Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
Sep 9th 2005, 2:33 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
If I were a hotellier and I had that cancellation policy I would honor
no matter and never ever berate a customer. You see, successful
hotelliers, like successful store owners, have a tried and true saying:
"The customer is always right."
This certainly means in cases where the customer is within the policy
but most suuccessful business people take it to the exreme. Some stores
and mail order catalogs will give you a refund for goods that are worn
and years old! It's true. Now I don't personally believe in that
particular policy but you know what? The companies that do have been in
business for dedcades and are quite successful. They know some things
you don't.
no matter and never ever berate a customer. You see, successful
hotelliers, like successful store owners, have a tried and true saying:
"The customer is always right."
This certainly means in cases where the customer is within the policy
but most suuccessful business people take it to the exreme. Some stores
and mail order catalogs will give you a refund for goods that are worn
and years old! It's true. Now I don't personally believe in that
particular policy but you know what? The companies that do have been in
business for dedcades and are quite successful. They know some things
you don't.
Sep 9th 2005, 2:46 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
Looks like the job's finished: you received the answer you wanted. Next time
you can save a lot of time by sending an e-mail to yourself, and replying
with the anwer you want to receive.
-KF
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> If I were a hotellier and I had that cancellation policy I would honor
> no matter and never ever berate a customer. You see, successful
> hotelliers, like successful store owners, have a tried and true saying:
> "The customer is always right."
> This certainly means in cases where the customer is within the policy
> but most suuccessful business people take it to the exreme. Some stores
> and mail order catalogs will give you a refund for goods that are worn
> and years old! It's true. Now I don't personally believe in that
> particular policy but you know what? The companies that do have been in
> business for dedcades and are quite successful. They know some things
> you don't.
>
you can save a lot of time by sending an e-mail to yourself, and replying
with the anwer you want to receive.
-KF
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> If I were a hotellier and I had that cancellation policy I would honor
> no matter and never ever berate a customer. You see, successful
> hotelliers, like successful store owners, have a tried and true saying:
> "The customer is always right."
> This certainly means in cases where the customer is within the policy
> but most suuccessful business people take it to the exreme. Some stores
> and mail order catalogs will give you a refund for goods that are worn
> and years old! It's true. Now I don't personally believe in that
> particular policy but you know what? The companies that do have been in
> business for dedcades and are quite successful. They know some things
> you don't.
>
Sep 9th 2005, 3:09 am
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
So you acknowledge they (hotels) lose something in trying to deal with
you?
Let me give you an example in my own service business; a joker calls
with no genuine intention of my services, yet books my time anyway, then
cancels for a capricious reason. In the interim a genuine customer
calls but find my time booked by you and calls a competitor. How many
times should I accept a broken promise of billing from the joker before
he gets pissed off by my declining further bookings?
Not that you're a joker of course...
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> The real estate sellers don't get screwed. There's always buyers at
> around the fair market value. The most they lost is some time dealing
> with bids that weren't genuine. ...
you?
Let me give you an example in my own service business; a joker calls
with no genuine intention of my services, yet books my time anyway, then
cancels for a capricious reason. In the interim a genuine customer
calls but find my time booked by you and calls a competitor. How many
times should I accept a broken promise of billing from the joker before
he gets pissed off by my declining further bookings?
Not that you're a joker of course...
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> The real estate sellers don't get screwed. There's always buyers at
> around the fair market value. The most they lost is some time dealing
> with bids that weren't genuine. ...
Sep 9th 2005, 3:31 am
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
On Thu, 08 Sep 2005, rk73737:
> ... the hotel manager calls me and starts telling me how my changes have
> hurt their business (guests were turned away) and that if I make any
> more changes they will never give me a room again. Is this right of them?
Whether or not it's "right of them", they're perfectly entitled to refuse
to accept future reservations from you.
--
Yves Bellefeuille
<[email protected]>
> ... the hotel manager calls me and starts telling me how my changes have
> hurt their business (guests were turned away) and that if I make any
> more changes they will never give me a room again. Is this right of them?
Whether or not it's "right of them", they're perfectly entitled to refuse
to accept future reservations from you.
--
Yves Bellefeuille
<[email protected]>
Sep 9th 2005, 4:10 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
this way:
You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
Pure and simple.
cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
this way:
You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
Pure and simple.
Sep 9th 2005, 4:17 am
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways.
No they don't. I've cancelled reservations quite a few times, with no
problem- as I'm sure others here have. The accor chain of hotels usually
let you cancel easily up to a certain time on the same day, as do other
chains. In one case, with travelodge, I actually missed the deadline for
cancellation, but as I was rebooking at the same hotel, they let me off
as a goodwill gesture- I also gave them a good reason (if an entirely
stupid one on my part!) for the cancellation. Like you, I've often
tentatively reserved something, knowing that I can cancel if necessary.
What seems to have happened here is, as you say, you've cancelled a
booking at one hotel several times within a short time period. I can
perfectly well understand the frustration this might cause for the
management, and I think you ought to take their 'warning' a bit more
gracefully. If you don't like it, use another hotel.
--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
photos at http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer
> Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways.
No they don't. I've cancelled reservations quite a few times, with no
problem- as I'm sure others here have. The accor chain of hotels usually
let you cancel easily up to a certain time on the same day, as do other
chains. In one case, with travelodge, I actually missed the deadline for
cancellation, but as I was rebooking at the same hotel, they let me off
as a goodwill gesture- I also gave them a good reason (if an entirely
stupid one on my part!) for the cancellation. Like you, I've often
tentatively reserved something, knowing that I can cancel if necessary.
What seems to have happened here is, as you say, you've cancelled a
booking at one hotel several times within a short time period. I can
perfectly well understand the frustration this might cause for the
management, and I think you ought to take their 'warning' a bit more
gracefully. If you don't like it, use another hotel.
--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
photos at http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer
Sep 9th 2005, 4:41 am
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
An unfortunate part of doing business is also to weed out unprofitable
and/or unreasonable customers. Three cancellations seems to indicate
you may be exactly that; 'pure and simple'. Why complain; as you
indicate there are plenty of fish in the sea perhaps more willing to be
caught.
Amazingly, there even appears to even be a consensus here about your
plight, as you continue to fish for agreement...<g>
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
> this way:
> You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
> only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
> policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
> cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
> filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
> shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
> Pure and simple.
and/or unreasonable customers. Three cancellations seems to indicate
you may be exactly that; 'pure and simple'. Why complain; as you
indicate there are plenty of fish in the sea perhaps more willing to be
caught.
Amazingly, there even appears to even be a consensus here about your
plight, as you continue to fish for agreement...<g>
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
> this way:
> You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
> only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
> policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
> cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
> filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
> shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
> Pure and simple.
Sep 9th 2005, 8:05 am
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
I am surprised no one agreed with me. I will think about this a little
more and you can be sure I will apologize to the hotel for the
inconvenience. Thank you for the opinions.
Timothy Kroesen wrote:
> An unfortunate part of doing business is also to weed out unprofitable
> and/or unreasonable customers. Three cancellations seems to indicate
> you may be exactly that; 'pure and simple'. Why complain; as you
> indicate there are plenty of fish in the sea perhaps more willing to be
> caught.
> Amazingly, there even appears to even be a consensus here about your
> plight, as you continue to fish for agreement...<g>
> Tim K
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] oups.com...
> > Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> > cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
> > this way:
> >
> > You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
> > only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
> > policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
> > cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
> > filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
> > shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
> > Pure and simple.
> >
more and you can be sure I will apologize to the hotel for the
inconvenience. Thank you for the opinions.
Timothy Kroesen wrote:
> An unfortunate part of doing business is also to weed out unprofitable
> and/or unreasonable customers. Three cancellations seems to indicate
> you may be exactly that; 'pure and simple'. Why complain; as you
> indicate there are plenty of fish in the sea perhaps more willing to be
> caught.
> Amazingly, there even appears to even be a consensus here about your
> plight, as you continue to fish for agreement...<g>
> Tim K
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] oups.com...
> > Of course they may lose something. They know that when the create that
> > cancellantion policy. The point is they want it both ways. Look at it
> > this way:
> >
> > You own a hotel with 10 rooms. You have no cancellation policy then
> > only 5 rooms are booked at a time. You have a 24 hour cancellation
> > policy. Then 9 rooms are booked all the time BUT on average 2 rooms
> > cancell so there's only 7 rooms filled. It's better to have 7 rooms
> > filled than 5. That's why they have a cancellation policy and they
> > shouldn't get upset one someone cancels. It's part of doing business.
> > Pure and simple.
> >
Sep 9th 2005, 8:16 am
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
[email protected] wrote:
> I like to keep my options open for travel so sometimes I make
> reservations at a hotel knowing I can cancel within 24 hours prior to
> check in and not be charged. Well, recently I had made three changes
> three different times within 2 weeks at a good hotel that I like and
> the hotel manager calls me and starts telling me how my changes have
> hurt their business (guests were turned away) and that if I make any
> more changes they will never give me a room again. Is this right of
> them?
It sounds as though you were abusing the privilege (thus
making it harder for more considerate "guests" in future).
Sometimes changes are unavoidable (illness, a death in the
family, etc.) but when they are simply a result of the
traveler's dithering indecision, one can't blame the
hotelier for being less than sympathetic. (Perhaps you
should wait until you are SURE of your travel plans, before
making hotel reservations?)
> I mean they have a policy right? They can't have it both ways. On
> one hand if the policy was "you book it you buy it" few would book.
Really? Expedia and some of the other hotel sites seem to
require prepayment of your whole stay, in some cases - with
only a partial refund if you cancel, depending upon the
circumstances. (Once the reservations are confirmed, they
also charge you for changes of plans, no matter how far in
advance you change them, even if you decide to cancel in
favor of another hotel in their system.)
> So
> they have the 24 hour cancellation thing to get customers to book. So
> what if I make three changes. I should be able to make 100 changes.
> It's their policy.
Where does ANY hotel's "policy" state that a guest may
dither indefinitely, so long as he/she ceases to do so more
than twenty-four hours before scheduled arrival?
> Am I right or am I missing something? I don't feel
> good about staying at this hotel now.
Apparently retaining your custom is more trouble than it's
worth - I'm sure the management will be DESOLATED! ;-)
> I like to keep my options open for travel so sometimes I make
> reservations at a hotel knowing I can cancel within 24 hours prior to
> check in and not be charged. Well, recently I had made three changes
> three different times within 2 weeks at a good hotel that I like and
> the hotel manager calls me and starts telling me how my changes have
> hurt their business (guests were turned away) and that if I make any
> more changes they will never give me a room again. Is this right of
> them?
It sounds as though you were abusing the privilege (thus
making it harder for more considerate "guests" in future).
Sometimes changes are unavoidable (illness, a death in the
family, etc.) but when they are simply a result of the
traveler's dithering indecision, one can't blame the
hotelier for being less than sympathetic. (Perhaps you
should wait until you are SURE of your travel plans, before
making hotel reservations?)
> I mean they have a policy right? They can't have it both ways. On
> one hand if the policy was "you book it you buy it" few would book.
Really? Expedia and some of the other hotel sites seem to
require prepayment of your whole stay, in some cases - with
only a partial refund if you cancel, depending upon the
circumstances. (Once the reservations are confirmed, they
also charge you for changes of plans, no matter how far in
advance you change them, even if you decide to cancel in
favor of another hotel in their system.)
> So
> they have the 24 hour cancellation thing to get customers to book. So
> what if I make three changes. I should be able to make 100 changes.
> It's their policy.
Where does ANY hotel's "policy" state that a guest may
dither indefinitely, so long as he/she ceases to do so more
than twenty-four hours before scheduled arrival?
> Am I right or am I missing something? I don't feel
> good about staying at this hotel now.
Apparently retaining your custom is more trouble than it's
worth - I'm sure the management will be DESOLATED! ;-)
Sep 9th 2005, 8:18 am
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
[email protected] wrote:
> They should change the reservation policy, not berate guests for
> actions they guests take that is within their policy. That's what I
> believe. Am I misiing something?
"Common sense"? The ability to reason logically?
> They should change the reservation policy, not berate guests for
> actions they guests take that is within their policy. That's what I
> believe. Am I misiing something?
"Common sense"? The ability to reason logically?
Sep 9th 2005, 8:25 am
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
[email protected] wrote:
> Shouldn't they just change their cancellation policy and stop berating
> customs?
Their cancellation policy is reasonable, I doubt whether any
reasonably intelligent adult would quarrel with it. It is
your expectations which seem unreasonable - if you suffer
from chronic indecisiveness, that's YOUR problem, not
theirs! Perhaps you should refrain from travel until you
are cured?
> Shouldn't they just change their cancellation policy and stop berating
> customs?
Their cancellation policy is reasonable, I doubt whether any
reasonably intelligent adult would quarrel with it. It is
your expectations which seem unreasonable - if you suffer
from chronic indecisiveness, that's YOUR problem, not
theirs! Perhaps you should refrain from travel until you
are cured?
Sep 9th 2005, 8:28 am
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
Ian F. wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] oups.com...
>
>
>>Shouldn't they just change their cancellation policy and stop berating
>>customs?
>
>
> Nope. It's their business and they run it how they like. If you don't agree
> with their terms and conditions, you are free to stay elsewhere.
>
> Why on earth would you change dates three times anyway?
He keeps fighting and making up with the girlfriend who is
to accompany him? :-)
>
> Ian
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] oups.com...
>
>
>>Shouldn't they just change their cancellation policy and stop berating
>>customs?
>
>
> Nope. It's their business and they run it how they like. If you don't agree
> with their terms and conditions, you are free to stay elsewhere.
>
> Why on earth would you change dates three times anyway?
He keeps fighting and making up with the girlfriend who is
to accompany him? :-)
>
> Ian
>
>
Sep 9th 2005, 8:35 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
[email protected] wrote:
> Why would I change dates? Well for one the person I was going with got
> very sick.
Three separate companions, three separate times? Either you
are singularly unlucky, or...... (Has it occurred to you
they may have simply been trying to get out of traveling
with you?)
> But that doesn't matter. If their cancellation policy allows
> it than they should honor it, not berate (scold) their guests.
They did "honor" it - at least three times! If they then
decided they'd rather you stayed elsewhere, that was their
prerogative. (Are you related to Mxsmanic?)
>
> Why would I change dates? Well for one the person I was going with got
> very sick.
Three separate companions, three separate times? Either you
are singularly unlucky, or...... (Has it occurred to you
they may have simply been trying to get out of traveling
with you?)
> But that doesn't matter. If their cancellation policy allows
> it than they should honor it, not berate (scold) their guests.
They did "honor" it - at least three times! If they then
decided they'd rather you stayed elsewhere, that was their
prerogative. (Are you related to Mxsmanic?)
>
Sep 9th 2005, 8:38 am
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
Ian F. wrote:
> But you must admit that three changes is a bit extreme. In any event, make
> your feelings felt to the hotel, which will be more effective than grizzling
> here. Tell them that you are a regular customer, you are very put out by
> their attitude and phone-call and that you w3ill, in future, be staying
> elsewhere. In these competitive times, they'll soon come around!
Not if he's done the same thing repeatedly in the past! (I
think it's called being "persona non grata" - I'm sure
hotels, like restaurants, have the right to refuse service
to patrons if they so choose.)
> But you must admit that three changes is a bit extreme. In any event, make
> your feelings felt to the hotel, which will be more effective than grizzling
> here. Tell them that you are a regular customer, you are very put out by
> their attitude and phone-call and that you w3ill, in future, be staying
> elsewhere. In these competitive times, they'll soon come around!
Not if he's done the same thing repeatedly in the past! (I
think it's called being "persona non grata" - I'm sure
hotels, like restaurants, have the right to refuse service
to patrons if they so choose.)
Sep 9th 2005, 8:46 am
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Hotel Reservation/Cancellation Policy - Is This Right?
[email protected] wrote:
> The reason I posted here was I felt that the hotel manager of a good
> hotel wouldn't have called me unless there was some rightful basis but
> at the same time I felt there was no basis on their part. They have a
> policy and I am a good paying customer (and have been for years).
> Truely I am a bit confused and was just looking for some insight from
> other travelers.
Even if you always stayed in the "presidential suite", you
really don't sound worth the aggravation! (Not even if you
were someone who might add to the prestige of the hotel,
like royalty or a famous film star!)
> The reason I posted here was I felt that the hotel manager of a good
> hotel wouldn't have called me unless there was some rightful basis but
> at the same time I felt there was no basis on their part. They have a
> policy and I am a good paying customer (and have been for years).
> Truely I am a bit confused and was just looking for some insight from
> other travelers.
Even if you always stayed in the "presidential suite", you
really don't sound worth the aggravation! (Not even if you
were someone who might add to the prestige of the hotel,
like royalty or a famous film star!)
