GLBT Travelers - Host hotel for IML 2013 changed

I found out the host hotel this year will be the Marriott:( That property is smaller than the Hyatt or Hilton. Wonder if they are expecting a low turnout this year to move properties.

Not sure but that's good news for me. I'm usually in town that weekend for BearPride but absolutely hate the host hotel (Crowne Plaza Metro Center). This way I'll get my MR benefits plus a decent rate through IML.

I noticed that the Marriott standard room is a little cheaper than the Hyatt Regency's standard room for IML 2012. Maybe the organizers are trying to reduce costs?

Maybe the organizers are trying to reduce costs?

I believe they are moving out of Hyatt to respect the unions' boycott of that chain. It was too late to do that for 2012.

Of the five times I've been to IML, four were at the Hyatt Regency, which feels like the perfect place for it with its enormous lobby and bar (and capacity). The Hilton was kind of awful and I kept getting lost. Given the Marriott family's political leanings -- and that I'm not even in Marriott's program -- I think I'll be skipping IML 2013. There must be a nice B&B somewhere else I can go for Memorial Day.

So the choice is to bow to questionable tactics by greedy union bosses or to give money to a business which channels some of the profits back to politicians and a "Church"group that will use this money against Equality for gay folks?

I suspect that if I dig deep enough I can find something objectionable about all the big hotel chains. There were probably several factors, and some competitive bidding, that influenced the IML organizers, not just the union issue. FWIW, I heard IML would be back at the Hyatt Regency for another three years in 2014.

What's IML?

What's IML?

www.imrl.com

Do the host hotels still have the prudish clothing rules?

Do the host hotels still have the prudish clothing rules?

The Hyatt did, but it seemed they gave up on enforcing them. :p

The Hyatt did, but it seemed they gave up on enforcing them. :p

During IML 2012 while there were signs at the hotel entrances that the Hyatt Regency is hosting a private event, the staff didn't kick up a fuss with what people wore. But when IML ended and the Hyatt Regency opened up for regular guests, I witnessed security guards ask a bare-chested IML guest to put on a shirt. His partner and he put up a very loud ruckus in refusing that request.