through a neatly cleaned coat closet and hallway where in the past we could barely get by because of all the mattresses and other hotel storage supplies in the way. The manger was even there holding an umbrella as wounded and family got off the bus. It was absolutely disgusting as I watched him look to see where the CBS and CNN cameras were pointing and run to get in the background to help like it was something he routinely did. Statements coming from the Hilton today hint to the event of Fran O’Brien’s not paying their rent, well Hilton how about paying your own bills?
The Hilton before this past Friday night had never, and I repeat never had anything to do with the dinners, with the exception of one thing: The bell staff, who were always very polite and respectful for the injured troops would unlock the doors to the luggage/coat closet enabling us to get the wheelchair patients to the service elevators. That is the extent of it, and for them to say anything different is a flat out lie, but seeing how they conduct themselves, it is evident they are okay with lying to everyone in the name of damage control. And since the dinners have been put on by Fran O’Brien’s and facilitated by numerous volunteers, the Hilton’s offer to move it to the Twigs restaurant upstairs will never happen. If they don’t fold and let Fran O’Brien’s stay, we will never go back to that or any other Hilton. Note: In the 2 ½ years I have been helping to Fran O’Brien’s, I have never seen more than 4 people in Twigs at a time. I always thought that it was closed. It’s obvious what eatery in the hotel was of choice, since Fran’s was always packed. Maybe the Hilton wanted Fran’s out because they could gain back market share for their own restaurant, just something to think about.
Bottom line here is the Hilton did not want to pay for an elevator, which would be a very expensive proposition. And in the long scheme of things that might have been a sound business decision for the Hilton, they may never have been able to recoup that cost. But the fact of the matter is that the Hilton Corp handed themselves very poorly with relation to communication and simple good business practices. For Fran O’Brien’s and the 35 people who will soon be out of work, the Hilton’s behavior and business practices is/are just wrong. They are an American corporation who should have high morale and civic values. They deserve all the bad publicity and loss of business they get. I for one will be turning my Hilton rewards card and taking the 20+ weekly room reservations my unit uses elsewhere, I will be passionately encouraging all my co-workers to do the same.
Subject: Fran O?
Subject: Fran O’Brien’s
To: daniel_a_boyle@hilton.com
Please be advised that I, no one in my family, none of my friends, and none of my co-workers will spend one single night in a Hilton hotel nor any of the Hilton “family of hotels” until we are assured that the recent actions by Hilton against Fran O’Brien’s is resolved satisfactorily. This does NOT include sending me a bulk E-mail with the phrase “For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement, the Capital Hilton has elected to terminate the lease with the operator of Fran O’Brien’s restaurant at the hotel…blah blah blah. We are waiting patiently for Hilton to make things right, and until then we will enjoy staying elsewhere. Best wishes, and good luck extricating yourselves out of this situation.
I am a retired disabled veteran. I spent a year at Walter Reed and was retired early after 14 years of service after being injured in a Combat Training Exercise (CTX/FTX). I only received a brain injury and some relatively minor orthopedic injuries compared to those soldiers that are losing their place of honor at Fran O’Brians because of Hilton arrogance. These soldiers have sacrificed their limbs for their country, which in my mind is the next thing to sacrificing their lives.
We owe these more than to stand by and allow them to be effectively evicted because of Hilton Hotels may have been advised by their insurance company that Hilton may be discontinued or that their insurance rates would increase if they continued to serve disabled vets in wheelchairs and on crutches as part of a regular function on their property. Hilton always had the option to change their stupid insurance company. Instead, and if true, it appears that instead of going to that trouble of changing insurance company’s, they chose to evict the disabled vets from their property by closing Fran O’Brians. One writer who is friends with owners owners, Hal Koster and Marty O’Brien goes further and writes:
?
I am a retired disabled veteran. I spent a year at Walter Reed and was retired early after 14 years of service after being injured in a Combat Training Exercise (CTX/FTX). I only received a brain injury and some relatively minor orthopedic injuries compared to those soldiers that are losing their place of honor at Fran O’Brians because of Hilton arrogance. These soldiers have sacrificed their limbs for their country, which in my mind is the next thing to sacrificing their lives.
We owe these more than to stand by and allow them to be effectively evicted because of Hilton Hotels may have been advised by their insurance company that Hilton may be discontinued or that their insurance rates would increase if they continued to serve disabled vets in wheelchairs and on crutches as part of a regular function on their property. Hilton always had the option to change their stupid insurance company. Instead, and if true, it appears that instead of going to that trouble of changing insurance company’s, they chose to evict the disabled vets from their property by closing Fran O’Brians. One writer who is friends with owners owners, Hal Koster and Marty O’Brien goes further and writes:
“Many, however, believe that the Hilton just doesn’t want a lot of limbless, severely injured veterans being seen in their lobby, especially since their attire is frequently casual and many of the guys don’t look like the stylishly groomed corporate types who usually frequent big city Hiltons.”
Hilton admits that they have no future plans for the space currently occupied by Fran O’Brians, so it is clear to this disabled vet that Hilton is hedging their bets by evicting Fran O’Brians and thereby evicting the disabled vets. They kill two birds with one stone.
Unfortunately, as someone else mentioned, Paris is probably the keenest member of the Hilton family and she has no college behind her. The Hilton’s MBA’s seem to have made them stupid and heartless, though they were probably that already. The Hiltons still appear to have no idea what they have done and are doing. We vets have long memories and so do patriotic Americans when we are insulted through our country’s warriors, who are nothing less than extensions of ourselves.
You know, I remember during the Reagan Administration when the French refused us flyover rights when we attacked Libya, resulting in the loss of one of our pilots probably to fatigue because of the flight around Spain and down through the Mediterranean. I still hate the French basta*ds for that and I will always remember what they did then. I will always hate the Hiltons in the very same way. Many Americans feel the same way. The Hiltons are digging their own grave. They should stop listening to their accountants and listen to their PR people, or hire PR people with the wherewithal to tell them the truth or maybe they should just listen to their conscience if they have one. Maybe the Hiltons should all move to France. They may be more at home there, as they act more like the French and less like Americans.
Basta*ds! Perish Hilton! Zeig Hilton! Heil Hilton!