HARTride 2012
February 13th, 2008, 08:58 PM
Military Leaders To Rendezvous At Don CeSar
By BAIRD HELGESON, The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 13, 2008
Updated: 11:56 pm
ST. PETE BEACH - For a couple days this week, some of the world's top military leaders will turn part of the Don CeSar Beach Resort into a military outpost for a series of private meetings.
Rather than use conference rooms at MacDill Air Force Base, Adm. William J. Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, will convene two days of meetings with military chiefs from seven central and south Asian countries at the posh waterfront hotel.
The goal is to exchange ideas and strengthen alliances in the volatile region, said Navy Capt. James Graybeal, Fallon's spokesman.
An official with a taxpayer watchdog group in Washington, D.C., wonders why Fallon would hold the meeting at one of Florida's finest resorts rather than at the local air base, which likely would have been cheaper and more private.
"You just really question the judgment," said David Williams, a spokesman with Citizens Against Government Waste. "At a time when the president is talking about budget cuts, you'd think everybody would be doing their part."
MacDill AFB does not have suitable conference space, dining and lodging facilities to host the meetings, Graybeal said.
The resort hasn't sent a bill for the gathering, but the military budgeted about $300,000 to host this week's meeting and a similar two-day event at the resort in January.
The final bill could be much less, Graybeal said.
The U.S. government pays for representatives from developing nations to attend, but military leaders from industrialized countries must pay their own way.
The January meeting included defense chiefs from countries in the Persian Gulf, the horn of Africa and along the eastern Mediterranean shores, which generally includes Lebanon and Jordan.
The meetings will likely become an annual event, Graybeal said.
The military selected the Don CeSar after a competitive bidding process that resulted in three potential facilities, Graybeal said.
Chris Bracken, the resort's director of marketing, could not be reached for comment.
This time of year, rooms at the resort range from about $329 a night for a basic room to $3,000 a night for one of two penthouse suites, which offer three bedrooms, a full kitchen, a plasma-screen television, a surround-sound stereo and an expansive terrace balcony.
The resort has about 15 meeting rooms with food and drink minimums that range from roughly $5,500 to $24,000 a day, according to a reservation agent. The hotel can waive a room rental fee if the food and drink minimums are met.
The military didn't announce the dates, location or attendees of the meetings for security reasons.
From the outside, a military guard watching over more than a dozen large Cadillacs parked in a lot south of the hotel provides the best hint of what's going on.
But world military leaders are not the only ones staying at the resort. The hotel is also hosting a conference for SYSCO, a food distributor that sells meals to hospitals, prisons and nursing homes.
In the lobby, visitors can see military leaders mixing freely with other guests.
A security expert with offices in Pompano Beach and Hollywood, Calif., said it would require more personnel to protect military leaders at the Don CeSar than at an air base.
David Marks, who provides security for corporate executives and celebrities, said he would place undercover agents in any other convention at the resort, and have agents pose as guests and hotel staff.
"It would provide some challenges, but it can certainly be done," he said.
Reporter Carlos Moncada contributed to this report. Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or
bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/13/me-military-leaders-to-rendezvous-at-resort/?news-metro
By BAIRD HELGESON, The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 13, 2008
Updated: 11:56 pm
ST. PETE BEACH - For a couple days this week, some of the world's top military leaders will turn part of the Don CeSar Beach Resort into a military outpost for a series of private meetings.
Rather than use conference rooms at MacDill Air Force Base, Adm. William J. Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, will convene two days of meetings with military chiefs from seven central and south Asian countries at the posh waterfront hotel.
The goal is to exchange ideas and strengthen alliances in the volatile region, said Navy Capt. James Graybeal, Fallon's spokesman.
An official with a taxpayer watchdog group in Washington, D.C., wonders why Fallon would hold the meeting at one of Florida's finest resorts rather than at the local air base, which likely would have been cheaper and more private.
"You just really question the judgment," said David Williams, a spokesman with Citizens Against Government Waste. "At a time when the president is talking about budget cuts, you'd think everybody would be doing their part."
MacDill AFB does not have suitable conference space, dining and lodging facilities to host the meetings, Graybeal said.
The resort hasn't sent a bill for the gathering, but the military budgeted about $300,000 to host this week's meeting and a similar two-day event at the resort in January.
The final bill could be much less, Graybeal said.
The U.S. government pays for representatives from developing nations to attend, but military leaders from industrialized countries must pay their own way.
The January meeting included defense chiefs from countries in the Persian Gulf, the horn of Africa and along the eastern Mediterranean shores, which generally includes Lebanon and Jordan.
The meetings will likely become an annual event, Graybeal said.
The military selected the Don CeSar after a competitive bidding process that resulted in three potential facilities, Graybeal said.
Chris Bracken, the resort's director of marketing, could not be reached for comment.
This time of year, rooms at the resort range from about $329 a night for a basic room to $3,000 a night for one of two penthouse suites, which offer three bedrooms, a full kitchen, a plasma-screen television, a surround-sound stereo and an expansive terrace balcony.
The resort has about 15 meeting rooms with food and drink minimums that range from roughly $5,500 to $24,000 a day, according to a reservation agent. The hotel can waive a room rental fee if the food and drink minimums are met.
The military didn't announce the dates, location or attendees of the meetings for security reasons.
From the outside, a military guard watching over more than a dozen large Cadillacs parked in a lot south of the hotel provides the best hint of what's going on.
But world military leaders are not the only ones staying at the resort. The hotel is also hosting a conference for SYSCO, a food distributor that sells meals to hospitals, prisons and nursing homes.
In the lobby, visitors can see military leaders mixing freely with other guests.
A security expert with offices in Pompano Beach and Hollywood, Calif., said it would require more personnel to protect military leaders at the Don CeSar than at an air base.
David Marks, who provides security for corporate executives and celebrities, said he would place undercover agents in any other convention at the resort, and have agents pose as guests and hotel staff.
"It would provide some challenges, but it can certainly be done," he said.
Reporter Carlos Moncada contributed to this report. Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or
bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/13/me-military-leaders-to-rendezvous-at-resort/?news-metro