sharing a room with an unknown colleague on a business trip-acceptable??

[silvermum]

How would you feel if your boss expected you to share a room on a business trip with a colleague you know by sight and have perhaps exchanged a few words with over the years but otherwise don't know at all?
I work for a multi national company, in a seniorish position. I have to attend two conferences in October, stretching over two weeks (with a few nights at home in between.)
This is part of my job, and always has been, but this year, for the first time - and with no apology or warning - they expect me to share a hotel room with a (female)stranger.
I feel angry and humiliated. I've raised it with the managing editor, who (irrelevantly) pointed out that I didn't attend the conferences last year. That's because i had a six week old baby ! I have always had a good relationship with the bosses and recently asked for - and got- a decent payrise. Shared experiences/advice, anyone? AIBU?

Message withdrawn

I've done it at a conference (university). Had never met my room-mate before (she'd only started the week before). It was fine, except for there only being one room key.

Share the room but walk around naked a lot, develop terribly bad flatulence, squeeze your blackheads in plain view and make sure you snore. Even better, bring a male colleague back as well for a bit of in-flight entertainment. very economical then, three employees to a room. They won't make you do it again.

No, seriously, this is absolutely ridiculous. I work in academe where they are total cheapskates, I go to conferences all the time, and they would never dream of making us do this.

My take on this is that if you're sharing a room with a colleague (esp one you've never met) then you're still on the work clock and should be in for some serious overtime . Have you been yet? What happened?