New book upsets hoteliers

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 5

New book upsets hoteliers

The managers of Warner’s Hotel are seeking legal advice after a New Zealand novelist named their hotel as a Friday night haunt of underworld “hit men.” They say a passage in the newly published novel, “The Scam,” gives the hotel an undeserved reputation and is commercially damaging. “I was shocked to see it in the book,” said the managing director, Mr Stan O’Keefe. “We have spent $500,000 in the last year to upgrade the hotel and this image doesn’t fit our clientele at all.” Mr O’Keefe and his partner, Mr John McCarthy, took over Warner’s 18 months ago. They have built two new bars in the century-old hotel and have improved 60 guest rooms. Now they have found a character in the book saying: “Ha bloody ha. Go to Warner’s pub oa Friday night and hire someone.” He apparently wants someone to sort out a pressing problem of dubious legality. “That kind of thing would be impossible in here on a Friday night,” said Mr McCarthy.