Why are these machines so important that every travel lodge across America needs one? Actually most hotels seem to have them on each floor. -- A possible exception being that dive we blundered into in White Sulfur Springs, WV, but even that place probably had an ice machine. It just might have been such an old model that I mistook it for a replica of the Merrimack. -- They even give us that little bucket with the lid and trash bag liner to carry quantities back to the room, and for what? Do people need so much ice that their free, sealed, sterile plastic cup does not suffice? Are they going to wake up in the middle of the night with a sudden urge to consume precious ice? What are people doing with all that stinking ice?!!!
The office I currently work in also has the obligatory ice machine in the employee break room. I remember there being one in the teacher's lounge at my high school. There were ice machines in the academic halls at my college. And guess what. Those ice machines were the same size as the one at the fast food restaurant I worked at. The difference is, at Captain D's we were constantly giving customers cup fulls of ice with each drink. My question is, why do hotels and offices need the same kind of ice production as restaurants? Seriously, I want to know!
According to Google, a standard ice machine costs $2000. Additionally, the operating cost is as high as a freezer (big surprise) and they make a lot of noise. But hotel owners universally assess it to be a justifiable expense. Do most people bring their beverages with them whenever they travel, and consequently require ice to cool their otherwise lukewarm refreshment? I doubt that is common. More typically people go to a pop machine for said tasty refreshment, or they may visit a nearby bar or liquor store if that's their thing. Another possibility is people may want to take their sealed plastic cup the hotel provides, and get some ice so they can enjoy cold tap water. That one is the only explanation that makes sense to me; although, I don't see why it's worth the effort, and why the bucket with the lid? Overkill, I say! Clearly, one heaping cup-full would accommodate a family of four.
Maybe it's common for regular citizens to transport organs for transplant, and they need the ice for that. I don't know! Perhaps there is a globally pervasive cult that worships Skaldi, the Giantess wife of Njord and deity of ice and snow? Or maybe people just eat ice...?
I understand wanting a bit of ice, but give me a break. Somebody please explain this to me.
