Alexis Park Inn

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"

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?

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"

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.

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.

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

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"

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:

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.