[etni] fwd: ETAI Summer Convention - this year and in the future??

From: <judyastary@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: ETAI Summer Convention - this year and in the future??

Dear Etnians,
I fully empathize with all those who attended this week's ETAI Convention at the Rennaissance Hotel and complained of the expense of it. It's one thing to hold a
conference in a 5* hotel in the capital and charge the earth. It is far worse when - not only is it stretching the means of many but also proves to be poor value for money. DO NOT misunderstand me. I am not referring to the program itself (though I did feel that having a conference in Haifa the previous week detracted from the quality), nor to the presenters, who for the most part offered and delivered something for all tastes and requirements. Hats off to those responsible for the organization (not forgetting the Book Exhibition -
terrific).

I direct my greatest negative criticism mainly to the Renaissance Hotel, which in my opinion and that of many of my colleagues, fell far short of providing either service or quality. The ETAI committee will hopefully read this and perhaps pick up a few tips as to how to rectify / improve (at the very least) on this year next year.

1. For 170 NIS (+ my yearly membership of 170 NIS!) I expect at least a gratis cup of coffee and a bun (even if that means a bun fight to get it!). Instead we were forced to pay 5NIS for a cup of coffee and 15 NIS for a sandwich, which on
Day 1 was 30 cms long and on Day 2 had shrunk to a mere 15 cms - same price!

2. The afore-mentioned sandwiches were not available during the lunch hour! Why not, you may ask? Might I venture to suggest - because the hotel wished us all to take advantage of their "BARGAIN" 3- course meal for 50 NIS! This meal, might
I add, consisted of carbo-hydrate and salad with no protein in sight. For 50 NIS as a main meal, I expect more.

3. The coffee chop proved no reasonable alternative. The manager and the waitress (one single one) were both insolent when we complained that the service was non-existent and the coffeee was undrinkable! My friends and I twice sent
back our "lattes" to no avail. On Day 2, we sat for ten minutes being consistently ignored, while others who sat down after us (notably NOT conference members!) were served ahead of us. After 15 miutes, we walked out and eventually drove into town for sustenance.

I generally enjoy the atmosphere at ETAI Summer Conventions. The R. Hotel is a convenient venue as lecture halls and rooms are all accessible and for some of us that is an increasingly important point in favor. However, the atmosphere was marred by the lack of "derech eretz" of the staff, the exhorbitant prices and the feeling that one was not receiving value for money.

ETAI committee members, please take note. Next year, many of us will really think long and hard before we commit ourselves to another Summer Convention in Jerusalem.

Thank you for reading this,

Judith Astary

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