Alexis Park Inn

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"