Document K6GXz4qoJkB9qEEDzk8baqX2

0! F. Y THE DRAKE HDTEL Chicago September 4, 1945 Dear Doctor Hblmblad: I regret extremely that due to a series of factors it has become necessary for|me to write this letter in explanation of the reasons why we are apprehensive of our ability to properly take care of your requirements in connection!with your proposed meeting scheduled here April 8-13, 1946 It is difficult to review the circumstances attendant on our various negotiations, but I believe that we should at least recall the fact that The Drake willingly released your Association from any obligation in connection with the original commitment for a meeting scheduled here in April of this year, cancellation of which, of course, was induced by the G.D.T. governmental restrictive measure which forbade any group's meeting in excess of iifty persons. On cancellation of these arrangements for 1945, we asked your permission to enter a tentative reservation for 1946 as we were still anxious to have the opportunity and privilege of entertaining your folks here, and therefore, reserved on an optional basis, space for April 22-27, 1946. At your board meeting held June last, you asked a change in these dates to April 8-13, which were agreeable with the hotel, and the necessary change was brought about. "filth the war's end so suddenly, all hotels, including The Drake, found themselves in a difficult position relative to their ability to entertain large group meetings for several reasons. Pirs|t, and as an illustration, in order that we might comfortably provide for yopr out-of-town members, it would be necessary for us to set 'side not less! than 250 sleeping rooms for the exclusive use of your members, and in addition, secure at neighboring hotels approximately 500 additional rooms for this purpose. The concensus of opinion among hotel men seems to be, at the moment, that the momentum of the terrifio volume of business that has existed these past several years will oontinu? at least six, and perhaps as long as twelve months, from the date of the war's end. The Armed Services are still usinfe from 15# to 20# of our facilities in a direct way, and of course, the demand indirectly would perhaps amount to another 15# or 20# of our total facilities. In making a survey of neighboring hotels in oonneotion with the possibility of our taking care of your meeting in April, 1946, I regret to advise that the Knickerbocker management expressed the opinion that their commitment would of neoessity be out to approximately 50 rooms instead of 150, and the several other hotels that we had made arrangements with for the 1945 meeting showed little disposition to guarantee any set number of rooms and guarantee ihem this far in advance. It is the opinion of our personnel director that we can expect little relief in the way of manpower, particularly in the departments that would have thejresponsibility of installing exhibit booths and the handling 03n J of exhibit material, both in and out, for your exposition -- that hotels will be the last ones to have any reiiof due, in part, to the faot that these positions in the hotel industry are in the lower brackets, and most of the folks who are being released from war factories and who have enjoyed, in many instances, double the earnings that were possible in the hotel field, will shop around for other positions and perhaps resort te taking vacations* Therefore, we are fearful that it will not be feasible for us to handle this portion of your meeting in a satisfactory maimer. Beo&uee of this combination of circumstances, ever which, we apparently have no control, I frankly believe it would be advisable for your Board pt Directors to grant us a release, and while we readily appreciate that this m|ay cause you some inconvenience because of previous planning, it would be my suggestion that you endeavor to select a larger hotel which would have {the advantage of having available all of the faoilities necessary for your meeting and exhibit* plus the ability to guarantee you not less than 500 rooms fbr your members. I am sure that Dell Rhea, in charge of the Chicago Convention Bureau, would also be more than willing to cooperate in assisting you to )eoure whatever additional sleeping rooms are nooessary for the allied groups in hotels adjaoent to the hotel of your ehoiee. I am personally very sorry that this action lias become neoessary and want to extend my sineere. thanks and appreciation to you and the member: cf your offi.cial family and Board of Directors for the kind consideration shewn me du. Ing all of our negotiations, and also during the period of all your meeting s here at The i^rafce. Thanking you in advance for your consideration of tho foregoing, and assuring you it is our sincere wish we may have tho privilege of enter taining you? folks either for a small or larger meeting in the not too distazr1ftiture, I am Sincerely yours, (Signed) G. E. R. Flynn General Soles Manager