<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rut Dog:
I'm really surprised by many of the responses in this thread. I think that pbiflyer had a very good case for a courtesy cancellation, and was treated rather poorly. It might be different if the hotel was sold out, but I doubt that was the case.
The point of courtesy is it goes much further in building customer loyalty than points and miles ever will.
And since Hampton refused to budge, I would certainly invoke the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and not pay for the night you were forced to take. After all, they set the terms, and they refused to bend on them to make what sounds like a reasonable accomodation.
When you file your claim, I imagine that night manager will be told to take a little more initiative next time.</font>
The 100% Guarantee? You think it is right to back out of your room charge through a benefit designed to satisfy customers who are legitimately unhappy? I have a few friends who work at Hampton Inns and they have to answer for every one of their "100%s" when they give away a night's revenue. This guy made a request to someone who could not handle it -- then the night manager referred him to the person who COULD handle it, which, IMVHO, is what he should have done. The hotel did not act inappropriately, and you want them to give a guy his (corporate) money back, becuase he tried to back out of his obligation.
Perhaps next time you could reserve your room without a guarantee (though most hotels no longer do that), and then you will just need to be there by 4/6 pm, or see what happens. My gut says you would likely not have a room (or your preference of room) for that night.
And...this is season in Florida. I am not sure exactly when the reservation was for, but Bike Week started in Daytona at the end of last week, really. Cocoa gets a LOT of trickle down business from that area. It is also Canadian tourist season and spring break, too.
Regards,
Steve