Do I belong to a rewards program with some national lodging establishments…yes. Do I ask for a special discount from a random business just because I’m in town…no.
Hotels give automatic discounts dependant on the purpose of the stay just as resorts give automatic price breaks (package deals) dependant on the amount of people per room, these discounts have been predetermined upon establishment of policies for each business and are built into the total operation cost and profitability of the business. Totally different than walking into an establishment whose profit margins are tight and have not established built in price margins that are varied upon each individual customer.
A Holiday Inn automatic built in discount for business travelers lies on the opposite end of the spectrum from suggesting a discount be given by a small independent sport shop, motel or restaurant. If the discount is offered by the establishment that is one thing, but what I am concerned about is the mentality that local business should provide a discount based on nothing more than your presence inside of the building. Everyone needs to make a living and some tournament participants are suggesting that family businesses should forego part of their income to benefit people perusing their hobby, people in many cases who are wealthier than the individuals they are asking the subsidy from.
If a sport shop wants to supply hotdogs and soda on their own bidding then by all means chow down! I just find it disturbing when the generosity of one is suddenly placed as an expectation on everyone else, even going as far as discouraging patronizing establishments because of a lack of the predetermined expected gratitude. There are many, many businesses that do not have cushion room to be delving out (in my opinion) undeserving discounts, and to bar them from receiving the financial benefit that an event is supposed to have upon community (that they are already paying for) because of the preconceived notion some may have that they are a more important customer than everyone else who walks in the door is unsettling.
The event is a paid entertainment entity, the city is the paying customer…and unless you can point to an entourage of over 200 people there to specifically see you as an individual fisherman I would suggest keeping expectations and implied notoriety and importance in check.
It is too late if you have to make a second impression because the first one did not go so well.
|