European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 27, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 12 the stars Ano stripes Money matters Wotan Ostay january 27,10d3americans flocking to arc in Germany Rawdon has Little effect on room demand . Kin it Northern Italy Bureau t he draw Down of american troops from Europe is not making it any easier to get hotel accommodations during Peak periods at armed forces recreation Center resorts in the bavarian Alps demand for rooms at the two remaining arc resorts Garmisch and Chick Sec both near the German austrian Border is often greater than before the draw Down began officials say. It eople May have a different mind set now Quot said Kevin Dixon Public affairs officer for the military run resorts. Quot before the draw Down people May have put off coming to arc while thinking that they could always visit on their next european tour. Quot now. People arc living with the thought that they May never get another tour in Europe and arc deciding to see the Alps while they still have a  arc has lost More than 300 hotel rooms in Garmisch in less than three years contributing to room Scarcity. Dixon said recreation Center officials expect to further loss of rooms Over the next few years. Workers Tore Down the decaying 168-room Gen. Sheridan hotel in 1989 to make room for a proposed 400-room arc hotel. Officials also closed the 147-room Gen. Abrams hotel in april 1991, anticipating that the new facility would adequately serve military resort patrons. However . Troop reductions in Europe scuttled the proposed construction. The recreation Center s guest capacity also was reduced by More than 500 when it turned Over two hotel complexes at  Germany to the . Army Europe in april 1991.afrc information making reservations at armed forces recreation Center facilities Garmisch write arc Garmisch reservations unit 24501, Apo a 09053. Cell German civilian 08821-750575 or Dan 440-2575. Price Gen. Patton and von Steuben hotels e-1 through e-5 $30 per room per night with up to four Beds. Others $49.chlemsee write arc cd Lessee reservations unit 24604, Apo a 09098. Cell German civilian 08051 -803172 or Dan 441-2355. Price Park hotel e-1 through e-5 $30 per room per night others $45. Lake hotel e-1 through e-5 $30 per room per night others $52. Source arcs amps recreation Center officials had already planned to close the facilities anticipating the draw Down Dixon said. Usa eur began running the  resort facilities 12 Miles Northwest of sul Harg Austria in May 1991 for persian Gulf War veterans. The  facilities now known As the Usa eur soldiers recreation Center can accommodate up to 597 guests soldiers and family members said Garrett Smith Deputy general manager of the  facility. Arc continues to operate the 93-room Gen. Patton hotel and the 76-room von Steuben hotel in Gar Misch As Well As the 156-room take hotel and 73-room Park hotel in Chick Sec about a 90-minute drive from Garmisch in addition the recreation Center offers some apartments and suites in Onn Nitch Ami Chick Sec. Recreation Center facilities usually Are booked around . Holidays during the Dee i5-Ncw year season and for much of August according to Jerry bin Del arc s rooms division manager at Garmisch Binder advises would be guests to Book As far in Advance As possible the recreation Center accepts reservations up to six months in Advance. Quot it s advisable to Hook at least 45 clays in Advance for Peak periods Quot Bindol said. Quot people should Book the dates they want and then switch dates or cancel the reservation. As Long As the cancellation is done seven Days before the Start of the planned Holiday there is no cancellation charge Quot reservation phone lines Are open from 8 . To 7 . Weekdays and 9 . To 5 . Saturdays Hindl said the lines arc least Busy from 11 30 , to 1 . And 5 to 7 . Weekdays. Saturdays arc also Good Days to Call he said. Quot during Holiday limes and in the Peak summer season it will still be hard to get in Quot Dixon said army still offers free lodging in Berchtesgaden by j. King Cruger Northern Italy Bureau More than 148,000 army soldiers and their families have accepted free invocations at the . Army Europe s soldiers recreation Center in  Germany and More arc expected to take advantage of the offer. T he program is Quot currently funded through september of 1993, and there is ongoing discussion concerning the future of the program beyond that Quot Garrett Smith Deputy general manager of the Center said Friday. Quot i know that Usa eur wants to continue the  Usa eur officials established the Center after operation desert storm to Reward personnel and their family members for their work during the persian Gulf War. The program now is available to All Usa eur soldiers and their families under the program soldiers civilian employees and their families arc entitled to free lodging and some meals up to four Days hours and other activities Are available at reasonable Cost according to Millie Waters a Usa eur spokeswoman in Heidelberg Germany the command operates two hotel complexes in Berchtesgaden which is a ski resort 12 Miles Northwest of Samburg Austria the resort Complex previously had been operated by the armed forces recreation Center in Europe. Through an agreement with the army following the Gulf War arc gave control of the hotels and other facilities including a Golf course to the command. The program is primarily a unit activity allowing unit commanders to decide which soldiers Cun go. Soldiers have priority family members and department of defense civilians go on a space available basis. T he holds and facilities Are open to other id card holders As Well but on a space available basis and for a Lee according to Chuck Fothergill chief of support set vices for the Berchtesgaden program because of limited space however the availability Quot is just not advertised because we Don t want a lot of disappointed people Quot Fothergill said. Openings at the Gen. Walker Hole Ami the Mejeh Les Guidner hot usually become available when Mcm heis o a Mitiguy unit fait to show. The  facilities can Host 567 guests per army a Olvirn. Civil.,., mul , pm Luy for fee a Al the urn. Walker hold l,.llml,l. V�.,, Here. Day and its current daily occupancy rate averages 9m percent Smith said Fothergill advised those not eligible for the usar eur program to inquire about looms the Day they want to Check in preferably Between 11 , and 2 . The hotels do not take reservations. Rooms without private Baths Cost $2 1. Rooms with Bath Are $30 per night. Some rooms can accommodate up to four guests Fothergill said. The  support a civics Tulice can assist in finding hold rooms on the Economy. Tia Dis can visit the office near the  hot o Tiliman civilian 0h652-5hk06 or in 44k5h06. The Cost of the Usa eur Pio Giam is $15 6 in Pei year with $3.6 million coming bom App hopi i ?1 s of remainder from  ale Well ate am Icci cation funds. Moie than 94 percent of the 148,00 1 people i 7 la Lac 111 to i�?T1 Ogham since its me polio a listed Soh his and thai family Mcm heis said a a Nuu a   Mung i