To Leave this hotel room empty

[katemiddletonsothermum]

OK, I've cocked up. I was convinced that a certain event was on a certain data, so I booked a hotel room. I booked it as an advance purchase so it's non cancellable and non transferable.

And now, of course, I discover that this particular event is the week after, so I'm going to have to book ANOTHER hotel room.

If I tell the hotel that I'm not coming on that first week, won't they just keep my money and then rent out the room again? AIBU not to just not turn up? After all, it's my room and I've paid for it. Why are hotel room bookings becoming like train tickets, ie 40 different prices for the same thing?

I could try and explain this to the hotel but I doubt they'd be sympathetic as the confirmation email clearly says that it's non refundable and non transferable

The event is in August so it's not like it's next week. So the hotel would have plenty of time to re-sell my room.

Hotels will notice a non arrival. Depending on which system they use, and whether they run a night audit, all rooms need to be either checked in or cancelled by the time the audit runs. At our place it's around 2am so any prepaid rooms that haven't arrived get checked in just before 2am. Any that haven't prepaid are cancelled and the details handed to the oncoming morning g shift to charge cancellations.

Ermm- how has the hotel lost out? They have their money and don't have to service the room. Win-win. I agree, however, that courtesy demands that you notify them, and maybe ask for a discount next time? They will, after all, have gained twice the normal room rate.

My DD 's friend changed a hotel booking by saying her DH was booked in for a knee operation that date so could they change it and they did. Sneaky but it was for a lot of money. It's worth asking them, they can only say no.

Look at it this way, OP: because you got the date wrong, you were lucky enough to pay by instalments!

Of course the hotel will notice that a guest hasn't checked in
There's a cut off time (set arbitrarily by the hotel) after which the rooms allocated to no shows will be resold.
if they actually do show up after the room has gone they'll be booked out into a nearby hotel, usually upgraded.

I know OP had done the right thing now but it astounds me so many people just wouldn't bother to cancel something they knew they wouldn't use. It's just basic courtesy?
I recently had to cancel a flight as my DD was seriously ill. I went out of my way to find contact details to be able to do that even though I was in a stressful situation. Partly because I thought it was the done thing to do but also because what if someone else was having some kind of emergency that really needed a flight and couldn't get one because they were all full? What if someone really wanted/needed a hotel that night because they unexpectedly had to attend a funeral, visit a sick relative, because they messed up their dates like the op in the first place? Imagine if the op couldn't rebook for the night she wanted because all the rooms were full? BUT some just sat empty because people just couldn't be arsed to cancel?
Am I missing the point now?! Sorry! Rant over!!

Why would you not? yes the hotel will probably profit. Is that a bad thing? Shouldn't we be supporting our businesses? No wonder this country is fucked with these kind of attitudes.

OMGBaby I agree with you completely. There is no law that you have to inform the business, but it is common courtesy and a nice thing to do.

The hotel is losing out by not being able to offer the room to another customer. They're not stupid enough to let a hotel room just sit empty.

OMGBabyNo3

I recently had to cancel a flight as my DD was seriously ill.

You should ALWAYS cancel a flight for your own benefit not just as a matter of courtesy.

If you are a regular "no show" you may find yourself bumped off flights as a priority when you do want to turn up or in extreme cases on a "no fly" list.

Also if you are a no show for one leg, they will cancel the return flight automatically. You may think this doesn't matter but I know plenty of people who have traveled out one way on a different flight/by a different method (eg. if plans change) thinking they had their return flight booked on the other ticket - and got a nasty shock.

Don't mess about with airlines. They can be evil!

Glad it's all sorted OP. Gosh there are some holier-than-thou people on this thread!

Phone them and ask nicely.
They might just agree to move it

WTF possess people to contribute to 6 page thread having only read the first post

This happened to be a few weeks ago......... And when I phoned the hotel in Peterhead Scotland, the Reception Staff were so helpful and Lovely and changed it for me No bother. After All I was also buying Dinner, a few ( large glasses of wine) etc!

I'm constantly amazed by people on MN who feel sorry for hoteliers in this situation or who insist that you should go out of your way to recompense Tesco for undercharging you.

I agree limited. It's now all sorted, but in original situation OP had paid for hotel room - why should she let the hoteliers know so they have the opportunity to make double the profit ?

Because businesses, especially small businesses, are going under daily ROCKIE. Our economy is fucked. We need to support our businesses not try and limit their profits in any way we can.

I'd call and see if you can transfer and if not see if any friends want a free night away from the kids.
Your paying anyway so try toove it or use it. I wouldn't tell the hotel that your not using it - if they can't give a little and move it to the next week then why should you help them to double their income. Maybe it is petty - we can all be petty sometimes - so what!?!

She's done all that, 38cody. The original issue was solved ages ago.

I don't understand why you wouldn't tell them. If you're going to lose our anyway wouldn't you at least let them know and you never know they may even be helpful It's not just about the hotel losing out, someone else might want the room if they resell it they may even give you some money back. I don't understand why it's a AIBU just speak to the hotel like a grown up.

Ok see it was resolved as I knew it would be, but my advice would still stand. Call hotel not start AIBU thread.

I work in a rural pub that have rooms that we rent to a local wedding venue. We constantly have people not turning up. It's a pain as someone has to sit up waiting for them to arrive. We normally give them to 2am before locking up. A call cancelling would be appreciated and we are very flexible in helping guests move rooms/ dates.