They also expressed severe reservations about a taxi call centre run by the taxis.
Just 10 hotels, most from the Surin Beach area, but with a couple from Bang Tao, sent representatives to the meeting, called by the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) to explain the plans for a new taxi call system.
OrBorTor Chief Executive Maan Samran asked for each of the hotels to set aside space for two taxis.
Some hotels turned down the request on practical grounds. Napapat Klommanee of the Ayara Hilltop Hotel said the hotel does not have enough space for its own staff to park, let alone a group of taxis.
But Rungparuhat Suwannabadee of The Chava Resort, was more forthright. “We agreed with the idea of a taxi call center in the area and we will use this service 100 per cent.
“But let taxi drivers set up on our property? I don’t think we could agree to this.”
Other hotels refused to have taxis parking at their hotels, but promised that they would not buy more cars to ferry their guests around.
“Our hotel already has a contract with a car company so we have five cars we can call on for service for our guests,” said Pakpoom Eameesarn of the Double Tree by Hilton at Surin Beach.
There were also reservations about the call centre, with one hotel staffer saying the taxi drivers should not be allowed to run it themselves. “We want the authorities to find someone else to run it. Otherwise we will have the same problems again.”
Mr Maan asked three times for the hotels to give him a “clear, final decision”. None said yes.
Another meeting is expected to be held soon to try to find places for the taxis to set up stands.