Republicans, hotels ironing out pricing problems

The conflict between 2012 Republican National Convention planners and local hotels over their rates is being resolved through give-and-take in meetings with hoteliers.

A spokesman for the convention planners, meanwhile, acknowledged that a flawed contract executed by the original planning team, under former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, gave the hotels too much latitude to charge high rates.

Bob Morrison, director of the Hillsborough County Hotel and Motel Association, and David James, spokesman for the party's Committee on Arrangements for the convention, both said Thursday the rate issues are being discussed and resolved in one-on-one meetings with individual hotelkeepers.

Morrison said the hotels are mostly getting the rates they proposed.

"As the hotels have been able to talk about the amenities they offer and what they can provide, that's gone a long way toward satisfying the concerns," he said. "Their rates are being found to be consistent and appropriate."

James described it somewhat differently.

"Some of the rates that were out of line have kind of changed a bit," he said. "A large number of them were good."

James acknowledged the problems came at least in part from the original contract with hoteliers. It allowed them to base their rates on those in effect 18 months before the start of the convention.

That, however, put the date in February 2011, the peak winter period for most Florida hotels.

Morrison and hotel operators have said convention planners are essentially asking for a change in a signed contract.

"The original contract was flawed," James said, but "contracts are changed all the time."

"A rate based on a peak in February should not be applied in August," he said, adding that reasonable rates are "in our best interest, and in the local community's best interest."

Still open is the question of a booking fee. The convention planners have sought a fee of 10 percent of a guest's room charge rather than the $30 per room specified in the contract.