Read It And Weep

The good Capt Z tells a tale of woe. Certainly is a rotten way to treat people who are trying to do something decent for wounded vets.

If this isn't resolved properly, let's all boycott Hilton.

Update:

Text of e-mail sent to Daniel A. Boyle (Daniel_A_Boyle@Hilton.com):

Sir,

It was with great concern that we recently read of your planned eviction of Fran O'Brien's Restaurant from your facility in Washington, DC.

There are two aspects of this that we find disturbing. The first is that this is a very popular gathering place for the wounded returning from the Middle East. The morale-boosting value of such an experience is impossible to measure. For O'Brien's to be dislocated in such a manner would cause considerable disruption.

The other concern centers around the way this has been handled. Apparently, the managers of O'Brien's have been trying for the last six months to get the lease renewed. For five of those six months, they have received assurances that everything was on track. Suddenly, last week, they were notified that their lease would not be renewed. This is hardly a proper way to do business. What if the situation were reversed? How would you like the situation to be resolved?

It is our sincere hope that you will reconsider this action and allow O'Brien's to renew their lease.

.
2nd Update:
Received the following e-mail from Hilton:

:begin text

Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton.


Thank you for your _expression of concern regarding the Fran O’Brien’s restaurant. I appreciate your interest and would like to take this opportunity to respond to you personally.



For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement, the Capital Hilton has elected to terminate the lease with the operator of Fran O’Brien’s restaurant at the hotel. This decision was not at all related to the Friday night dinners for disabled veterans but rather a result of lease negotiations that failed. The hotel has offered to host and sponsor the May 5, 2006 dinner and expressed interest in working closely with Walter Reed so that the Friday night tradition can continue. Furthermore, the hotel is in discussions with one of the sponsors of the Friday night dinners to continue their support of the dinners.



The Capital Hilton prides itself on its involvement and support of many community organizations and events and has provided complimentary or discounted rooms to families with veterans in the hospital, donated facilities to military organizations and most recently hosted a meeting for 300 people.

Sincerely,
Brian Kelleher
General Manager, Capital Hilton

:end text

Interesting that he doesn't give any specifics as to the "inability to reach a new lease agreement".

Curiouser and curiouser.