Aussie Innkeeper said:
Yes, the room was free, but it was reserved for YOU and if YOU don't use it and don't tell us that you won't be using it, then someone else misses out on the opportunity. Just plain rude!
Yes, rude for not calling.
Taking a CC#? What for? Are you going to charge them if they don't show?
Learning experience for everyone. I'm sure we'll all tweak things next year. With the exception of one room, none of our guests had ever been to a B&B before. It was totally new to them, something they never would have tried, may never try again, but it got them out here to see what it was about.
Lets give them all the benefit of the doubt and say they just didn't know how it worked. Most of them may have never even stayed in a hotel without their parents, they were that young. Hopefully, we gave them a small taste of what it's like to find home comforts when their lives are pretty stressed. Our active duty guests are far away from their homes, families and what they are used to. It was a brief respite for them.