WWCOJD re: sharing hotel room on a business trip

I usually have a strict no-sharing policy and for a trip where I was required to go (working on a regional office, presenting at a client, etc.) I would insist on my own room.  I would also insist that someone in the company with a company credit card books the room - unless I had a company card of course - or I am not so interested in going and "helping them out" in that way.  An exception may be a small company, if you know the owners, etc.  If you're worried the company needs this trip to keep your and other's jobs, that another thing.  But if the owner of the company has a second home, tell him to float your hotel bill!

I wouldn't feel "bad" about the expense of traveling and staying in Virginia. It's expensive there.  If you were traveling to Des Moines and the Embassy Suites was $100, you wouldn't get any money back as a thanks for staying in the cheaper hotel.

Now, I am not 100% from your post that this is that kind of a required trip.  I am now planning to share a room, for the first time, with a colleague while we attend a conference.  Since this is a perk that's nice to have (professional development money), and my colleague seems nice and clean, I find saving the cash is worthwhile.  This will be an expense for me that will be reimbursed after the fact as well, once I've actually completed the trip.

Option 1 - everyone needs privacy. 

never ever share a room with a coworker...... ever.....

Option 2 sounds like a fine option. 

But of course I get sent out of town for training on a special response team and I don't have a choice but share a room with a firefighter from my dept and we get along and have no issues.  If we get deployed to a serious situation we'd be in the lap of luxury if we actually had a hotel room or a daily shower and will most likely be sleeping under the stars at first and if lucky maybe end up in a tent at some point with 20 guys we don't know.  So my view is a little skewed compared to most folks

For what it's worth (assuming you are out looking for clients, or interacting with current clients?), I also think option #1 is the more "professional appearing" option, which, in our business, is important

as I'm a co-owner in the company, I know that we are very healthy and not on the verge of going under.  as I'm a co-owner, we invoice the client for the expense and then when the client pays, we get paid.  (note: for employees - they get re-imbursed in a much quicker fashion)

I also know that the client is no where near being on the verge of going under.

all valid concerns considering my law firm imploded overnight (hence us starting up this law firm).  I was lucky, but many people are now sitting in the back of the line in bankruptcy court to be repaid even normal travel expenses...

as for client concerns, they really wouldn't care either way if it was one room or two.  in fact, odds are they aren't even staying in the same hotel - so they wouldn't know.

I booked 2 seperate rooms, so I'm leaning towards option 1.  But I can always cancel and switch to options 2 or 3...

You can stay at my place for $50 a night.

I can type you up a bill for double that, and we both win!

At this point in my career and my life, I won't share a room with anyone other than my wife or kids. 

Option #1 without question. 

That's the only way it works with my company too.  Unless it's a really big event and they're paying for everyone's rooms.