No, there isn't any oil in Texas...

[Jay Honeck]

It's about seperation Jay - it's a hell of a lot easier to disable an employee's key card then it is to ensure they never stole a master key or key to the rooms. In order to provide the same level of security you'd need to change all your locks after every guest and after every employee seperation.

While that's true, you are talking about solving just one of dozens of possible security breaches in a motel. Worse, you are talking about solving a remotely possible security breach with a "solution" that inconveniences far more guests than it protects.

In 9 years, we've never had a problem with the security of our key system. We've never had a guest's belongings stolen, nor have we lost any of our priceless artwork and aviation memorabilia. This is partially due to meticulous key security measures we've instituted, but mostly it's due to the fact that the majority of people wouldn't dream of stealing stuff from someone's motel room.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Matthew: I'd add to your fine list the following: doors that don't slam loudly, and stopping insanely loud guests from running through the halls or slamming doors. Places that accept partying kids or large, loud families are the worst.

We do not allow parties -- period. A "party" is defined as follows: If you can be heard outside of your room, that is a "party". I don't care if it's just two people in the room, if I can hear you in the hallway, you are having a "party".

We give you one warning. The next time, we're at the door, phone in hand, 911 dialed, ready to push "send". If you don't shut up, you are out and gone -- no refund. Sue me if you don't like it.

I have NO patience with *******s. Mary and I have had entire vacations ruined by hoteliers who refused to do anything about loud, obnoxious guests running up and down the halls, or partying until 4 AM. Mary and I would rather p**s the partiers off than aggravate all the poor folks around them who paid just as much (or probably more) and can't get a good night's sleep because of the party.

This policy carries with it a HUGE downside risk, of course, thanks to the internet. It is absolutely, 100% guaranteed that we will have a "review" of our hotel on-line within 24 hours of throwing out a bunch of college kids. Invariably the "review" will talk about cockroaches in the coffee pots and blood on the sheets. I'm sure we lose thousands in bookings when this happens, but so be it.

 

[Jay Honeck]

I gotta say -- I've left about 500 Hampton Inns over the last 10 years without ever formally "checking out" and never had any surprise fees.

You've stayed in FIVE HUNDRED Hampton Inns?

Didn't Bill Murray make a movie about that, called "Groundhog Day"?

 

[gprellwitz]

Jay,
Your experience with key cards doesn't match mine, which is likely why we have differing viewpoints on the benefits of electronic vs. keyed locks. Given your experiences, I can understand your decision. Your theft record (or lack thereof) is enviable. My father had a B&B/hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for a few years, and he definitely had theft problems, despite the best of intentions.

 

[Matthew]

Matthew: I'd add to your fine list the following: doors that don't slam loudly, and stopping insanely loud guests from running through the halls or slamming doors. Places that accept partying kids or large, loud families are the worst.

I was trying to keep my list to items that the hotel can control - outside noise isn't necessarily one of them. Drunks in the hallway are another story.

Slamming doors say more about the behavior of the people who let them slam than the doors themselves.

I guess to narrow that list to just a few items: Clean, non-smoking, well maintained. If the owner/manager cares about those three, the rest sort of takes care of itself.

 

[Matthew]

Jay,

Back to a question I had earlier. Is there a best time of year, weather-wise, to visit down there?

 

[Everskyward]

I think the worst design for a hotel were those old Holidomes where the inside rooms overlooked the pool/party area. Maybe they skimped on the soundproofing because other atrium hotels aren't as bad.

The strangest hotel experience I have had is when I went to training for a few weeks in Houston right after Katrina. The Comfort Suites was, I'm guessing, 90% evacuees. That was a little bit like living in a dorm again, however I understood the situation and cut them some slack. At breakfast I would see the same people every day. At dinnertime some church would bring a large box of free meals to the lobby (no, I did not take any). One day someone asked me how I was doing and it suddenly dawned on me they thought I was an evacuee too.

 

[ScottM]

The strangest hotel experience I have had is ....

Shenyang China was the place and I was in a local hotel. Each night there would be a knock on the door at around 11pm and an armed security guard would come into the room to make sure we did not have any local female companionship. The best we were able to figure out is if he had found any we would have to pay a fine, in cash, payable to the guard. Hmmm.

But it also made us wonder just exactly what type of place we had booked into. Later I found out from my cousin who was the executive chef at the Shanghai Hilton that there was a lot of that activity even in fine hotels such as his and that there were plenty of palms to be greased.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Shenyang China was the place and I was in a local hotel. Each night there would be a knock on the door at around 11pm and an armed security guard would come into the room to make sure we did not have any local female companionship. The best we were able to figure out is if he had found any we would have to pay a fine, in cash, payable to the guard. Hmmm.

After the Mumbai hotel attacks, there's "no way, no how" I'd be opening my door to a knock at 11pm. Especially if I looked through the peephole and saw an armed individual!

 

[Trapper John]

Yep, and they are.

Example: Holiday Inn Express rooms -- one of the few chains on the island -- were renting this weekend for $189.95/night, with a 3-night minimum, while ours were renting for $139.95/night, with a 2-night minimum. Of course, we're new to the island, with a motel property that has no, or, at best, a mediocre reputation, so we'll eventually close that gap a bit.

Holiday weekend. Known chain, known product. Good for them, something for you to shoot for.

More important than price, however, is that you won't find a chain that offers the amenities we provide, for ANY price.

If people are paying more, for what you claim is less, then I guess you've got your work cut out. It's sure not clear to me what I'd get at your place that I wouldn't get at HIE.

Your report is very nice, but my numbers are real, and represent the research I did in 2002 when we considered franchising our hotel in Iowa. Published franchise fees are just the very tip of the expense iceberg when it comes to the cost of becoming (and maintaining) a franchise; the total annual cost to the property -- in addition to the intangible cost of losing control of your own business -- is in the 30% of gross range.

I posted numbers from 2006 from an industry consultant that includes initial fees, reservation fees, marketing and room-night franchise fees. I don't know what to tell you. One man's, "losing control of your own business" is another man's meeting franchise standards and getting a better return on equity, something I think would be worth 9-odd percent. If you want to value "intangibles" at 21% you're free to do so, but I'd rather go to the breakfast room at HIE, than have to eat something from a "sealed container" left outside at the room door, as you've described your breakfast service - but that's just me, though.

Joining a chain is a great way to make more money, but that's not what we're about.

Suit yourself. Hope it works out...

 

[jesse]

While that's true, you are talking about solving just one of dozens of possible security breaches in a motel. Worse, you are talking about solving a remotely possible security breach with a "solution" that inconveniences far more guests than it protects.

In 9 years, we've never had a problem with the security of our key system. We've never had a guest's belongings stolen, nor have we lost any of our priceless artwork and aviation memorabilia. This is partially due to meticulous key security measures we've instituted, but mostly it's due to the fact that the majority of people wouldn't dream of stealing stuff from someone's motel room.

I wouldn't consider copying or stealing a key remotely possible. It's absolutely trivial.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Personally I don't like the idea of physical keys in a motel and I suspect many other security conscious folks like myself wouldn't either. I'm sure there are people like yourself that love the keys. To each their own

 

[ScottM]

After the Mumbai hotel attacks, there's "no way, no how" I'd be opening my door to a knock at 11pm. Especially if I looked through the peephole and saw an armed individual!

He was in a police uniform and when you would come up to the floor he would be sitting on a chair behind a desk at the elevator. It was not suspicious at all if you were used to 'security' in mainland China. Things have become more westernized over the years but in the olden days being a gweilo meant having to deal with lots of police following you around.

 

[AuntPeggy]

Jay-
All this talk about extra fees jogged my mind about an experience 1-1/2 years ago in Chicago at a high-end hotel. Our company booked the rooms with 2 employees per room. I was scheduled for 5 nights and had 2 companions for 1 night each. My credit card was swiped for the full 5 days (I checked online) when I registered. A couple of days later, the phone light was lit and when I called the front desk, they said there was a problem with my credit card. There have been times when my bank would stop my card for unusual charges, so I phoned them and there was no problem. I checked the charges against my card and my balance and everything was fine. I went down to the desk and they wanted to swipe my card again. Since I knew that the charges for my room had been already billed against my card, I told them I'd come back down with my card later. Which I did when I checked out. They swiped again to confirm the charges.

What was that all about?

 

[Jay Honeck]

Jay-
All this talk about extra fees jogged my mind about an experience 1-1/2 years ago in Chicago at a high-end hotel. Our company booked the rooms with 2 employees per room. I was scheduled for 5 nights and had 2 companions for 1 night each. My credit card was swiped for the full 5 days (I checked online) when I registered. A couple of days later, the phone light was lit and when I called the front desk, they said there was a problem with my credit card. There have been times when my bank would stop my card for unusual charges, so I phoned them and there was no problem. I checked the charges against my card and my balance and everything was fine. I went down to the desk and they wanted to swipe my card again. Since I knew that the charges for my room had been already billed against my card, I told them I'd come back down with my card later. Which I did when I checked out. They swiped again to confirm the charges.

What was that all about?

Hotels do what's called a "pre-authorization" of your credit card when you make a reservation. This can look EXACTLY like a "charge", even though it's not. It's basically a "hold" that guarantees your room. On a credit card this has virtually no impact on you; it merely reduces your available credit line. If the hotel doesn't "force" or convert that hold into a charge within 7 to 10 days, it just evaporates all by itself.

Most hotels then don't physically swipe your card until you check out, so they can lard all of their "extra" charges on at that time. We choose to do all of our charges at check IN, to (a) make your check-out a breeze, and (b) because we don't ever add anything to your bill during your stay, why not swipe the card only once?

Incidentally, this brings to mind one of the biggest scams in America -- debit card preauthorizations. An alarming number of people use their debit cards interchangeably with their credit cards, and they are NOT the same.

When you use a debit card to reserve a hotel room (or buy gas, for that matter) the preauthorization process (that is so painless with a credit card) can cause you great harm.

Why? Because if we preauthorize $150 on your debit card, that will instantly "freeze" $150 in your checking account. Even if it's a "dual-use" card (debit or credit) it will do this. As a result, you suddenly have $150 less in your checking account than you may believe you do, sometimes with very bad consequences.

IMHO this is one of the biggest "quiet" banking scams going. You don't have your money, WE don't your money -- your bank does, and they can use this "float" in any way they see fit. Multiply this by 300 million Americans, and you're talking billions of dollars that the banks are using every day, interest free.

What sucks most is that the banks absolutely do not want you to know any of this. They tout debit cards as the "smart card", and want everyone to think they are nothing but "safe credit-type cards", when, in fact, they are completely different. I've had guests end up bouncing checks all over town because they didn't understand the difference -- and then blaming ME for not explaining it to them!

 

[Jay Honeck]

If people are paying more, for what you claim is less, then I guess you've got your work cut out. It's sure not clear to me what I'd get at your place that I wouldn't get at HIE.

Wow, what a perfect lead-in to a spam-free advertising opportunity -- thanks! The list of amenities is long and illustrious. Here are just a few:

• Breakfast that YOU select when you check in.
• Said breakfast is DELIVERED to your room. No eating in a lobby full of guys who haven't taken a shower yet.
• Want to sleep in till 10 AM? No problem -- and breakfast will still be there for you.
• Ten (10) cup coffee makers -- and REAL coffee -- in your room. NOT that brown colored water that most motels provide in your room.
• The LOCAL newspaper, delivered to your room each morning.
• No flow-restrictors in your shower head
• Fly in and need a lift? Call us.
• Fly in and want to borrow a car? Ask.
• No bed smaller than queen-sized.
• HDTVs with inputs for your laptop or game system.
• Clock radios with inputs for your iPod.
• Free wi-fi everywhere.
• Want to borrow our bikes to ride to the beach? No problemo.

You couldn't get any of our personal-service amenities at a "Holiday Inn Express" for ANY amount of money -- period.

Why? Because (a) they don't give a rat's ass whether you live or die, and (b) the by-laws in their franchise agreement wouldn't allow it.

As for the rest of your usual negativity, let's just say that you're entitled to your opinion. However, if you think HIE is the cat's meow, you have my deepest sympathy...

 

[Jay Honeck]

Jay,

Back to a question I had earlier. Is there a best time of year, weather-wise, to visit down there?

I would think spring or fall. I've only been here in winter and spring, and the flying weather has been consistently spectacular -- but for laying at the beach, any time from April 15th through Thanksgiving would be great.

I personally thought the weather in winter was fabulous. It got into the 50s at night (perfect for sleeping) and back up to 70 in the day time. A couple of times last December it dropped to near-freezing, and the locals acted like they had been hit by a blizzard. Mary and I were outside wearing shorts with sweaters, and they were all wearing parkas. It was hilarious!

 

[dmccormack]

Most hotels then don't physically swipe your card until you check out, so they can lard all of their "extra" charges on at that time. We choose to do all of our charges at check IN, to (a) make your check-out a breeze, and (b) because we don't ever add anything to your bill during your stay, why not swipe the card only once?

Hmmm...

"Most?"

Not "most" business chains -- that I've been in.

Of course I'm only Plutonium level in Marriott, Hilton, and Priority Club (Holiday Inn chain), so my sample size is limited.

 

[Jay Honeck]

I wouldn't consider copying or stealing a key remotely possible. It's absolutely trivial.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Personally I don't like the idea of physical keys in a motel and I suspect many other security conscious folks like myself wouldn't either. I'm sure there are people like yourself that love the keys. To each their own

One thing of note you may not realize (and I didn't mention): The room keys at our hotel in Iowa City only open the bottom door-knob lock. The top (dead-bolt) lock is lockable only from the inside, and our house-keepers do not have a key to this lock.

This is a requirement of the AAA motor club, and helps keep your room more secure. It also prevents a housekeeper from walking in on you.

Our new motel does not have this dual-lock system yet. Right now we only have dead-bolts on each room, and the door knobs don't have locks in them at all; thus, the doors don't automatically lock behind you when you close the door.

This single lock system is common all over the island, but I don't like it much because people can too-easily forget to lock up when they leave. (Of course, on the flip-side it's much more convenient for guests who have kids, and are constantly in-and-out going to the pool, etc. They don't have to worry about locking themselves out, which happens regularly with doors that close and lock automatically.)

Right now, we don't have anything terribly valuable in the rooms, but when we start adding aviation artwork and memorabilia I will be switching to the dual-lock system.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Hmmm...

"Most?"

Not "most" business chains -- that I've been in.

Of course I'm only Plutonium level in Marriott, Hilton, and Priority Club (Holiday Inn chain), so my sample size is limited.

So when do they swipe your card?

 

[ScottM]

So when do they swipe your card?

If Dan's experiences are similiar to mine it is at check in and check out.

 

[dmccormack]

So when do they swipe your card?

My info is on file on the Rewards sites. I reserve online 99% of the time.

I check in and am asked, "Leave the charges on the card on file?"

Yes.

Get two shiny plastic keys, go to bed.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

<SNIP>

• Free wi-fi everywhere.

<SNIP>

You couldn't get any of our personal-service amenities at a "Holiday Inn Express" for ANY amount of money -- period.

Why? Because (a) they don't give a rat's ass whether you live or die, and (b) the by-laws in their franchise agreement wouldn't allow it.

As for the rest of your usual negativity, let's just say that you're entitled to your opinion. However, if you think HIE is the cat's meow, you have my deepest sympathy...

You're wrong about the free Wifi- that is one of the main reasons my colleagues and I use Hampton Inn and HIE. I haven't stayed at either lately (past 8 or 10 years) that didn't have it. As a result, I'm pretty sure their franchise agreement allows it.

You did say coffee in the room; but HIE and Hampton Inn do have good lobby coffee. I did get really good Kona coffee in my room last time I stayed at a Sheraton, but I suspect it was local to Honolulu.

As for your personal service...I'll grant you that although to be fair, I simply expect a clean room, furnishings, and things that work when I'm on business. At times, "personal service" gets in my way after a day of setting up for a trade show, and I still have to answer questions from the home-office and get a quarterly report done for corporate. Hampton Inn and HIE also give similar service where ever I go (BTW- that's why I won't stay at a Super 8; their properties range from OK to terrible and you can't tell until you get there). When I want to relax, I will consider your properties. Comparing your properties to Hampton Inn and HIE is like comparing a fine restaurant to McDonalds. McD's is OK, but not great, the world over.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Hmmm...

"Most?"

Not "most" business chains -- that I've been in.

Of course I'm only Plutonium level in Marriott, Hilton, and Priority Club (Holiday Inn chain), so my sample size is limited.

Sorry, I just realized I've been saying "swipe your card" when I meant to say "charge your card". (It's been a LONG 72-hours here on the island. Just gave rides back to a couple of Mooney drivers, and picked up a couple of Sonex flyers while I was there...it's been that way for three days!)

When you check out, they CHARGE your card. Usually this means they ask to swipe it, but with express check out at most business hotels, you can simply leave and they will just add it to your bill.

(Which, incidentally, gives you the perfect opportunity to dispute -- and win -- every charge on your bill. If the hotel doesn't physically swipe your card at check-in -- and if you don't physically SIGN that receipt at check-out -- you can deny every charge INCLUDING THE ROOM CHARGE and win every dispute. Both steps must be done. But that's another topic and post.)

 

[dmccormack]

When you check out, they CHARGE your card. Usually this means they ask to swipe it, but with express check out at most business hotels, you can simply leave and they will just add it to your bill.

(Which, incidentally, gives you the perfect opportunity to dispute -- and win -- every charge on your bill. If the hotel doesn't physically swipe your card at check-in -- and if you don't physically SIGN that receipt at check-out -- you can deny every charge INCLUDING THE ROOM CHARGE and win every dispute. Both steps must be done. But that's another topic and post.)

Right -- charges are typically levied the day of departure. And that's fine.

The only time I've encountered trivial yet expensive 'extra" charges has been Disney properties and some High end city (DC and NY) hotels.

I've only ever stayed in Disney hotels for business. The reason Disney sells "packages" is to hide the insane -- insane-- price of everything.

Sure, they have to pay for all that Disney "magic," but good grief.

 

[Jay Honeck]

You're wrong about the free Wifi- that is one of the main reasons my colleagues and I use Hampton Inn and HIE. I haven't stayed at either lately (past 8 or 10 years) that didn't have it. As a result, I'm pretty sure their franchise agreement allows it.

Sorry, I don't consider wi-fi to be a personal service amenity. Wi-fi, so rare just a few years ago, is now as common as hot water. (And people now get more p***ed when we lose internet than if the water goes out!)

You did say coffee in the room; but HIE and Hampton Inn do have good lobby coffee.

"Lobby coffee"? Yippee.

I am a coffee drinker. As a result, I find the 2-cup coffee makers that occupy most motel rooms to be an affront to humanity. So we use 10-cup coffee makers that provide people with several good cups of coffee. (I threw away 23 of those dumb little two-cuppers. Ugh.)

Trouble is, where to find 10-cup coffee filter pillow packs? Everyone sells the 2-cup size, but finding the 10-cup size was tough. For a while we tried using a really good loose coffee that the guest would have to dump into a filter, and our housekeepers HATED it. (Ever dump your filter basket into the trash, and miss? What a mess!)

So, I went hunting for 10 cup pillow-packs. We found some, and tried 'em. Ugh -- just awful stuff. The crap you buy from the hotel supply catalogs is just terrible. Even their "gourmet" coffee lines are crap.

I eventually found a supplier in California who packaged really good coffee in pillow packs, and that's what we use at our hotel in Iowa. Recently we discovered the Wolfgang Puck branded 10-cup pillow packs, individually wrapped. They are quite good, and that's what we're providing to our guests on the island. It's been met with rave reviews.

As for your personal service...I'll grant you that although to be fair, I simply expect a clean room, furnishings, and things that work when I'm on business.

Understood. We just provide all that, plus a little extra. That's what has made us successful in a hyper-competitive market.

 

[Jay Honeck]

My info is on file on the Rewards sites. I reserve online 99% of the time.

I check in and am asked, "Leave the charges on the card on file?"

Yes.

Get two shiny plastic keys, go to bed.

Wow -- they NEVER physically swipe your card?

You *are* plutonium level, and they really trust you. You could really take them to the cleaners, if you wanted to.

After losing $800 in a disputed charge because we never physically swiped a card, we swipe everyone's card. I don't care if you're the president of the university -- your card goes through that machine.

(This happened right after we opened up in Iowa, back in 2002. We were young and stupid and trusting, and the guests went home, called their card company, said their card was stolen and that they had never been to Iowa City. Poof! The credit card company took the money back, and we had no recourse because we had never physically swiped the card. Never again!)

 

[TangoWhiskey]

(This happened right after we opened up in Iowa, back in 2002. We were young and stupid and trusting, and the guests went home, called their card company, said their card was stolen and that they had never been to Iowa City. Poof! The credit card company took the money back, and we had no recourse because we had never physically swiped the card. Never again!)

Wow. I wonder if maybe the people that stayed with you were the ones with the other people's stolen credit card?

 

[dmccormack]

After losing $800 in a disputed charge because we never physically swiped a card, we swipe everyone's card. I don't care if you're the president of the university -- your card goes through that machine.

(This happened right after we opened up in Iowa, back in 2002. We were young and stupid and trusting, and the guests went home, called their card company, said their card was stolen and that they had never been to Iowa City. Poof! The credit card company took the money back, and we had no recourse because we had never physically swiped the card. Never again!)

Yikes -- that's a big loss on one stay hotel customer.

I worked as a solo consultant for about 6 years and had some great clients. Finally caved and threw all my eggs into a single account in a "partnering" arrangement.

$40k over 120 days ain't easy to carry when you're solo.

After the inevitable lawsuit, I recouped $8k.

When I hear class-warfare morons talking about small business "gouging" I just want to strangle somebody -- the reason we have to charge more for you is because the guy next in line is doing all he can to screw us.

Business is tough -- and lessons learned can definitely help hedge bets against being ruined. Suonds like you learned a tough one for $800 bucks -- alot, but you survived it and learned and adapted.

 

[Bob Noel]

When you check out, they CHARGE your card. Usually this means they ask to swipe it, but with express check out at most business hotels, you can simply leave and they will just add it to your bill.

With one exception, all of my business travel stays at hotels have
swiped the card at check-in only and charged the card at checkout
(can you guess the exception?)

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Quite frankly, given that all of our doors are outside doors, I don't think an electronic lock would last a month here. Even the brass on our mechanical locks corrodes almost instantly, thanks to the salt breeze on the island.

The lack of oil there probably doesn't help.

 

[Jay Honeck]

The lack of oil there probably doesn't help.

That was BAD...

Actually, I spray the locks with WD-40 and/or LP-2 every week. Keeps 'em working nicely.

I opened the driver's side door on Mary's Mustang yesterday, and it sounded like a door in a horror movie. CREEEEAAAAAKKK! It's an amazingly corrosive environment, being surrounded by salt water.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Wow. I wonder if maybe the people that stayed with you were the ones with the other people's stolen credit card?

I suppose it's possible. Either way, I was screwed.

To make matters even worse, I was following the credit company's procedures to the letter. It simply didn't matter -- no swipey, no proofy that they were ever there. The fact that they had signed for their keys, and signed the credit card slip(s) multiple times (they got room service several times during their stay) simply did not make any difference.

It was at that moment that I discovered one true fact: As a business, you are automatically guilty until proven innocent when it comes to credit cards. The consumer holds all the cards (even though the politicians would love to have you think otherwise), and you, as a business, are powerless to win a dispute if you have made even the slightest procedural mistake.

Even worse, the cc companies just rake us over the coals for "processing fees", and then don't give us our money for up to a WEEK after processing. In an instantaneous world, it takes 7 days to move money into my account? Right.

I'd ban the use of credit cards forever in my businesses, if I thought I could get away with it. Sadly, it's a pretty rare day that we even SEE cash anymore.

 

[dmccormack]

Sadly, it's a pretty rare day that we even SEE cash anymore.

Sadly??

It's the travel industry that's forced me to carry a credit card for about 20 years now.

Rental car?
Hotel?
Internet access?
Various tolls and fees and other ephemera?

Plastic only.

 

[SCCutler]

I suppose it's possible. Either way, I was screwed.

To make matters even worse, I was following the credit company's procedures to the letter. It simply didn't matter -- no swipey, no proofy that they were ever there. The fact that they had signed for their keys, and signed the credit card slip(s) multiple times (they got room service several times during their stay) simply did not make any difference.

It was at that moment that I discovered one true fact: As a business, you are automatically guilty until proven innocent when it comes to credit cards. The consumer holds all the cards (even though the politicians would love to have you think otherwise), and you, as a business, are powerless to win a dispute if you have made even the slightest procedural mistake.

Even worse, the cc companies just rake us over the coals for "processing fees", and then don't give us our money for up to a WEEK after processing. In an instantaneous world, it takes 7 days to move money into my account? Right.

I'd ban the use of credit cards forever in my businesses, if I thought I could get away with it. Sadly, it's a pretty rare day that we even SEE cash anymore.

Jay...

...just because the credit card was dishonored does not mean they don't owe the money. They came to your town, stayed in your lodge. You file suit against them, in your town, with your nearest JP.

They address the issue with the same contempt they did the original obligation. They ignore it.

You get a judgment; you domesticate it in their home state; then you collect the debt, plus interest, plus fees, plus costs.

Or, maybe you carry it down to the friendly county Prosecutor, y'know, the one you gave the airplane ride / cold beer / campaign contribution / whatever to. Theft of services.

Just sayin'...

 

[Everskyward]

So when do they swipe your card?

Almost always on check in. I usually ask for a zero balance receipt on check out. I also look at the charges because we are not supposed to charge things like movies on the company card and sometimes people forget to have them transferred to their personal card.

 

[Ghery]

Almost always on check in. I usually ask for a zero balance receipt on check out. I also look at the charges because we are not supposed to charge things like movies on the company card and sometimes people forget to have them transferred to their personal card.

I have to have a zero balance receipt for my expense report, so I have to stop at the desk on the way out. The ones I hate are the ones with all sorts of separate charges (all those "taxation without representation" taxes that get added) and as soon as it's handed to me I'm asked if everything is OK. I read quickly, but not that quickly.

And there had better not be any extra charges for internet access. We have negotiated rates at most places I stay for business and that's included in the price. In fact, the place I stayed in Taipei earlier in May included breakfast. When you've got $60/day for meals, that helps a lot. Then I found a good Australian pub down the street where I could get dinner and a beer for about $12 US.

 

[ScottM]

I have to have a zero balance receipt for my expense report, so I have to stop at the desk on the way out. The ones I hate are the ones with all sorts of separate charges (all those "taxation without representation" taxes that get added) and as soon as it's handed to me I'm asked if everything is OK. I read quickly, but not that quickly.

And there had better not be any extra charges for internet access. We have negotiated rates at most places I stay for business and that's included in the price. In fact, the place I stayed in Taipei earlier in May included breakfast. When you've got $60/day for meals, that helps a lot. Then I found a good Australian pub down the street where I could get dinner and a beer for about $12 US.

Having to a get a zero balance receipt is annoying! We have to get receipts for anything over $10 which is annoying enough. But at least when we pack up the receipts into the special envelopes no one opens them up and looks inside.

The one thing that is a PITA for me is that our company only allows us to stay in approved hotels. So for meetings I can stay in the $200/night hotel 20 miles away and rent a car with no problem. But if I want to stay in the conference hotel for $130/night and not have to rent a car I have to jump through hoops to get approval.

 

[Bob Noel]

The one thing that is a PITA for me is that our company only allows us to stay in approved hotels. So for meetings I can stay in the $200/night hotel 20 miles away and rent a car with no problem. But if I want to stay in the conference hotel for $130/night and not have to rent a car I have to jump through hoops to get approval.

but but but the company has negotiated with those approved hotels
so that they get good rates (somewhere) based on business volume.

I believe...yeah...sure.

 

[SCCutler]

"Negotiated Rates."

In my prior life, the Fortune 500 company for which I worked would insist that all airline tickets had to be purchased by the home office in Chicago and mailed to us. They'd arrive with stern warnings stapled to them, to the effect that we'd be responsible for any additional charges if we changed tickets.

Right.

The tickets were *always* on AA, and I could pretty much always convert them (coach tix) into First Class on Continental. This was, of course, when airline tickets still worked like cash money.

 

[Trapper John]

Wow, what a perfect lead-in to a spam-free advertising opportunity -- thanks! The list of amenities is long and illustrious. Here are just a few:

• Breakfast that YOU select when you check in.
• Said breakfast is DELIVERED to your room. No eating in a lobby full of guys who haven't taken a shower yet.

• Want to sleep in till 10 AM? No problem -- and breakfast will still be there for you.
• Ten (10) cup coffee makers -- and REAL coffee -- in your room. NOT that brown colored water that most motels provide in your room.
• The LOCAL newspaper, delivered to your room each morning.
• No flow-restrictors in your shower head
• Fly in and need a lift? Call us.
• Fly in and want to borrow a car? Ask.
• No bed smaller than queen-sized.
• HDTVs with inputs for your laptop or game system.
• Clock radios with inputs for your iPod.
• Free wi-fi everywhere.
• Want to borrow our bikes to ride to the beach? No problemo.

You couldn't get any of our personal-service amenities at a "Holiday Inn Express" for ANY amount of money -- period.

Hopefully, people find that list useful. I don't really, and I can't remember the last place I stayed in that didn't have wi-fi and flat screen TVs, so I'm not really sure that is any kind of differentiator. If everything is done correctly (room clean, stocked and in good order), the only person I should have any contact with is the desk clerk upon check-in. That's the way I want it, and I'd suspect most people feel that way as well.

Why? Because (a) they don't give a rat's ass whether you live or die, and (b) the by-laws in their franchise agreement wouldn't allow it.

As for the rest of your usual negativity, let's just say that you're entitled to your opinion. However, if you think HIE is the cat's meow, you have my deepest sympathy...

You spend a lot of time disparaging your chain competition and customers who stay at those chains. It makes it sound like you have an axe to grind and distracts from whatever it is that makes your place supposedly better. I can't think of any successful business that bashes the competition and their customers, but maybe you'll prove to be the exception.