Center Parcs closing for funeral

[ViscountessBridgerton]

Had the email to say Monday arrival delayed until Tuesday, can't get in until 4pm. 30% refund offered. From social media, it looks like people on a 7 night break are actually expected to leave at 10am on the Monday and not come back until Tuesday! People on a weekend break aren't being compensated for having to leave by 10am on the Monday.

AIBU to think wtf?!?!

I think this is probably a large part of it, dressed up as respect, due to the BH suddenly the staffing is all up the wall and they can't meet their obligations, and no matter how much people kick off they can't magic staff out of thin air, especially in an industry where it's already struggling for staff, to do what needs to be done for things to carry on as they would have.
That said, the shutting down completely is impractical for guests already on site, they should remain but under the circumstances, be reasonably expected to entertain themselves for a few hours while everything closes and not expect housekeeping to attend.
Delay check in until the next day and pull check out forward to reduce the work needed.
Though not just centre parks but other hospitality businesses may find the zero hour contracts they're so fond of biting them in the arse as their staff say no, they can't or they're not working on that Monday because of issues like transport or childcare - you can't shut down half the services and expect the other half to carry on unhindered when they rely on them.

I bet the customer service lackeys at CP are loving life today, stupid decisions from the top handed down and they take the flack. They should just auto direct all calls to whichever big boss in charge came up with this lunacy

I've never been either, but as it's self catering I assume there are kitchens in the cabins, though they maybe basic. So you know people go to supermarkets prior and buy some food to prepare in their cabins, surely?

I think B&Q are worse, they are shutting the store so they look good but are still expecting staff to work that day and clean/ stock take on the day instead of usual duties!

Deeply unimpressive but not as bad as making people actually leave the premises while on holiday.

It is clearly a ridiculous decision.

Some people would argue the colour of shite on this website, honestly. Just disagreeing to be awkward/edgy.

Just don't leave - they can't forcibly evict you the police will be busy elsewhere and have far better things to do. Your problem is their problem and like others have said anywhere close by will no doubt be full as well if most people follow their ruling.

You mean this closing of businesses is all virtue signalling? NEVER

We can't close our offices on Monday at such short notice so we offered staff a lieu day to take at another day of their choice if they offered to cover. We've had no problem with volunteers. There are lots of people who aren't going to be watching the funeral. I'm sure CP could have tackled this one better

Surely they could have done something suitably respectful while remaining open?

Turned Cafe Rouge into Cafe Noir.

Popped in some dye so everyone went down the Black Water Rapids.

Can I ask is it a school holiday next week ?
just wondering how so many families with children are booked in

How bizarre. I suppose a fair few staff will suddenly have kids at home to care for, but surely they could just close the restaurants/leisure offerings and have a skeleton security/maintenance team on site.

Just in case it helps anybody in/about to stay at Longleat, the local Travelodges (and the Premier Inns, but there are fewer of these) still seem to have plenty of space for Monday. Not optimal, but I'd be tempted to book a room with a flexible cancellation (and hope that CP see sense).

The zero-hour contracts are the real issue though. If you offer no incentives by increasing pay and just ask people to do differing hours every week, then it is not a surprise if a lot of staff say no way are we coming in on a bank holiday.

There are people arguing on another thread that higher rate taxpayers need more money to convince them to work more hours and work harder. But low wage people are expected to work at will with no extra money.

No it’s term time but you do realise that children also include those younger than school age?

@PersonaNonGarter so do Tesco’s have staff, so do the ambulance service and the police force - just a few people who ARE expected to work and just as important as these staff at Center Parcs! Get a grip seriously! These staff choose to work in hospitality so I’m not sure what they expect and why they should be treated any differently to anyone else who IS working on Monday!

Lots of people with young pre-school children go because it normally represents a hassle free getaway.

Wow that is shocking! I think it’s quite entitled behaviour to disrupt peoples hard earned holidays. Yes I know the queen had died, yes it’s sad, I’d quite like to watch the funeral too but unfortunately I’m a key worker so life goes on as normal for me and many many others.

Someone needs to tweet this thread to the daily mail and copy in centre parks so they pick up the whole discussion.

That's the problem with a lot of the knee jerk reactions, I would be willing to bet that if HM had a say she wouldn't want some decisons, cancelling the Last Night of the Proms for instance was crazy. There must be some half-way house, stay open, close facilities for a few hours to allow guests and staff to watch the funeral, maybe set up some big screens, often watching in a large group is better than being stuck in a lodge.
Places should be making decisions suitable for their circunstances even Sandringham has the coffee shop open, despite its website saying everything except the loos are closed!

This is bonkers. Why can’t their facilities just close/reduce services cancel all fun for the hours of the main funeral service?

I feel like many places are so afraid of bad PR on social media that they are just making decisions to get approval, rather than anything that’s best for their customers (who won’t all want to stay indoors and watch the funeral, especially pre schoolers in the case of Center Parcs guests at this time of year).

Agreed! There’s also forms you can fill out on the main national newspapers’ websites to do anonymous tip-offs, if anyone wants to do that too.

@justaladyLOL what are the doctors/nurses/ambulance/fire service/ police and not to mention shop workers (Tesco’s still not confirmed if they will close, not to mention other) supposed to do then.. are they not allowed to watch it either?

the world can’t stop turning for one day and if you’re going to expect EVERYONE to have a fair chance to watch the funeral that really should mean everyone! Of course that’s not possible, people are well within their rights to want to enjoy their hard earned week off at CP if that’s what they wish to do - some of those people worked damn hard in Covid times to make sure this country ran!

ridiculous comment

Yep it looks MSM has just started to report on this:

www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/center-parcs-guests-furious-villages-7580347

agree.

Seems like the maddest business decision since the Ratner prawn sandwich debacle.
In what way is this a proportionate response ?