Reverse Weather Cancellations

I can't believe I don't know this already, but what's your reverse weather cancellation policy? Here's what I mean. I think most innkeepers will let people cancel on short notice if the inn gets a lot of ice and snow and people cannot get there.
But what about the reverse situation. Say it's warm and sunny at the inn, but somebody from up north has to cancel because it's too icy at their location, so they can't leave home.
I know airlines don't take any responsibility for flights cancelled due to weather. But I guess it's sort of like letting people off the hook because of a death in the family.

If guest hometown weather is bad enough for it to be reported on the news - photos of people camped out in airports, cars parked on a snow covered interstate - and they call me ... I let them off the hook. For me the cancellation policy is less about income stream and more about making sure the booking is serious, committed. If they really intended to come, but it is physically impossible, OK, no charge.

We recommend guests to buy trip insurance. This will cover their cost and you still get paid. You can also charge their card the full amount and then send them a GC for a future stay.

As you know, I do overnight stabling as part of my schtick. My WINTER policy is that should weather conditions on EITHER end be such it is dangerous for the horses, the reservation may be cancelled same day with no repercussions from the B & B. IF THEY cancel, the stable fee will be posted to the card but nothing for the inn. IF I cancel obviously there is no charge whatsoever.
Feb 2014 was the ONLY time there was such a cancellation and I am the one who cancelled the day before. I had been warning them (and the farmer had been calling me saying the same thing) there was ice. We did not have a warm-up to melt anything. As the farmer put it - IF they get to the stable, they will not get out again until Spring.

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week.

Morticia said:

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week..

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Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.

We have this every year. "Our basement will flood we can't leave. We have wind we have to stay home."
I have it on our policies page that weather has to be undrivable here. If you live in Anchorage AK and tell me you can't make it because of a blizzard?
But life happens, we do what we do, in each situation.

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.

Click to expand...

You can listen to advice here, and give them a GC and then they will come back in prime season and stuff you up big time and really cost you money! I disagree with that, after all these years, and as you know I end up letting them off the hook. Don't tell anyone, because I have to act real tough at first and feel the water before giving in.
I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax more reasonable cancellation policy. I know here we try to use the airline comparison like you booked it you bought it! But come on inners, we aren't an airline, we are a closer model to a hotel.
BTW Inners is my new name for those of you who are here regularly. Like the inn-tube, inner working of the hub of the tire...

Joey Bloggs said:

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.

Click to expand...

You can listen to advice here, and give them a GC and then they will come back in prime season and stuff you up big time and really cost you money! I disagree with that, after all these years, and as you know I end up letting them off the hook. Don't tell anyone, because I have to act real tough at first and feel the water before giving in.
I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax more reasonable cancellation policy. I know here we try to use the airline comparison like you booked it you bought it! But come on inners, we aren't an airline, we are a closer model to a hotel.
BTW Inners is my new name for those of you who are here regularly.

Like the inn-tube, inner working of the hub of the tire...
.

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax cancellation policy...

Click to expand...

Didn't know that. I always book hotels online and pick the lowest rate possible, which always makes me pay the full amount up front and says it is non-refundable. I always assumed they meant it. You mean they don't?

Arks said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.

Click to expand...

You can listen to advice here, and give them a GC and then they will come back in prime season and stuff you up big time and really cost you money! I disagree with that, after all these years, and as you know I end up letting them off the hook. Don't tell anyone, because I have to act real tough at first and feel the water before giving in.
I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax more reasonable cancellation policy. I know here we try to use the airline comparison like you booked it you bought it! But come on inners, we aren't an airline, we are a closer model to a hotel.
BTW Inners is my new name for those of you who are here regularly.

Like the inn-tube, inner working of the hub of the tire...
.

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax cancellation policy...

Click to expand...

Didn't know that. I always book hotels online and pick the lowest rate possible, which always makes me pay the full amount up front and says it is non-refundable. I always assumed they meant it. You mean they don't?
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax cancellation policy...

Click to expand...

Didn't know that. I always book hotels online and pick the lowest rate possible, which always makes me pay the full amount up front and says it is non-refundable. I always assumed they meant it. You mean they don't?

Click to expand...

Nope not that you booked it you bought it.
I will go around some of those same ones, er even go to Bookin=g . KAHM and get their cancel policy. You know they have to back the guest, right?
In other words, we have to try to as well. it is part of the biz, esp this horribly cold time of year.

Joey Bloggs said:

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough. We've had calls from people stick in airports.
If I can extend them the same number of nights, or they reschedule right then and there, I try to be sympathetic.
But I do tell guests the only weather cancelations we accept, no problem, are those where my state is shut down.
I find that is how I am treated.
Which is why I'm leaving a day early to go to a wedding this week..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

It's tough.

Click to expand...

It sure is. It's hard to lose a booking for several nights when it's warm and clear and you could probably have filled up with somebody else, if you had time.
I'm toying with the idea of saying, since it's nobody's fault, let's each pay half. That is, the cancelling guest pays half, and I lose half, assuming I can't fill the days with someone else.

Click to expand...

You can listen to advice here, and give them a GC and then they will come back in prime season and stuff you up big time and really cost you money! I disagree with that, after all these years, and as you know I end up letting them off the hook. Don't tell anyone, because I have to act real tough at first and feel the water before giving in.
I have to consider that every hotel lets them off with a much more lax more reasonable cancellation policy. I know here we try to use the airline comparison like you booked it you bought it! But come on inners, we aren't an airline, we are a closer model to a hotel.
BTW Inners is my new name for those of you who are here regularly.

Like the inn-tube, inner working of the hub of the tire...
.

Click to expand...

I am still doing the happy dance for you about your schedule change Joey chillin' Bloggs.
The hotel we used to reset our cancellation policy was the FS. 21 days Non-refundable, non-transferable, no credit. Our guests tell us that they do not bend it. I am sure that is only partly true.
We still offer a non-transferable, credit that they can use on a regular reservation with the same responsibilities as the first- absolutely not a GC. One year to use it. Easier for us because we are not an easy spur of the moment trip for a lot of people.
My DH just read an article that the hotels are tightening the cancellation belt.
I do want to be an inner. Can I be an inny-outy?

We're six miles from a major ski resort. When bad weather hits, we charge double!

My written policy is if they haven't canceled prior to 72 hrs,(standard reservations) they are responsible for the entire reservation. Deposit loss is 14 days prior. I state that guests should consider travel insurance for unexpected travel issues.
I prefer to have a written policy that is strict to keep flybytheseatofyourpants travelers to choose elsewhere. Then if I choose to give in to someone, I am regarded as 'very nice'.....
The issue I have is that winter/early spring are busy for us here in the south. Northerners account for 80% +/- of my reservations during this period so if I caved in for anyone that has a weather issue at home, I could starve to death!

PhineasSwann said:

We're six miles from a major ski resort. When bad weather hits, we charge double!

.

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Funny, we are within 15 minutes of 2 major ski resorts and I'm shocked when people who have booked with us to ski,snowmobile, dogsled, etc. call to say if it's snowing and they can't make it what would I do. Well you've booked a winter destination where you hope there's lots of snow so you should be comfortable driving in snow before you make such a reservation. Unless the roads are closed between us and them, we expect them to take their time and honor their reservation. After all, they've been holding it and someone who isn't afraid to drive in snow could have taken it.

MtnKeeper said:

PhineasSwann said:

We're six miles from a major ski resort. When bad weather hits, we charge double!

.

Click to expand...

Funny, we are within 15 minutes of 2 major ski resorts and I'm shocked when people who have booked with us to ski,snowmobile, dogsled, etc. call to say if it's snowing and they can't make it what would I do. Well you've booked a winter destination where you hope there's lots of snow so you should be comfortable driving in snow before you make such a reservation. Unless the roads are closed between us and them, we expect them to take their time and honor their reservation. After all, they've been holding it and someone who isn't afraid to drive in snow could have taken it.
.

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We're lucky in that we're near Jay Peak, VT, which is a resort that caters to serious skiers, not the once-a-year-driving-up-from-the-city type. We also get lots of Canadian guests, who know a thing or two about driving in snow.
That said, I think a clear, aggressive cancellation policy spelled out in your website and in your confirmation emails should do the trick.
If you're feeling generous, you can always do what we sometimes offer: Charge the guest the full stay, but them give them a gift certificate for the amount minus a 10% cancellation fee. It often soothes bad feelings and gets them up there at a time of year their car can handle it.

I was thinking of this thread yesterday when we had a major hall of fame musician cancel er postpone I think is the terminology - his show until May 24th!
Here I was excited to have some January guests and had to cancel all the rooms for Thurs night. I had to contact them all and let them know as well, none of them too pleased.
So my cancellation policies are willy nilly now.
I have decided that the older the recording artist the more chance of them cancelling or postponing, or breaking a hip. Yes that was in sarcasm, but not really. Their spouses die, their brothers die, children, surgeries, etc the older the higher the chance of it happening. There was one group who did this twice already, and they are not coming back, and we have only had this venue open since APRIL!
So much for throw back vintage hits, aye.