CONFERENCE DIGS:The Montagu, Houston TX

A number of attendees to the IBTTA annual conference in Houston laid their heads at night in the $135/night splendor of the official Hyatt Regency, apparently ignorant of the alternative of The Montagu, an hotel only 9 blocks away from the conference where they could buy a great deal more history and a lotta local color for just $23.20/night.

TRnl of course went for the history and local color. (See upper left.)

It’s an informal lifestyle in the vicinity of the Montagu. The locals in this part of town seem to sleep out a lot, some laid out half way across the sidewalk as early as 7pm, while others in environmentally correct fashion scour the street trash cans for reusable items. We were advised that young dark guys in sneakers juss-hangin-out there in da street around Fannin and Rusk were often robbers, but we’d left our big bills secreted under a loose bit of lino back at the Montagu, and we gave ‘em all exuberant Hi’s, and nuffin untoward occurred.

The Montagu’s clientele is predominantly male aged 18 to 45, the few lightly clad women around the corridors seemed intent on finding ‘dates’ with whom they didn’t seem to linger long after a firm closing of doors. If they weren’t with such accomodatin wimmin the guys seemed to be into all kinds of booze or dope. Doors all along the corridors were kept open in friendly fashion and TVs and boom boxes produced a joyous cacophony. This is no Salvation Army refuge!

As to facilities, well, the water in the bath ran hot’n-cold, we got clean linen (at the start of the stay) for a somewhat battered bed. Two out of four drawers in a dresser worked. We had to scrounge a wire hanger for our jacket. Two of the 3 lights worked. No telephone to bother you and we didn’t get a “TV room” ($3/night extra.) There was air conditioning which sure let you know when it was switched on, and we had, well, city views of parking lots and nondescript office blocks.

The elevators however were a piece of engineering history, one being a vintage manual with a handle on a wheel and those hand operated trellis-style metal mesh doors. Joe the operator usually managed to get within 6 inches of the floor first or second try, which made for a reasonable step, either up or down. Once when he stopped us spot-on first try, his carload cheered and clapped. On occasions the 1950s-vintage “automatic” car next to Joe’s was working so that Joe could sleep or watch TV in the lobby. But on the 10th floor it had a minor call button problem (see notice below right.)

IBTTA and the conference sponsors in Houston were apparently unaware of the joys of the Montagu. We’re sure Steve Snider of the Bridge Commission in Halifax NS, host of 1999’s tollsters’ get-together will know of some equivalent digs in his hometown. But if IBTTA again neglects to inform members of this kinda hostelry value, we’re wondering if there’d be any interest in sponsoring an advance scouting visit... Offers please to tollroads@aol.com