White is right?

I stay often at the Intercontinental Dallas, in Dallas Texas. I like the hotel for the most part, but it has issues. My biggest complaint is the lack of wireless internet in the guest rooms. For almost four years now the front desk clerks have told me that "they are working on it." Yeah right.

I get free mini bar access at this property because I am a frequent, elite level guest (to be exact, I am a Royal Ambassador) so I guess I can overlook the whole wireless thing.

I've stayed at this particular hotel more times than I can count, and have a pretty good feel for the hotel and the types of clientele the hotel serves. Most of the time the people I encounter are business travelers, or people in town for conventions. This hotel does have it's share of interesting things going on, though. I mentioned in a previous entry the crazy guy at the bar. He was a regular for a while, but eventually they asked him not to come back. They said he got to be a little too much trouble, but I kind of liked the guy. And, I remained loyal to the hotel and stayed multiple times when the entire hotel was under renovation and wrapped in saran wrap. It was a real mess when it was under construction, but I stayed true. (Hey, a free mini-bar is great incentive.)

This particular stay was the first of four nights in different hotels on a long business trip. I should have known it was going to be an interesting couple of days when I walked out of my room at the Intercontinental the next morning. I wondered if I had stepped into a weird time warp or something. First, when I went for breakfast the concierge lounge on the executive floor was packed with people. And kids. Lots of kids. It reminded me of a Holiday Inn Express. This is not the norm for this property. I couldn't even sit at a table, so I took my Raisin Bran back to the room. That was a first for me.

But this time I was starting to think I had stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone.

When I went to check out the next morning I noticed that the entire lobby was filled with people in very interesting white attire. Skirts, saris, turbans, shawls, slacks - all white. I'm not sure what was going on or who they were.

After I checked out and went to my car I found a flyer on my windshield advertising Swami Somebodyorother speaking the next day at a neighboring city. Maybe that was the draw for the hotel.

Then again, maybe I just missed the memo on the dress d'jour.