phedre

I've had it happen a few times, and found it EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Being an introvert, I need my alone time to unwind at night or I get extremely cranky.

Of course, the higher ups never follow the same example, they always have their own rooms. That's the thing that irritates me the most - never ask of others what you wouldn't do yourself!

AusEuroFlyer

I'm pretty much an extrovert but I would not share a hotel room with a colleague. If my workplace asked me to, I'd politely decline, and if they insisted, I would not go away on company business.

cordata

First I want to thank corporatecrusader for digging up an interesting old thread. I love it when people come out of the woodwork who are not flying in full-fare first class and staying at the Ritz...

To answer the original post I've had to share a room once in my career - at a trade show when rooms were heavily booked. My recollection is that the travel policy included some footnote about situations like this.

My advice in the short term to corporatecrusader is to try to find suite-type rooms with some degree of privacy. Also note that some condos and apartment complexes will often rent out apartments (2 bedroom) very cheaply which would afford some privacy.

Long term you may need to change jobs, go over the head of your boss, whatever - but I would focus some research on properties where you can "share" a room with more than one room.

Good luck!

AMA

CNBC's expose show on Walmart mentioned the CEO sharing rooms while on travel. I've thought it would be neat for a grunt going to a big conference to 'sign up' as the CEO's roommate just to give him hell about it.

No way would I put up with that crap.

stockmanjr

While I don't I would be happy with a policy like this I don't think I would quit my job in the current job market over it..It's easy to talk the talk but would most of you walk the walk?
Cheers
Howie

dimramon

I would. I am on the road every week and I want my privacy.

littl_flier

When we are travelling on training, we are required to share a room but only with someone of the same sex. On all client travel, we have our own rooms.

We could probably jump up and down if we wanted to, but it doesn't seem to bother us too much. The demographics of my organisation are such that most of us are under 30 (well those that would be sharing a room anyway) and we tend to work hard and play hard so it's good for bonding etc. But I agree, training is different from client travel. The last thing I would want at the end of a day of client work is roll over and say good night to a colleague.

Actually, now I think of it. I volunteered to share a room with a member of the opposite sex on client travel, but that's an entirely different story.

Maybe wait for a promotion and then you will be in more of a position to bargain.

szg

No, I don´t have to share a room with my colleagues. I wouldn´t do this !!

novacatz

2c from Asia...

I work for the Thailand office of a US-headquartered MNC.

Two Thai female managers were forced to share a room when there was a big Asia region update organised in HK.

This happened even when all the staff from NY (even down to manager level) were put up in individual rooms at the Conrad!

The Thai staff didn't mind, but if it were me I would be a bit annoyed.

TiggBro

I've enjoyed reading this thread, and thank you to the poster who revived it. Here's my quick contribution.

For our annual sales meeting, where there are hundreds of us brought together, all non-supervisors generally have to share rooms. On the pre-registration form, you get to write in 2 or 3 folks with whom you wouldn't mind sharing, and the meeting organizers are usually able to honor those requests. After a year or two of attending, most folks figure out who they can bear to be around and who they can't. And if you want to opt out, you can pay the difference for the cost of a private room.

We tend to stay at resorts during off-peak time, so places like ski resorts in the middle of the summer, Panama City in the middle of winter, to get cheaper rates. When we've stayed at ski lodges or beachfront condos, we usually have separate bedrooms and a shared kitchen and/or bathroom. Those are excellent setups - in those cases, I've enjoyed having a roommate to hand out with, but also be able to go in your room and close your door. Only a couple of times have we had a standard hotel room with 2 beds right next to each other. Not as much fun, especially with snorers.

For me the most challenging things are:
1) sleep/wake patterns. I'm a night owl, so if my roommate is an early-to-bed type, I'll just go hang out in the lobby or room of another coworker who stays up late til I get sleepy.

2) bigger problem, to me, is if we need to work on presentations and/or e-mail at night, it can be challenging for two people to be working. Usually only 1 decent desk or workspace, and sometimes hard for 2 people to get on whatever internet connection is available. And harder to concentrate if your roommate would rather hang out or goof off.

So in summary, I don't see it as a huge deal to have to share a room (though not with your boss or your reports - that seems prety dang difficult to me), but I'm definitely more productive if I don't have to share a bedroom.

1trainer1

I have had to share bedrooms with people I have met just off a plane, sometimes even just meeting them while checking in, it doesnt bother me as whenever I rememebr last year there was over 1000 of us in a hotel in Perth and we all had to have two to a room as like most we were never in the rooms and were only in the conferences or in the bars, I would do it again as you can get on with people and the person you are sharing with are in the same boat as you so dont be too hard on them

3Cforme

Are you working in the U.S. for a U.S. firm? Few Americans (very senior executive staff, pro atheletes), have employee-enforceable employment agreements.

As for company travel policy, lots of firms have GMs who just say, 'It's cheaper my way.' And it's his way or the highway.

onlyairfare

When I sign up to do volunteer humanitarian aid trips overseas, it's understood in advance we'll share rooms to reduce costs, and I'm OK with that. It is a volunteer NGO non-profit trip after all.

But for required travel for work? No thanks! With one employer, one time, I attended a training session where an overbooking situation existed at the hotel, and we were asked to share rooms with co-workers. When I explained that a medical condition often required me to get up in the middle of the night for treatment, potentially disturbing my roommate, an additional private room magically became available....

There were no subsequent requests for doubling up. I wouldn't accept a position with a company policy that required shared rooms - business travel is hard enough without having to give up privacy.

travelinterpreters

I usually get to share a room with my wife, since we own the company and work together often. A few years ago she couldnt do a trip with me, and the client was only going to get us one room for the weekend conference we were interpreting, so I had to pick one of the other interpreters in town to go with me. I knew right off the bat I wanted to take my friend Phil, because I knew what would happen. We got to the hotel, checked in, and I said you can have the couch and I am taking the bed. He just looked at me with this weird look, because he knew that I knew what would happen. Let me just say that Phil was a very good looking and outgoing guy and had no problem at all finding a different woman to stay with each night of the conference! Problem solved for me! Too bad Phil isnt around any more.....note to self....if you have a bad heart, too many Viagra isnt a good thing!

Hvr

Well that's how I want to die, on the job so to speak.

As for sharing rooms whilst travelling, well if she's cute, single and desperate, maybe.

Otherwise no, never, nada etc. Fortunately my employer agrees. Only time I have ever shared was when there were absolutely no rooms and we got a two bedroom, two bathroom suite for one night.