Hi all,
I've been travelling for 20 years as a state employee: a state university but we are indeed, state employees. My husband is for sure a state employee: he's paid by the state, not the university. Regardless, he was just refused the state government rate at the Sante Fe Hilton because they don't do it for "university" employees. Keep in mind: this is a STATE university. We are only reimbursed for state travel (that was this night) at per diem rate.

Has anyone else experienced this? I just find it ironic: I'm an employee of the state, but filtered through the state university: we are funded, taxed, classified as state employees but I suppose one could say we don't have a state "government" ID. I have been asked many times for my ID: I've handed it over, and never been declined the state government rate.

On the other hand, my husband, who is not faculty, is truly and 100% a state employee: his salary is not filtered through the university: it comes directly from the state. He rarely travels. He had to tonight, presented the State University employee ID since he's based at the University and that's what he's got and was told it wasn't valid for the rate and was told he'd need to pay 2x what we'd reserved.

I called the manager and offered to email/text/whatever a photo of his paystub from the state of Colorado to prove it. He declined. He did allow the reservation to be cancelled without penalty and my husband is now trying to find a nearby hotel that will be within his allotment for housing.

Has anyone else in this unique situation (a state university: clearly funded by the state, employed by the state) experienced this? I guess in the future I'll need to be prepared if that's the case.