NBC News paid for Ghost Ship operator’s hotel room

NBC News paid for a hotel room for the man who ran the Ghost Ship, the Oakland warehouse-turned-artists-collective that burned down Friday night, killing 36 people at an underground electronic music show.

Mainstream media outlets frown on paying money to sources. A network spokesman said NBC “absolutely” did not give money to Derick Almena in exchange for a series of exclusive interviews, but bought him a hotel room at the Oakland Marriott City Center for “a couple of nights.” The spokesman described that as “standard TV booking procedure.”

Derick Ion Almena on the Today show, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Derick Ion Almena on the Today show, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Photo: Today Photo: Today Image 1 of / 75 Caption Close NBC News paid for Ghost Ship operator’s hotel room 1 / 75 Back to Gallery

Almena, 46, stayed at the hotel with his wife, Micah Allison, and their three children. The NBC spokesman did not say how much the hotel room cost, but on the Marriott’s website, a room for two adults and three children goes for around $450 a night.

Numerous news agencies have been seeking to speak to Almena about the fire, but he has granted extensive interviews only to NBC. He appeared on the “Today” show on Tuesday morning, saying he was “incredibly sorry” about what happened but that he “didn’t do anything ever in my life that would lead me up to this moment.”

Almena has been interviewed by investigators looking into the fire, but has not been named as a target of a multiagency criminal probe. Former residents have accused him of ignoring clear dangers in the building while running a chaotic art and residential operation.

He lived on the second floor with his wife and children, and was taking rent from as many as 18 tenants who lived in RVs and makeshift rooms on the bottom floor, residents and other acquaintances said. Almena has said he was not at Friday’s event. The cause of the fire has not been determined, though arson is not suspected.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo