Katrina Refugees Told To Hit The Road As Hotels Return To Normal Business

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBOS7O9HEE.html

Some Katrina Refugees Are Told to Move on as Hotels Return to Normal Business

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) - At least one hotel chain has asked some Hurricane Katrina refugees to check out so it can honor the reservations of incoming guests.

Hilton Hotels, the parent company of Hampton Inn and other brands, is trying to find other rooms for the evacuees but said they were warned when they checked in that their stays would be limited by room availability, said Hilton spokeswoman Kathy Shepard.

"We're doing our very best to accommodate these people," she said.

It's an uncomfortable situation for the hotel industry: risk bad publicity for kicking out hurricane refugees, or anger big-spending repeat customers who travel for business.

Hurricane refugees - often several family members packed into a single hotel room - can be a burden on hotel staff. They also use more water and electricity, and do not spend much on food and incidentals.

once during vaction and then when my home was being demolded i was more than ready to go home. i`m sure the people there wish they could go home also but since this excuse for a government can`t figure anything out it looks like everyone involved with this is getting screwed. i don`t blame the hotels for being pissed nor the people who really have no where to go.