2005/05/03 23:20:30 ZULU
SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC
Currently en route back from the undisclosed location, but here's something to think about:
- The more expensive the hotel the more you pay for drinks.
- If you fly first or business class you get free drinks.
For discussion: why?

Well, obviously, on an airplane, you're a captive audience.
;)
On a plane, the business- or first-class ticket is often paid for by one entity (an employer), whereas the drinks would be paid for by the traveller. If business travellers can affect their employer's choice of airline, then an airline can spend $20 on free booze and steal a competitor's business.
This wouldn't be as effective for a hotel because more people (vacationers) pay for rooms with their own money and because the amount of free booze you can suck down in a week is more than you can imbibe in even the longest plane flight :^)
Even more interesting, most hotel chains offer free WiFi in their low-end brands (e.g. Marriott Courtyard) but make you pay handsomely for it in their more upmarket properties (e.g. regular Marriott).
Clearly the hotels are subsidizing the airline industry. *ducks*
You're only basing this on the expensive hotels, not the *inasnely* expensive hotels. There, everything tends to be included. First class air tickets tend to be in the 10x-20x economy fare range. If you pay $1000-2000 a night for a hotel room (about 10x-20x $100), you will often get booze "included". If you only pay $400-500 a night, then you're only in the "full far economy" or maybe "economy plus" cabin, and there you pay for the liquor.