In San Antonio at La Mansion it's a box of worry dolls and a plate of sugared pecans. The worry dolls are cute the first time; after 1 stay they are garbage to me. The pecans are awesome; I just do not prefer that much sugar on my teeth in one year, let alone one week.

After breaking up with Hilton Thelma and Louise style, I started staying at the Omni because La Mansion offers my company a rate equal to the government rate, which is the rate I cannot exceed. The staff are impeccable and they treat me like a superstarrrrrrrr. I get 1 night credit per night stayed (so no funky math for my reduced rate). Oddly, I stayed 2 nights at the Omni Austin Downtown-- 1 was a free night through the SG program, and the other I paid for, at $300+. I got 12 credits towards a free night (and towards my black status) from that one night. Odd....but I'll take it. That property in Austin is amazing by the way-- they really keep the riff raff out. No late night parties and dead hookers in your bathroom.

Frankly I think the SG benefits are nice. When I travel for business I don't want free drinks or lounges full of .........s or a $25 breakfast buffet of runny eggs. I just want plentiful bottled water (check!), friendly staff (check check!), and a simple breakfast in my room (at $4? check! check! check!). The unlimited ironing isn't bad, either.

Unfortunately, the management, at least at La Mansion, leaves a LOT to be desired. I have booked meetings there as well as stayed in the guest rooms; they are late with contracts (signing them 4 days before a meeting = not good), they nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING (to the tune of $4500 for internet for 30 people in a meeting. Holy cow!) Also, they have taken to contacting my company, rather than me, when there is an issue with my bill. I had an erroneous charge on my bill and requested it be removed, which the FD staff did without hesitation, and with a genuine apology for the mix up. But later, the manager saw that was removed, called my company and claimed that I was "expecting amenities from our corporate rate which weren't included in our negotiated package." ...? I guess rather than contacting me and risk the loss of my business (which is what he said when he talked to my company) he thought he could squeeze some bucks out of my company. He finally admitted it was a miscommunication and apologized to my company, but I have yet to hear a peep, and that is bothersome to me. So, I'm left wondering if I have to break up with yet another chain, or if I should give Omni one more chance.