A few blocks away, guests spilled out of an even more boisterous memorial.
Hotels that turn away guests with guaranteed reservations "claim to be in the hospitality business," he said.
In his office, he had a dummy phone that rang whenever he stepped on a secret button under his desk; he would then cite urgent business to chase away guests who had overstayed their welcome.
And in doing so, they are compelled to abide by rules like, say, paying tax, complying with health and safety requirements, and not turning away guests because they are black, disabled or gay.
In a recording of the meeting of the Centre for Policy Studies, obtained by the Observer, Grayling makes clear he has always believed that those who run B&Bs should be free to turn away guests.
Why open a bed-and-breakfast, as Peter and Hazelmary Bull did, if the nature of your beliefs is going to force you to (illegally) turn away guests such as Steven Preddy and Martyn Hall, because they are gay and want to share a room?
Not keen on gay marriage at first, she now finds it "charming", approves of gay couples adopting ("Good parenting is what counts") and is delighted that bed-and-breakfast owners can no longer turn away guests out of prejudice.
A few yards away, guests admired a miniature model of a new residential and commercial Dubai development called the City of Arabia, which includes what will be — if it is really built — the biggest mall in the world.
Some did that by turning away guests ("Men with turbans don't get in," as one owner cheerily admitted), or making the decor very personal (with signs asking those using the bathroom to cover up: "Please don't reveal a twinkling bum/For that would really upset mum!").
Riverplace Hotel in Portland, Oregon's Romantic Revival package has hotel staff stashing away guests' personal electronics to provide them the opportunity to revive their relationships with a bottle of sparkling wine, local chocolate truffles, a private butler and late checkout.
