European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I monday August 22, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 Nurnberg Hotelier Hopes Small Steps Lead to big strides Turk by Ron Jensen Nurnberg Burea Nurnberg Germany Jefferey l. Turk says the difference Between a billeting facility and a hotel is in the Little things like clocks in the lobby that Aren t those Plain government clocks found in Many billeting facilities. Like Brand name items Crest tooth paste and scope mouthwash for example awaiting a guest in the  business cards for the taking at a full service reservation desk. Little things so that when people walk in they Don t see . Government written All Over this place said Turk general manager of the bavarian Ameri can hotel in Down town Niernberg. Turk took charge of the historic hotel in june. Since then we remade a zillion changes said Turk a 20-year air Force Veteran who spent much of his career in housing and food service. There is some urgency Here. The hotel built by the third Reich to House guests during nazi party meetings in the City has been under a Cloud of uncertainty for the past two years. The hotel was part of the 99th area sup port group which had its Headquarters in nearby Firth. The facility mainly had Bee used to House new troops coming into the Community until permanent housing could be obtained. Personnel on temporary duty also stayed there. But when the Community began to shrink because of the draw Down of . Forces ultimately becoming an area support team the hotel s existence was in doubt. New troops to the Community were Able to get housing right away instead of having to wait so the services of the hotel were not so much in demand. At that time there was a lot of indecision about what the future of the hotel would be said Jim Gipson chief of transient lodging for the 100th area support group in Grafe Wohr which now include the hotel and the Firth military Community. Each new list of draw Down victims was preceded by rumours of the hotel s closing. We have known since last year that twas always under the Microscope Gipson said. Turk said the rumours have had an Impact our biggest problem that we re fighting is people think that we re  the 130-room hotel survived another closure list released thursday. However the bavarian s future depends on Turk and Gipson. Gipson who is Turk s Boss said he has taken a personal interest in the hotel and Many of the ideas that Turk discussed began with Gipson. As the Community around it got smaller the hotel s role As a billeting facility dwindled As Well Gipson said. Although itis still used by those on toy and by the Community s new service members when needed the hotel has found it necessary to become a transient facility which Means it had to become More like a civilian style hotel. The bavarian s transition from billeting facility to hotel is where the Little things come in. But not All changes Are so  and Gipson believe the future of the place is As a conference Center and they Are actively seeking such events. The place is perfect for them Turk said. What other . Government facility anywhere has got an International Airport within 10 minutes and has a train station across the Street Turk asked. There Are three conference rooms now but plans Call for a renovation of the hotel s sixth floor its top into a state of the Art conference Center. Gipson said the department of the army has offered half of the $470,000. Cost outright and will pro vide the other half As a no interest loan until then smaller changes Are under Way. Turk lists them easily stumbling Only because there Are so Many. Among them renovation is under Way to give rooms a hotel flavor rather than that of billeting facility. For example fresh Wall paper is being applied along with Coats of is Ron Jensen the bavarian american hotel building in Nairn Borg Germany was built by the third Reich to House guests during nazi party meetings in the City. Paint. The work is being done by in House staff at a Cost of about $85 per room hotel desk Livours have been expanded to around the clock with services to include Money Exchange and Check Cash ing. Specials Aie being offered including one this labor Day which offers a week end package for two. The building s electrical system i being renovated. The bar is now open every Day. Gip son said a bar is a traditional moneymaker for any hotel and that s proved True in the first two months of change at the hotel. There have been other changes wit More on the Way. Both men said the occupancy rate must improve. It is now at 60 percent. We need to get the occupancy rate up to a 75 to 80 percent clip Gipson said. Turk said it costs me about $4,000 a Day to keep this place  . Card holders Are eligible to use the hotel. Room rates Are $55 for a single and $65 for a double about one third the rate at neighbouring German hotels in the enter of the historic City. Both men Are confident that the facility will prove attractive enough to make it an easy sell to customers. Turk said his goal is to make customers believe upon leaving that they have just stayed at the Hilton. This is a hotel he said again. Thesis not a billeting  the lobby of the bavarian american reflects is Ron Jonson the operators efforts to turn the government facility into a civilian style hotel. Checks for vets with Gulf illness to be delayed by Cindy Killion Washington Bureau Washington veterans diagnosed with the persian Gulf syndrome must wait longer than expected before receiving disability checks. Although the full House of representatives agree earlier this month to pay compensation to ill veterans a similar provision is languishing in the Senate where lawmakers can t agree on what the existing disability compensation Law really says. Until both houses reach a consensus and president Linton signs the Bill into Law department of veterans affairs officials said they cannot begin the payments. A Secretary Jesse Brown said during House hear Ings that his department cannot give disability checks to those with the syndrome because a firm cause has not been discovered. Existing Law says benefits will be paid Only for a Dis ability resulting from personal injury suffered or Dis a ease contracted in the line of duty he said. Since no cause has been found for the Gulf syndrome he said the a cannot assume the illness was contracted during service in the 1991 persian Gulf War unless the Law is changed. That is what the House Resolution accomplishes. However sen. Jay Rockefeller d-w.va., who has been the a s most vocal critic in this matter insisted that the House measure is not necessary. Rockefeller chairman of the Senate veterans affairs committee has introduced legislation that will strengthen current disability provisions. Rockefeller said the a is simply using this allege need for a new Law to delay payments. But the a Al ready has the jurisdiction but has chosen not to use  the Senate veterans affairs committee was scheduled to take up the Issue aug. 8, but the hearing has been postponed until sept. 1.4.after the committee approves its version of the Bill it will go to the full Senate for a vote. Based on current rates monthly payments to these veterans would Range from $85 to $1,700, depending on the extent of the disability