Kagehitokiri

when they refund, prepaid/wire is no different from not prepaid

you may have missed this happening at many luxury properties

bhrubin

When they refund the pre-paid amount and whatever damages are involved (non-refundable airfare), they still leave the customer screwed in order to simply profit from a richer customer. That behavior simply turns a hotel room or suite into an auction inventory. That is not behavior or a pattern anyone wants to see advanced.

Kagehitokiri

but there is no law/caselaw..

FS washington was bought out by saudi king for 3 days

curious how many CBR guests were impacted
and if cheval blanc doesnt have procedures for this
also whether cheval blanc owns maldives/courchevel

has OP heard from GM, or just staff

Aventine

THIS.

Only when your agent has exhausted all possibilities then you should go to corporate, the press, etc.

bhrubin

First, there rarely is case law until someone presses the issue. So that isn't a factor to dissuade me. When there are other buyouts, good hotels make good deals for their customers. Hell, when the IC Thalasso had air con problems, it put guests up at the Brando! That was impressive service. This is not.

Second, I agree with others about letting the Virtuoso agent first make attempts to resolve the situation before working on corporate or the media. But not too much time, or else the OP's options become more limited.

Third, there was no precedent really for properly removing an airline passenger from an aircraft until United Airlines did it...horribly. Then the public and media shaming was swift and furious. Perhaps CBR needs a reminder of that.

Regardless, I'll now never consider a stay with CBR. I really feel for the OP (assuming all factors are as stated).

Kagehitokiri

not all agents do it. GM then up, not press.

the idea that this has never happened before is..
some might accept offer equaling free nights
not sure how to factor specials into offer made

some here have changed dates for aman stays

regardless of details, poor communication from CBR

Renato W. Chizzola still GM as of 2 weeks ago

in light of thread - sigh at >
http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Ren...pmFfw-IJGm6MEE
could watch TA to see if others post about it there
tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g6697246-d4361946-Reviews-Cheval_Blanc_Randheli-Randheli_Island.html

agents here could comment on how hotels handle

wolf72

I know it's fustrating and it certainly would make anyone angry about it. But relax. There are many many other resorts of a similar quality to choose from. Don't let this episode spoil your holiday.

You can still have a good holiday. Make sure they refund you for your payment made for the accomodations and check out other options.

You have a right to be super pissed about it but from my experience, these things will linger in your mind and will spoil your entire week...so, select another resort and move on. But do shoot in a complaint and don't forget to leave a negative review of the resort on tripadvisor.com to warn other potential customers what this resort did and how unethical it was for them also not to offer you compensation.

surftb15

Why not? moneys were already exchanged. There are clear damages.

https://www.americanbar.org/newslett...ex/miller.html


This post should help move things along, but at a minimum, if the tickets were booked AFTER the hotel was confirmed and moneys were exchanged, all expenses + fees are due back to the OP. This is at a very minimum, factor in time, aggravation, etc.

If the OP has clear emails from CBR not honoring a walk to a similar property, OP wins.

Comes down now to how well the poster documents all emails . He should post some here :-)

scented

I am terribly sorry this happened to you...

I have considered a stay at Cheval Blanc Randheli this December, but this episode now makes me think twice about going. The message is very, very clear: They don't care about the individual leisure guest. The only thing they care about is additional revenue. They should have offered other options, such as One and Only or their own Owner Island -- although this would be difficult in reality.

Legal perspectives aside, you should try to have this sorted. Only deal with GM or higher. I would contact HQ, as it is likely that GM signed this off. If that doesn't work (and only then) I would spread the word, because that hurts them the most. The damage here already exceeds 100k, as many have considered CBR. You could also contact Albert Herrera at Virtuoso.

There is a certain arrogance about this, which I find very confusing. The first deal they could get was good enough, and all other guests are just collateral damage at this point. Not exactly the elegance the GM likes to talk about..

drvannostren

I guess this is the kind of stroke Jay Z really has!

In all seriousness that's BS though, if/when they allow this kind of booking, anyone it conflicts with should at minimum be refunded and re-acommodated at a similar place without cost. The costs of that don't even need to be absorbed by the resort, just build that charge into the already ridiculous amount the Jigga Man is paying.

jp-mco

I think that what CBR have done is quite appalling though I would stop short of calling it fraudulent. 50% off on their Best Available is a nice card to play when (if) you choose to return in the future. My immediate advice would be to insist on contact from the GM Renato Chizzola - make known your unhappiness at being walked and ask him to contact the GM at One&Only, Jean-Luc Naret, who he knows very well. Make sure he asks him to take good care of you and your booking. One&Only have just finished a programme of refurbishment and I feel certain having stayed many times that you would like Reethi Rah. I know this doesn't make up for the disappointment of plans made and broken (and probably you've looked forward to for months) but it is a resolution which will reduce your stress levels and the Reethi Rah is an amazing resort. Also, and I'm sure you've already done this, but I'd want the 50% off Best Available in writing and open ended.

Does anybody have clarity over the protection afforded by booking via a credit card in these circumstances?

nmuva98

Sorry, but I agree with bhrubin here. This is utterly unacceptable.

First, there are not that many resorts comparable to CBR. Other than 3-5 others that one could argue are comparable, everything else is a big step down. Next, there might not be availability at those other properties this late in the game, on the exact same days the OPs will be in the Maldives.

bhrubin is 100% on point--bare minimum here would be to refund the entire trip, plus the full cost of the business class flights. Then if they ever want to get the OP's business again (or the business of any of us who are reading about this on flyertalk) then they really should arrange for them to go elsewhere (as the IC Thalasso did).

If this is true, as the OP reported, and not rectified by CBR, then add me to the list of people who were planning to go there in the near-term but will now look elsewhere.

gpeso8

Removing CBR from consideration for our next Maldives trip. This really irks me.

Michael82

September is low season in the maldives, you will find rooms everywhere.
Id take them up on their 50% discount on the next stay and book it in high season (when the weather is nice and rates ridiculous).
Book Reethi Rah instead, its a great resort and saves you a plane ride (40 min boat ride from airport).

offerendum

Have to agree as I guess you got your money back.