I've had some disturbing problems with business computer usage at a couple of Courtyards.

In the last two weeks, I've stayed at the Courtyards at Dunn Loring (Tyson's Corner), Virginia and Potomac Mills (Woddbridge), VA. My usual business MO involves working on documents on my laptop for the next morning presentation, then copying them to a USB flash drive and using the hotel lobby/business center computers to print the documents. I can then get them copied.

At Potomac Mills CY, the lobby computer is locked down pretty tight - so tight that Microsoft Word cannot access files on the Flash Drive. I found a work-around, but the computer will not allow the flash drive to be "stopped" resulting in an error message on removal. I'm not real worried about the flash drive, but it did leave the computer in an undetermined state. THe hotel outsources the computer service, and the desk folks know nothing. THe computer service has no consumer feedback or access.

At Dunn Loring, the situation is even worse. The lobby computers can ONLY access the internet... business programs such as Word, Excel, etc are not even installed. And the USB flash drive cannot even be recognized. The folks at the front desk are clueless (though one offered to print a document if I emailed it to her personal account). And the service is outsourced. Manager apologetic, but can't do much.

This is a MAJOR problem for the business traveler. It is a basic service that should be part of the "built for the business traveler" concept. I can get it at competing hotels.

Despite the fact that I really like the CY Dunn Loring, they will not likely get my future business solely because of this.

Travelers, beware.

It is a hassle when you cannot print from your own laptop. I was told the same thing before at the CY Dunn Loring about having to send a file to an employee to get it printed.

FWIW, the CY Dulles Town Center does have computers equipped with Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. I had no problems printing, but I did not try to use a flash drive. Usually, I just email myself an attached word document if I want to print from the hotel's printer.

You should write about the printing issue at Courtyards on the comment cards. If they get enough feedback on this, I think they would try to make a change.

I will. If I can grab the manager before I leave, I'll talk to him, too.

THe funny thing is that this is a new problem at Dunn Loring. I have successfully opened and printed documents here before. These days you can't even email a document to yourself and print it.

Flash drive is very convenient, and cheap. I carry a 1 GB drive that holds all the important data from the laptop. I carry it in my pocket to make sure I have data in case something happens to the laptop while traveling (catastrophic failure, stolen, etc). So it's easy to carry for printing.

I usually "print" to pdf since most hotel comps have adobe reader. But I don't know if you have this capability.

I agree. CutePDF is great for this purpose.

Yep, I can write a PDF, but the computers in question appeared not to be able to handle pdfs. I found a work-around, but I'm thinking that a USB->Parallel adaptor would allow me to unplug the printer and attach it to the laptop. Don't like doing that (especially with a big sign there saying "don't move the printer cable to the other computer", but when you need it, you need it.)

I have not found one hotel printing system that works effectivly. win2pdf works, and it's free. Google it if you want it.