Putting up a fight: Mr Salmond, pictured at the Ryder Cup handover during the trip, defended its cost Alex Salmond yesterday dismissed criticism of a taxpayer-funded £51,000 trip to a five-star hotel in America as 'ridiculous frippery'. The Scottish First Minister confirmed that he stayed in the luxury Peninsula Hotel in Chicago during a trip to the Ryder Cup last year. It is one of the of the most exclusive hotels in the city and Mr Salmond has come under-fire for the stay which came during the official handover ceremony of the trophy. Golf fan Mr Salmond and his wife Moira were accompanied by Sports Minister Shona Robison, a team of 12 government officials and 22 workers from publicly funded agencies.
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Mr Salmond was at Peninsula Hotel, Chicago, for Ryder Cup handover
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It is popular with Hollywood stars including Brad Pitt and Beyonce
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He stayed at £1,205-a-night hotel while his delegation took cheaper rooms
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Labour: Week-long trip cost more than the average Scot earns in two years
'There were various business meetings which were held at the Peninsula Hotel and there was a block booking made at the @placeholder in order to get best value for that.