By Amy Riggin
Stephens Media
PINE BLUFF — The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and its national alumni association announced opposition Wednesday to a movement by some alumni to encourage a boycott of local businesses during homecoming weekend.
Some alumni of the school have written letters to The Commercial newspaper in recent weeks decrying higher hotel rates during one of the city’s biggest annual events. Hotel operators have said increasing room rates is a standard business practice for special events.
UAPB Chancellor Lawrence A. Davis Jr. acknowledged Wednesday that “momentum is building” around the complaints through e-mails, letters and online social networking.
“The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff does not endorse the boycotting of Pine Bluff businesses during homecoming activities,” Davis said. “Alumni and friends of the university should continue to support merchants who support UAPB. You don’t want to hurt the city and its businesses (because of hotel rates).”
This year’s homecoming game against Edward Waters College is set for Oct. 24. The annual event brings an estimated $1 million economic boost to the city.
Samuel Staples, president of the UAPB/AM&N National Alumni Association, said the behavior of hotel operators caused a backlash from UAPB alumni but said the association did not take a position to boycott any business in Pine Bluff.
“We did not organize a boycott,” Staples said. “The boycott is a result of splinter groups but they are not the voice of the National Alumni Association.”
Davis said homecoming events previously scheduled at area hotels are being moved to different venues. Details of those events were unavailable Wednesday.
Bruce Rahmani, owner of Ramada Plaza Hotel at Pine Bluff, stood by his decision to raise rates from $99 for a standard room and $139 for a suite to $139 and $169, respectively, during homecoming weekend.
Other hotels in the area have upped rates similarly.
Rahmani said he had invested $2 million in the hotel since purchasing it in 2007 and now has to pay a 15 percent franchise fee, so the higher rates are justified. He said the alumni association previously had reserved 100 rooms — half of the hotel — and has since increased that request to 150 rooms.
Bob Purvis, director of the Pine Bluff Convention Center, said higher rates during special events are “just the norm in the hotel industry.”
But a local group, Interested Citizens for Voter Registration Inc., called the price hike “outrageous” and urged elected officials to ask Pine Bluff hotels to reduce the rates.
“The UAPB homecoming event brings in millions of dollars to our local economy. Therefore ICVR urges our city officials not to stand by and allow a few hotels to drive off much needed business for this community,” the group said in a release.
