**Promoted from the diaries – Aaron**

What makes the conservative business traveler sleep soundly? Is it the high thread count sheets? The pillow top mattress? The rewards points accumulating towards that free end-of-the-year get away?

Or is just knowing that the cost of comfort has also bought the peace of mind that comes with the assurance that at least one hotel chain is not sending a piece of the profits towards a cause that a conservative would not normally support at the ballot box?

Unfortunately, hotel giants such as Hilton or Marriott cannot provide this sense of well being as one slumbers. However, Omni Hotels and Resorts, the Luxury Hotel Brand of the Year for 2014 according to the Harris Poll EquiTrend Ratings is an ideal alternative to those nightly rates that reserve a piece of the pie for liberal organizations.

According to 2nd Vote’s research, Omni is a Neutral company that does not financially support or promote liberal causes or organizations such as Planned Parenthood or the Center for American Progress. Perhaps it is appropriate to highlight this standing in light of the conservative leaning Family Research Council’s annual Values Voter Summit that was held at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC just last week.

With a plethora of hotels and meeting spaces in a city like Washington, the FRC could have easily turned a blind eye towards the final destination of attendees’ dollars. But, heading down the street to the Washington Hilton meant a portion of the estimated $350,000 impact would have ended up with groups such as the National Urban League who is a member of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, an anti-gun rights organization.

Furthermore, across the street from the Omni Shoreham is the Marriott Wardman Park, a part of the Marriott International chain that partners with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an organization that advocates for the expansion of abortion availability. Also, Marriott International has signed a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and has generously donated to the Human Rights Campaign, another liberal organization.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averages $2.4 billion a day, $101.4 million an hour, $1.7 million a minute, and $28,154 a second. With all of those dollars, a healthy percentage undoubtedly coming from conservative pockets, research shows that choices are available for the values minded traveler.

Chris Walker is the Executive Director of 2nd Vote, a conservative shopper app. To find out more, download the free app or visit 2ndVote.com.