PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH Message Board

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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

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To: Gordon A. Langston who wrote (362500)	3/1/2003 5:28:40 PM
From: DMaA	Read Replies (1) of 769670

This French thing has some legs: Sofitel surrenders, lowers French flag Backlash toward France's opposition to U.S. policy on Iraq affects French-owned firms and sellers of French goods. By Rob Kaiser Tribune staff reporter March 1, 2003 The Sofitel Hotel has surrendered. The French-owned hotel chain quietly lowered the French flags flying in front of all 10 of its U.S. properties earlier this week to avoid being stung by anti-France sentiment stemming from the European country's vocal opposition to war with Iraq. Although the chain said it had not received any complaints, each hotel's French flag was replaced with a state or city flag. "As a mark of respect, we felt it might be nice to bring it down for some time," said Helen Lalitte, vice president of marketing for Sofitel North America. The company has two hotels in the Chicago area: the Sofitel Hotel Water Tower on the city's Near North Side and the Sofitel Hotel O'Hare in Rosemont. Sofitel's flag-lowering highlights the awkward dance for businesses selling French products and culture in the U.S. as France continues to oppose the U.S. push toward war with Iraq. From French restaurants to wine stores to language schools, business owners are keeping a watchful eye on whether some Americans' anti-France attitudes--along with calls to boycott French products--will cut into their bottom lines. Owners of French-related businesses in the Chicago area say they have yet to suffer noticeable sales declines, but that they worry that a stronger backlash could develop if war with Iraq erupts and France remains on the sidelines. . . . chicagotribune.com

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