Prize changed after competition - who is BU?

[Carravaggio]

I entered a competition that was on Facebook and other social media platforms. The page was for an online magazine. The post stated that the prize was 2BB1D plus a round of golf in a 4 star hotel. We won and a voucher was received from the hotel.

However the hotel voucher is for 2 nights B&B only. I called to book and explained then emailed with a copy of the FB post and voucher. They replied saying they look forward to welcoming us for 2 nights including breakfast

It seems clear that dinner and golf are no longer a part of the prize.
I am grateful but is there any point in trying to get dinner included?!

YANBU but I guess it depends on how far you want to take it as you may not get a warm reception.

I say go, have a great time but make sure you tell the promoters the situation and make sure you clarify AFTER the trip what you actually received vs what was advertised.

It may have been a mistake on the promoters part.

The promoter of the competition and the hotel presumably have some sort of contract. It’s between them to sort out the issue and deliver the prize you won. I agree you should leave the hotel out of it and get onto the promoter, and don’t let up till they confirm they have arranged for you to receive your prize in full.

Yes you can absolutely follow this up via ASA

if you don't get the full prize sorted, but do take up the B&B offer, take a look on book-a-table and see if any deals at the hotel restaurant there.
Also see if it is on the tastecard site - usually free subscription for a month's trail.
However upmarket, hotel restaurants rarely profitable, so deals are often available.

I once ordered a takeaway pizza to a very fancy hotel but only because I was being petty.
We had our anniversary stay ruined by a mix up with rooms, forgotten room service no hot water in the first room- moved to a second which then flooded so moved again. They agreed we could come back again the following weekend for free when we arrived for the second time they gave us a fab room but refused us access to the spa unless we paid £150(spa hotel and nothing else for miles) so not only did I refuse to pay that I also went to the shop bought snacks and drinks ordered pizza and just chilled in the room for the day with movies. Looking back it was quite bratty.

Isn't this against the Trades Descriptions Act? Saying or promoting one thing and then changing it on a whim?

This sort of thing happened to in laws. They won a weeks holiday to "Disneyland Florida"
So were supplied with flights and hotel but no tickets to the park and had to spend a lot of money on those tickets. They argued that the prize was misleading as prize title said Disneyland. They got their money back eventually

At least get a smelly takeaway...the hotel will supply plates etc so have an Indian or Chinese! (I have done this lots).

I still think you are approaching it wrong - lots of people have said it, go to the magazine , not the hotel. The magazine will have made the arrangements and paid for it - the hotel is at the end of the day just a service provider.

Really don't understand the advice to get a takeaway or picnic, or fill up from the breakfast buffet.

You're entitled to the dinner as it was part of the prize so just need to get the magazine to confirm this with the hotel, and threaten them with ASA if there is any reluctance to fulfil this.

Really don't understand the advice to get a takeaway or picnic, or fill up from the breakfast buffet. hmm
Its a childish way of punishing the hotel. However as OP has not bothered to go back to the magazine , nobody knows if its the magazines fault or the hotels fault.

YABU trying to take it up with the hotel. It’s absolutely nothing to do with them.

The magazine is paying for the prize, and they have only paid the hotel for 2 nights B&B. You need to ask the magazine why they advertised a prize they aren’t willing to give.

Very curious OP if you’ve gone to the magazine or any other resolution to this.