Hotel San Jose
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: (512) 444-7322
10/24/2007 Posted by mwbruce23
On this particular day, several large conventions were being held in the downtown Austin area so there were no rooms available, not even as far out as the airport. The gal who took my call, offered me a room that had just become available due to a cancellation. The price was an outrageous $290 for the evening but having called at least 25 different hotels during the past 2 days, I knew it was either this or nothing. I wasn’t given much of a choice either—she wouldn’t so much as hold the room long enough for me to confirm with my boss—so I reluctantly booked it anyway. Needless to say, when I checked in with my boss, the rate was way too much and he ordered me to cancel the reservation. Now I’m a business man and I understand that these guys stand to lose revenue when they don’t book a room, but I called back no more than five minutes later to cancel and they wouldn’t budge. Their cancellation policy? Twenty-four hour advanced notice; otherwise they charge a full night’s stay minus taxes. I cut my customers breaks all the time--despite working on sales commission. I doubt the front desk staff stand to gain or lose anything personally from this, so it’s beyond me why there was no leniency in my case. Sure they didn’t technically do anything wrong (trust me, I read their cancellation policy that was emailed me after the fact), but again they lack the “human factor” as I like to call it, that so many of their larger competitors (i.e. The Omni, The Radisson and the Four Seasons), display on a regular basis. I know this because I called and checked out the cancellation policies of each of these hotels. So if you want my advice, (for the same per-night cost), you can stay at one of the aforementioned hotels that are located even closer to downtown Austin, and offer the altruism and amenities you’ve come to expect when staying as someone’s guest.
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