Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC

cfdrescue1 · 10/15/09, 12:49 PM

Not sure if anyone else has had this problem, so I'm kicking it out to everyone...

The last week of September, I reserved a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express, just down the street from the track for Thurs-Saturday for the original dates for the DTWC. Upon seeing the weather forecast, and the rescheduled dates of Sat-Sun, I decided to call last night to cancel our reservation because I wouldn't be able to make it. When I contacted the hotel, they said that the booking was non-refundable, due to reserving the room so far in advance (due to some special rate they gave me, which wasn't much cheaper than the normal one).

I can understand charging me for one night's stay due to the canceling the day before. I can even understand charging me for Thursday and Friday, if I were to come for Saturday and Sunday anyway (to hold the room). But regardless of rate changes, I don't think it's right not to refund due to a change in weather (outside any racer's control) and a postponement of an event.

I was just wondering if anyone else on here is having issues with Holiday Inn Express, or any other area hotels on refunds for room bookings...?

I can guarantee Holiday Inn Express won't be getting any more of my business, regardless of what city I'm in...

ThaBurgFan · 10/15/09, 1:01 PM

Have you been charged the whole amount yet? I would dispute it with the credit card company and see what happens. There is no way that I would let that happen unless they told me up front that there was a no refund policy. I guarantee you with the amount of people that come for the races and Hollywood Casino that the place will be booked up so they are not losing money by you cancelling. Just a thought.

Good luck,

Shane

cfdrescue1 · 10/15/09, 1:11 PM

Yes, they charged the whole amount up front....

Mud Packer · 10/15/09, 1:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfdrescue1

Not sure if anyone else has had this problem, so I'm kicking it out to everyone...

The last week of September, I reserved a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express, just down the street from the track for Thurs-Saturday for the original dates for the DTWC. Upon seeing the weather forecast, and the rescheduled dates of Sat-Sun, I decided to call last night to cancel our reservation because I wouldn't be able to make it. When I contacted the hotel, they said that the booking was non-refundable, due to reserving the room so far in advance (due to some special rate they gave me, which wasn't much cheaper than the normal one).

I can understand charging me for one night's stay due to the canceling the day before. I can even understand charging me for Thursday and Friday, if I were to come for Saturday and Sunday anyway (to hold the room). But regardless of rate changes, I don't think it's right not to refund due to a change in weather (outside any racer's control) and a postponement of an event.

I was just wondering if anyone else on here is having issues with Holiday Inn Express, or any other area hotels on refunds for room bookings...?

I can guarantee Holiday Inn Express won't be getting any more of my business, regardless of what city I'm in...

cfdrescue1,

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing this problem. However, I have started seeing a number of hotels doing this since the economy has turned. They will offer you a lower rate than normal but charge your card for the full amount right up front. If you read the fine print, it normally tells you that it is non-refundable. Did you book this online or by phone reservation? If you booked online, you should have had a confirmation number e-mailed to you with the rules and regulations concerning your reservation. I doubt that this will help but good luck on getting this conflict resolved.

staggerman · 10/15/09, 2:02 PM

I am very familiar with Holiday Inn's and about every other hotel chain being a road warrior for work. When you book online in advance they usually offer an Advance Rate which is less than any other rates but you have to pay in advance and it is non-refundable or changeable. Any hotel you have to pay for a room in advance usually has the same cancelation requirements. In the future I would not book any hotel that requires payment up front. I would contact the Hotel Manager and see if you can get anywhere on changing it. It sucks but you must always read the small print and ask what the cancelation policy is for the room you booked. The other thing I have noticed in the last year is many hotels are requiring 24 hour notice on cancelations so you have be careful with that also.

Dyno Don · 10/15/09, 2:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staggerman

I am very familiar with Holiday Inn's and about every other hotel chain being a road warrior for work. When you book online in advance they usually offer an Advance Rate which is less than any other rates but you have to pay in advance and it is non-refundable or changeable. Any hotel you have to pay for a room in advance usually has the same cancelation requirements. In the future I would not book any hotel that requires payment up front. I would contact the Hotel Manager and see if you can get anywhere on changing it. It sucks but you must always read the small print and ask what the cancelation policy is for the room you booked. The other thing I have noticed in the last year is many hotels are requiring 24 hour notice on cancelations so you have be careful with that also.

That 24 hour thing caused me to miss a few races this year. I pulled the plug 24 hours in advance because of the threat of rain and they got the race in.

I also discovered that at Comfort Inns anyway, if you cancel the day of even with a 24 hour policy and they are not sold out, they do not charge you.This happened to me in April by mistake. I cancelled and then noticed the 24 hour thing.

Poorboyjocko · 10/15/09, 3:01 PM

I stayed at the Holliday Express West Cincinnati for the USAC/MSCS show a few weeks back and their cancellation policy was, cancell by 6 pm the day of your reservation. Made my reservation by phone and asked their policy befor booking a room. $99.+ tax.

Phil Poor

Downey44 · 10/15/09, 5:21 PM

Hate to here about your misfotune. But as Staggerman stated most chains do work that way. Stayed in a Hampton in Cullman,Al. that we booked months ahead and it was same way. It's not just Holiday Inn. I almost overlooked it also, when I made res. Was in smaller print at bottom of page.

jim goerge · 10/15/09, 6:47 PM

You should not book direct with a hotel unless they will send you a confirmation with the cancellation rules. We book our hotels thru a travel agent(my wife); we only use a credit card to hold the room and we know exactly when we have to cancel to avoid a charge. She does the work and we make no long distance calls.

Panama · 10/15/09, 7:21 PM

cfdrescue1,
As someone else has already stated, your only recourse is through your credit card company.
I had to learn this the hard way myself. I pulled a Busch Grand National showcar for 2 seasons and I think stayed in every motel chain from the best to the worst and I learned to read the fine (cancellation) print. It seems every chain has a different policy. Occasionally you will find a manager that will work with you, sadly more often than not, it is up to you, to know "their" cancellation policy.

You might try the old, "Don't make me send a scathing email to your corporate office"!
Good luck!

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10/15/09, 12:49 PM	#1 Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
cfdrescue1 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	Not sure if anyone else has had this problem, so I'm kicking it out to everyone... The last week of September, I reserved a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express, just down the street from the track for Thurs-Saturday for the original dates for the DTWC. Upon seeing the weather forecast, and the rescheduled dates of Sat-Sun, I decided to call last night to cancel our reservation because I wouldn't be able to make it. When I contacted the hotel, they said that the booking was non-refundable, due to reserving the room so far in advance (due to some special rate they gave me, which wasn't much cheaper than the normal one). I can understand charging me for one night's stay due to the canceling the day before. I can even understand charging me for Thursday and Friday, if I were to come for Saturday and Sunday anyway (to hold the room). But regardless of rate changes, I don't think it's right not to refund due to a change in weather (outside any racer's control) and a postponement of an event. I was just wondering if anyone else on here is having issues with Holiday Inn Express, or any other area hotels on refunds for room bookings...? I can guarantee Holiday Inn Express won't be getting any more of my business, regardless of what city I'm in...

10/15/09, 1:01 PM	#2 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
ThaBurgFan Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 177	Have you been charged the whole amount yet? I would dispute it with the credit card company and see what happens. There is no way that I would let that happen unless they told me up front that there was a no refund policy. I guarantee you with the amount of people that come for the races and Hollywood Casino that the place will be booked up so they are not losing money by you cancelling. Just a thought. Good luck, Shane

10/15/09, 1:11 PM	#3 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
cfdrescue1 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	Yes, they charged the whole amount up front....

10/15/09, 2:02 PM	#5 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
staggerman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 828	I am very familiar with Holiday Inn's and about every other hotel chain being a road warrior for work. When you book online in advance they usually offer an Advance Rate which is less than any other rates but you have to pay in advance and it is non-refundable or changeable. Any hotel you have to pay for a room in advance usually has the same cancelation requirements. In the future I would not book any hotel that requires payment up front. I would contact the Hotel Manager and see if you can get anywhere on changing it. It sucks but you must always read the small print and ask what the cancelation policy is for the room you booked. The other thing I have noticed in the last year is many hotels are requiring 24 hour notice on cancelations so you have be careful with that also.

10/15/09, 3:01 PM	#7 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
Poorboyjocko Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 218	I stayed at the Holliday Express West Cincinnati for the USAC/MSCS show a few weeks back and their cancellation policy was, cancell by 6 pm the day of your reservation. Made my reservation by phone and asked their policy befor booking a room. $99.+ tax. Phil Poor

10/15/09, 5:21 PM	#8 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
Downey44 Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 157	Hate to here about your misfotune. But as Staggerman stated most chains do work that way. Stayed in a Hampton in Cullman,Al. that we booked months ahead and it was same way. It's not just Holiday Inn. I almost overlooked it also, when I made res. Was in smaller print at bottom of page.

10/15/09, 6:47 PM	#9 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
jim goerge Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 29,877	You should not book direct with a hotel unless they will send you a confirmation with the cancellation rules. We book our hotels thru a travel agent(my wife); we only use a credit card to hold the room and we know exactly when we have to cancel to avoid a charge. She does the work and we make no long distance calls.

10/15/09, 7:21 PM	#10 Re: Hotel Troubles at Lawrenceburg for DTWC
Panama Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 617	cfdrescue1, As someone else has already stated, your only recourse is through your credit card company. I had to learn this the hard way myself. I pulled a Busch Grand National showcar for 2 seasons and I think stayed in every motel chain from the best to the worst and I learned to read the fine (cancellation) print. It seems every chain has a different policy. Occasionally you will find a manager that will work with you, sadly more often than not, it is up to you, to know "their" cancellation policy. You might try the old, "Don't make me send a scathing email to your corporate office"! Good luck!