Eric I was worried about that. But again, it may have been the first timers thing. Plus, of course it is off season, so not those IN season looking to be cheapskates, somehow it worked well. I did have a couple rooms add on a night, I was hoping for that. I ad one couple come all the way back from CT to stay a second time (they were looking at land in the area)..
Joey Bloggs said:
Eric I was worried about that. But again, it may have been the first timers thing. Plus, of course it is off season, so not those IN season looking to be cheapskates, somehow it worked well. I did have a couple rooms add on a night, I was hoping for that. I ad one couple come all the way back from CT to stay a second time (they were looking at land in the area).
Winter being my low season I sometimes run some lower price specials. One of them this year was specific to December, January, February, where they could prepay for a cheaper rate but there was no cancellation. That worked for the most part. When we matched the previous year's bookings, we closed the special and went back to regular low-season price. But I can tell you that generally those who booked that special were more "colourful" than our usual guests, including Mr. BP.
But really, around here, you get too low and you get the wack jobs. The people who want to know if you will make them lunch and dinner as well. The ones that use 5 towels per day. The ones that argue with you because they can't find a free spot on the street to park, or think you should pay their parking ticket. I'm just so glad that it worked for you.
Maybe we should try different variations of the special to see how they work, for example, stay the weekend and get a free extra night in the summer (which they might never redeem.) Stay three nights and get treated to breakfast in bed. Stay midweek and get a free bottle of wine, robe, etc. Or maybe in the doldrums of November and December, a free Gift Certificate that they can give someone for let's say $25 that might never be redeemed, can have an expiration date because it was given free and looks to have an intrinsic value.
In the winter my problems are mostly midweek. I might lower midweek prices next year or I might lower my weekly prices, so that I get people staying longer. Those who stay longer aren't as "colourful" they are often here for work or they really want to get to know the city. Of course if they are a PITA, they are also going to be a PITA for longer... have to think of that.
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