Congradulations Jay for getting mentioned in the 11 January Wall Street
Journal! As the saying goes any press is good press!

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 22:20:41 -0500, Ron R > wrote:

>Congradulations Jay for getting mentioned in the 11 January Wall Street
>Journal! As the saying goes any press is good press!

Yes, I read it to my wife and said: "That's Jay Honeck who posts in
the aviation newsgroup." She was VERY impressed.

(Never mind that what Alexis Park Inn was doing what we as travelers
hate to see: 72 hour commitment!)



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

> Congradulations Jay for getting mentioned in the 11 January Wall Street
> Journal! As the saying goes any press is good press!

Really?

I don't subscribe to the WSJ -- is there an on-line version of the article?
What did they say about us?

(I know they interviewed Mary last week -- when I had laryngitis -- about
our cancellation policy...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

> (Never mind that what Alexis Park Inn was doing what we as travelers
> hate to see: 72 hour commitment!)

BTW -- for PILOTS ONLY we offer our "IFR Cancellation Policy" -- meaning
that you can cancel right up till 6 PM if conditions drop below VFR minimums
along your route of flight.

We know what it's like traveling in Spam Cans...
:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I just emailed you a copy of the article.

Rod

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:di9Fd.2514$EG1.477@attbi_s53...
>> Congradulations Jay for getting mentioned in the 11 January Wall Street
>> Journal! As the saying goes any press is good press!
>
> Really?
>
> I don't subscribe to the WSJ -- is there an on-line version of the
> article? What did they say about us?
>
> (I know they interviewed Mary last week -- when I had laryngitis -- about
> our cancellation policy...)
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

>I just emailed you a copy of the article.

Got it -- thanks, Rod.

Although "article" may be a bit grand. It's more like a 3-word mention (in
passing, at that) in a one paragraph "blurb"...

What's funny is they don't give the issue any context at all, nor do they
even explain *why* we have a 72 hour cancellation policy. Since I overheard
Mary explaining it the reporter, it's not like they didn't know the
answer -- they just didn't bother to pose the question.

Ah, well. After spending most of my life in newspapers, I really shouldn't
be surprised.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
>>I just emailed you a copy of the article.
>
>
> Got it -- thanks, Rod.
>
> Although "article" may be a bit grand. It's more like a 3-word mention (in
> passing, at that) in a one paragraph "blurb"...
>
> What's funny is they don't give the issue any context at all, nor do they
> even explain *why* we have a 72 hour cancellation policy. Since I overheard
> Mary explaining it the reporter, it's not like they didn't know the
> answer -- they just didn't bother to pose the question.
>
> Ah, well. After spending most of my life in newspapers, I really shouldn't
> be surprised.
I am curious just why you have a 72 hour cancellation policy. It is not
normal for hotels and it would be a show stopper for me. I looked at
the web site and it also gives no reason for the policy. I can
understand the special event policy although I don't agree with it.

> I am curious just why you have a 72 hour cancellation policy. It is not
> normal for hotels and it would be a show stopper for me. I looked at the
> web site and it also gives no reason for the policy. I can understand the
> special event policy although I don't agree with it.

Because, when you have just 27 suites -- and each one is unique -- you can't
afford to let irresponsible (or dishonorable) people reserve suites that
they have no intention of using.

When you reserve a suite at our place, it is "guaranteed." Basically, we
will hold it for you all night, no matter what, possibly turning away half a
dozen people who wanted that suite.

Sadly, we have discovered that a small (but growing) subset of humans are
complete as*holes, who book suites with no intention of showing up. I
suspect these are the same people that don't return library books, fail to
return rented movies when they are due, don't show up for parties after
RSVP-ing, and/or perform any number of other mildly dishonest and
dishonorable actions. It's truly sad.

If I owned a 100-room Super 8, it wouldn't matter a bit -- one room is the
same as the next, and no one cares WHICH room they get. However, if I've
turned away someone who wanted (for example) the "Blackbird Suite" (because
they are really, really into the SR-71), I'm screwed if the guest who
reserved it cancels at the last minute -- or, far worse, simply doesn't show
up.

In our place, offering the "Red Baron Suite" to someone who's into high
performance jets just doesn't work.

I've lost count of the number of hundred dollar bills I would have burned,
waiting for SOBs that never show up and never call. Which is why we get a
credit card number when they make a "guaranteed" reservation -- and then run
it for the full amount of their reservation when they don't show up.

If you're as depressed about this as I am, take heart: We have never, EVER
been stiffed by a pilot.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Even if you filed IFR?

Jon Kraus
PP-ASEL-IA
'79 Mooney 201 Triple43Hotel

Jay Honeck wrote:

>>(Never mind that what Alexis Park Inn was doing what we as travelers
>>hate to see: 72 hour commitment!)
>
>
> BTW -- for PILOTS ONLY we offer our "IFR Cancellation Policy" -- meaning
> that you can cancel right up till 6 PM if conditions drop below VFR minimums
> along your route of flight.
>
> We know what it's like traveling in Spam Cans...
> :-)

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 16:15:23 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote in <v2cFd.2612$EG1.2063@attbi_s53>::

>> I am curious just why you have a 72 hour cancellation policy. It is not
>> normal for hotels and it would be a show stopper for me.
>>
>When you reserve a suite at our place, it is "guaranteed." Basically, we
>will hold it for you all night, no matter what, possibly turning away half a
>dozen people who wanted that suite.

So it doesn't take three days to find an alternate lodger for a given
suite?

>Which is why we get a
>credit card number when they make a "guaranteed" reservation -- and then run
>it for the full amount of their reservation when they don't show up.

So if the potential lodger has booked a multi-day stay, you bill them
for all the days they reserved?

Jay Honeck wrote:

>>I am curious just why you have a 72 hour cancellation policy. It is not
>>normal for hotels and it would be a show stopper for me. I looked at the
>>web site and it also gives no reason for the policy. I can understand the
>>special event policy although I don't agree with it.
>
>
> Because, when you have just 27 suites -- and each one is unique -- you can't
> afford to let irresponsible (or dishonorable) people reserve suites that
> they have no intention of using.
>
> When you reserve a suite at our place, it is "guaranteed." Basically, we
> will hold it for you all night, no matter what, possibly turning away half a
> dozen people who wanted that suite.
>
> Sadly, we have discovered that a small (but growing) subset of humans are
> complete as*holes, who book suites with no intention of showing up. I
> suspect these are the same people that don't return library books, fail to
> return rented movies when they are due, don't show up for parties after
> RSVP-ing, and/or perform any number of other mildly dishonest and
> dishonorable actions. It's truly sad.
>
> If I owned a 100-room Super 8, it wouldn't matter a bit -- one room is the
> same as the next, and no one cares WHICH room they get. However, if I've
> turned away someone who wanted (for example) the "Blackbird Suite" (because
> they are really, really into the SR-71), I'm screwed if the guest who
> reserved it cancels at the last minute -- or, far worse, simply doesn't show
> up.
>
> In our place, offering the "Red Baron Suite" to someone who's into high
> performance jets just doesn't work.
>
> I've lost count of the number of hundred dollar bills I would have burned,
> waiting for SOBs that never show up and never call. Which is why we get a
> credit card number when they make a "guaranteed" reservation -- and then run
> it for the full amount of their reservation when they don't show up.
>
> If you're as depressed about this as I am, take heart: We have never, EVER
> been stiffed by a pilot.
I'm not questioning your have a cancellation policy, I'm just curious as
to the 72 hour rule. Normal hotel policy is something on the order of
4pm local. I had not realized that all your rooms were converted into
theme rooms. In that case I supposed a more restrictive policy might be
needed but 3 days still seems excessive.

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:di9Fd.2514$EG1.477@attbi_s53...
> > Congradulations Jay for getting mentioned in the 11 January Wall Street
> > Journal! As the saying goes any press is good press!
>
> Really?
>
> I don't subscribe to the WSJ -- is there an on-line version of the
article?
> What did they say about us?
>
> (I know they interviewed Mary last week -- when I had laryngitis -- about
> our cancellation policy...)

Women NEVER get laryngitis. :~(

What happens if you dump a cylinder enroute in East Undershirt Wyoming?

Jim


!)
>
> BTW -- for PILOTS ONLY we offer our "IFR Cancellation Policy" -- meaning
> that you can cancel right up till 6 PM if conditions drop below VFR
> minimums along your route of flight.
>

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> I've lost count of the number of hundred dollar bills I would have burned,
> waiting for SOBs that never show up and never call. Which is why we get a
> credit card number when they make a "guaranteed" reservation -- and then run
> it for the full amount of their reservation when they don't show up.

Well, I have absolutely zero experience in running hotels, but a couple of
things seem a little backwards. First off, the cancellation period is longer for
the most popular events. Seems to me that things like the home football game
weekends are the periods in which you'd be most likely to rent the room to
someone else. Is this not the case?

Less important, I suppose, is the fact that your posts make the reasonable point
that, if someone reserves a particular suite and cancels, you may have been
forced to turn down someone who wanted that particular suite, but the policy on
your web site doesn't say this. As I read it, it I make a reservation and don't
care what suite I'm getting, the policy still applies. Sort of undermines the
point you try to make in your posts.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

"John Theune" > wrote in message
> I am curious just why you have a 72 hour cancellation policy. It is not
> normal for hotels and it would be a show stopper for me.

Thought I've not been there, my understanding is that it is not anywhere
near a "normal" hotel. Why would it have "normal" policies? If you want
normal, go down the street and book a no-tell.

You need to compare Jay's rooms with the Bridal or Presidential Suite of
most other motels. If you did, I think you'd find cancellation policies
much more restrictive than "normal."

Even without Dighera's unsolicited expert advice, I'm sure Jay has found a
happy medium somewhere between "restrictive" and "profitable" that suits
him, his customers and his bank account just fine.

--
Jim Fisher

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message
...
>
> Less important, I suppose, is the fact that your posts make the reasonable
point
> that, if someone reserves a particular suite and cancels, you may have
been
> forced to turn down someone who wanted that particular suite, but the
policy on
> your web site doesn't say this. As I read it, it I make a reservation and
don't
> care what suite I'm getting, the policy still applies. Sort of undermines
the
> point you try to make in your posts.
>

Possibly but as policies get more complicated there's a diminishing rate of
returns. You may gain 10% from allowing certain kinds of cancellations but
it will cost you 8% to do so, and unless you're big the 2% isn't worth the
hassle.

-cwk.

> So it doesn't take three days to find an alternate lodger for a given
> suite?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In our experience, most people make plans
farther out than 72 hours, and we're not a "freeway hotel" that gets a lot
of walk-in traffic.

> So if the potential lodger has booked a multi-day stay, you bill them
> for all the days they reserved?

Although I'd like to, we only charge one night's stay.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

>> (I know they interviewed Mary last week -- when I had laryngitis -- about
>> our cancellation policy...)
>
> Women NEVER get laryngitis. :~(

I actually went EIGHT DAYS without a voice!

The kids were ecstatic. Mary thought it was hilarious -- until she had to
take all of my calls. Then, she was suddenly rooting for me to recover
more quickly!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

> What happens if you dump a cylinder enroute in East Undershirt Wyoming?

We charge you double, and have your shop just add our fee to the bottom of
your bill. Most pilots will never notice it.

Oh, wait -- you *are* the shop. Crap, that won't work with you...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

> Well, I have absolutely zero experience in running hotels, but a couple of
> things seem a little backwards. First off, the cancellation period is
> longer for
> the most popular events. Seems to me that things like the home football
> game
> weekends are the periods in which you'd be most likely to rent the room to
> someone else. Is this not the case?

It's funny -- you might logically assume that, but it's not true. On
football weekends (Big Ten football is HUGE around here. I can sell the
suites for ANY amount of money, and still sell out.), our phones will ring
off the hook looking for suites -- until about a week before the game.

Then, because the entire city sells out, most people just plain stop looking
a week in advance. Thus, the 7 day policy.

There are exceptions to the rule, of course. But we're actually toying with
the idea of making football weekends PRE-PAID, with NO cancellation possible
at all. Several bed and breakfasts in Iowa City already do this, and it
really does a much better job of protecting the innkeeper from fraud.

Which, after all, is what a no-show is....
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

> Even without Dighera's unsolicited expert advice, I'm sure Jay has found a
> happy medium somewhere between "restrictive" and "profitable" that suits
> him, his customers and his bank account just fine.

Now, if only they would suit Mary!

:-)

(She's now entering her third year of un-paid 50+ hour weeks...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jim Fisher wrote:

> Even without Dighera's unsolicited expert advice, [...]

Since when does advice offered in any usenet forum need to be
"solicited"? And from my reading of his post, all he did was ask a
couple of questions.

Jim Rosinski

Every business book I have read says you are supposed to pay yourself, regardless.
But then, those were companies that were going public and the founders
were trying to obtain delayed compensation.

Jay Honeck wrote:
> (She's now entering her third year of un-paid 50+ hour weeks...)

> In that case I supposed a more restrictive policy might be needed
> but 3 days still seems excessive.

Not at all. If it were a cheap hotel, then maybe. Not for something
specialty.
A 72 hour cancellation policy is common among fancier hotels. Also, I
run across it all the time when booking international hotels.
Just google something like "hotel 72 hour cancellation" and you'll see
that it's not at all uncommon.

"jim rosinski" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Jim Fisher wrote:
>
>> Even without Dighera's unsolicited expert advice, [...]
>
> Since when does advice offered in any usenet forum need to be
> "solicited"?

I made that rule a few hours ago. You are obviously one of the few little
people who missed it.

--
Jim Fisher
Usenet Moderator

> Every business book I have read says you are supposed to pay yourself,
> regardless.
> But then, those were companies that were going public and the founders
> were trying to obtain delayed compensation.

Oh, she gets paid once in while... ;-)

See http://alexisparkinn.com/2000_mustang_convertible.htm
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:agfFd.2736$eT5.1411@attbi_s51...
> > Even without Dighera's unsolicited expert advice, I'm sure Jay has found
a
> > happy medium somewhere between "restrictive" and "profitable" that suits
> > him, his customers and his bank account just fine.
>
> Now, if only they would suit Mary!
>
> :-)
>
> (She's now entering her third year of un-paid 50+ hour weeks...)

Good Lord!! Haven't you heard of the 13th Amendment, man?

Oh, well...my wife is in the sixth year of her servitude, and my son his
second. :~)


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:24:54 GMT, John Theune >
wrote:

>I'm not questioning your have a cancellation policy, I'm just curious as
>to the 72 hour rule. Normal hotel policy is something on the order of
>4pm local.

The point of the WSJ story is that that this policy is on the way out,
now that hotels are fuller. Many hotels have switched to 24 hour
cancelation, a few to 48 hours. I suspect Jay got into the article
because he's the only one with a 72 hour policy.

I envision one of the 48 hour hotels getting defensive when the
reporter called and saying: "Hey, I'm being generous! You want a tough
policy, talk to Jay at Alexis Park Inn!"

After all, how would it happen that a reporter in NYC would hit upon
the Alexis Park Inn, as well known as it may be to our little
community?


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 19:53:27 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>But we're actually toying with
>the idea of making football weekends PRE-PAID, with NO cancellation possible
>at all.

I don't see why not. Lots of us buy deeply discounted hotel rooms on
the hotel websites, on the understanding that the fee is entirely
non-refundable. If I am going to travel on a non-refundable airline
ticket, I don't see why I shouldn't risk the hotel fee as well.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 13:07:21 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>I don't subscribe to the WSJ -- is there an on-line version of the article?
>What did they say about us?

Don't get too excited, but yes, it's there, issue of Jan 11:

Travel Watch
Canceling Hotel Reservations

By AVERY JOHNSON
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Some hotels are making it tougher to cancel a booking.

As business travelers hit the road again, many hotels are requiring
guests to cancel 24 hours before arrival, while others are extending
the cancellation window to as long as 72 hours, in an attempt to make
more money on the newly profitable rooms. It's a significant change:
In recent years, most hotels -- especially business properties --
would let people cancel up until 6 p.m. the day of arrival.

The Swissotel Chicago put in a 72-hour policy this fall. The hotel
used to require 24-hour notice. And when new owners took over the
Alexis Park Inn & Suites in Iowa City more than two years ago, they
put in a 72-hour policy.

In New York, where the lodging recovery has been perhaps strongest,
many hotels now have 24-hour windows, and some have longer
requirements. The City Club Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel, shifted
its policy to 48 hours from 24 hours in early 2004.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

> The point of the WSJ story is that that this policy is on the way out,
> now that hotels are fuller. Many hotels have switched to 24 hour
> cancelation, a few to 48 hours. I suspect Jay got into the article
> because he's the only one with a 72 hour policy.

Actually, that's not true. 72 hours is the norm for small, specialty hotels
and B&Bs like ours.

> After all, how would it happen that a reporter in NYC would hit upon
> the Alexis Park Inn, as well known as it may be to our little
> community?

Now THAT is the true mystery. I wonder who, from the WSJ, stayed with us?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Colin W Kingsbury wrote:
>
> Possibly but as policies get more complicated there's a diminishing rate of
> returns.

Makes sense.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

My wife and I usually look for places like Jay's when we travel - B&Bs
and small inns. 72 hours is not at all unusual for these operations -
some even have up to a week because of the low volume.

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:XefFd.2454$IV5.435@attbi_s54...

--snip---

> Which, after all, is what a no-show is....
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

Sorry to respond so late here but I just got back from 2 weeks on the road.
In my buisness, I get guaranteed reservations and I expect that room/suite
to be available no matter when I arrive. I usually can't guarantee a time
when I will arrive. When able, I do keep the lodger updated as to any
delays.

As well, the lodger has every right to expect guranteed payment when a
room/suite is guranteed regardless if the room is used or not.

As for a late cancellation, I have been billed but received a credit if they
were able to fill it. Specialty hotels & BBs have every right to the 72 hr
policy and it seems generous to me. If there has been a problem out of my
control, I have found most places will work something out. I think Jay would
do the same, just don't leave them hang.

It really is too bad that things that should be common courtesy have been
forced to become policy or even law.

JMO
Marty

> Sorry to respond so late here but I just got back from 2 weeks on the
> road.
> In my buisness, I get guaranteed reservations and I expect that room/suite
> to be available no matter when I arrive.

> As well, the lodger has every right to expect guranteed payment when a
> room/suite is guranteed regardless if the room is used or not.

Thanks for the affirmation, Marty. This is precisely what we do with our
guaranteed reservations -- we'll hold 'em for you all night. In exchange,
we expect payment -- nothing more, nothing less.

> It really is too bad that things that should be common courtesy have been
> forced to become policy or even law.

It is a shame, I suppose, but when you think about it most policies and laws
are simply courtesy that has been codified.

Luckily, we rarely have to activate this policy, as our clientele are (is?)
overwhelmingly honorable folks, with just a couple of bad apples sprinkled
in over the last couple of years.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"