Palmer House Hilton workers strike

December 16, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Hundreds of workers were on strike at a downtown hotel early Thursday morning.

The striking Palmer House Hilton workers say they believe the hotel's owner has enough money to pay them, but they believe the owner is using the recession as an excuse not to.

About 500 workers have walked off the job. The one-day strike comes as the busy holiday season kicks into full gear. The contract battle has been going on for more than a year. Earlier this year, union members conducted short-term strikes at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue and the Hyatt Regency-O'Hare. The contract for housekeepers, dishwashers, cooks and bell staff expired 15 months ago.

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UAE hotel erects 11-million-dollar Christmas tree

Image via Wikipedia

Christmas came in extravagant fashion to the Muslim desert emirate of Abu Dhabi as a glitzy hotel unveiled a bejewelled Christmas tree valued at more than 11 million dollars on Wednesday. It is the "most expensive Christmas tree ever," with a "value of over 11 million dollars," said Hans Olbertz, general manager of Emirates Palace hotel, at its inauguration.
The 13-metre (40-foot) faux evergreen, located in the gold leaf-bedecked rotunda of the hotel, is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights.

But the necklaces, earrings and other jewellery draped around the tree's branches are what give it a record value.
It holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones, said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery, which provided the jewellery.



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