100% deposit?

[TheBeachHouse]

looking at the website of a place nearby under new management.
Their policy is a 100% deposit for all reservations made online regardless of the length of stay. Cancellations received less than fourteen days prior to arrival will not be refunded.
Hardball.

 

[Morticia]

That seems to be the European model. Do not even THINK about cancelling once rez is made.
But, does that mean if you call the policy is different? Just online reservations?

 

[JBloggs]

It seems like most hotels are trying this on for size as well. It used to be where you had a discount to pay upfront, not they charge you. Yes you can still cancel within their policies, but they charge it all up front. AirBnB does it too.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

That seems to be the European model. Do not even THINK about cancelling once rez is made.
But, does that mean if you call the policy is different? Just online reservations?.

Yes. If you call, it's 100% for a three night holiday or any two night stay, but 50% for all other stays.
Complicated. Plus, why would they incent the guest to call?

 

[Morticia]

That seems to be the European model. Do not even THINK about cancelling once rez is made.
But, does that mean if you call the policy is different? Just online reservations?.

Yes. If you call, it's 100% for a three night holiday or any two night stay, but 50% for all other stays.
Complicated. Plus, why would they incent the guest to call?
.

Screening purposes.
I had to change our policy. It's now $100 regardless how long you're staying. I dont recall what it used to be but Gomez couldn't remember whatever it was.
This is easier all around. Easier to refund. Easier to take the deposit. Some guests who call say it's OK to charge the whole thing in advance. Okey dokey.

 

[GoodScout]

I'm pretty hardball on cancellations. Outside of 30 days, I pretty much let it go. Inside 30 days, there's no refund. I'll give you a gift certificate for the full price of the stay, minus a 10% cancellation fee. That's it.
I probably lose some bookings, but the ones I get always show up. Last year I only had to issue gift certificates three times.

 

[MtnKeeper]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

 

[Jcam]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

for me in the currant climate im moving towards at least a small non refundable deposit as am sick to the back teeth of place holders or late cancellations where you are left scrambling at the last minute - usually get resold but means pontially staying in all day in case of a walk in when you could have had the time off.

 

[Morticia]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14.

It's all about location. We have places in town where the cancellation period is 72 hours. We're 7 days. We used to be 14 days but I got tired of people screaming at me on the phone. I think we're the only place that charges a cancellation fee. But, as I like to say, our cancellations have dropped from 10% to 1%.

 

[Morticia]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

That's what I was thinking. They are based in Portland. I'm glad they bought the place. If they hadn't, it probably would have been converted to condos. I don't want all the inns in town to disappear. I think we need each other.

 

[OnTheShore]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

That's what I was thinking. They are based in Portland. I'm glad they bought the place. If they hadn't, it probably would have been converted to condos. I don't want all the inns in town to disappear. I think we need each other.
.

Interesting. I know one of the higher-ups in that company... really nice guy (at least in the context in which I know him). And yes, all of their other properties are in Maine except for one in Vermont. Hopefully, Beachie, they will do well in your area!
edit to add: our own policy is 25% to confirm a reservation, non-refundable (unless we succeed in renting to someone else).

 

[TheBeachHouse]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

That's what I was thinking. They are based in Portland. I'm glad they bought the place. If they hadn't, it probably would have been converted to condos. I don't want all the inns in town to disappear. I think we need each other.
.

Interesting. I know one of the higher-ups in that company... really nice guy (at least in the context in which I know him). And yes, all of their other properties are in Maine except for one in Vermont. Hopefully, Beachie, they will do well in your area!
edit to add: our own policy is 25% to confirm a reservation, non-refundable (unless we succeed in renting to someone else).
.

If it's the same company, they now have one in Mass. Grand opening is tomorrow!

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Our policy is 1 night 100% deposit, 2 or more nights 50%. I just upped the cx fee from $25 to $30. 10 day cx period. If they cx within the 10 days, they are responsible for all nights of reservation.
We're rural so we don't get walk-ins and we need to protect ourselves from those that are 'room holders'.

 

[Silverspoon]

There are a few smaller B&Bs in the area that follow the no-refund-pay-total-in-advance policy but that would seriously hurt our reservations for sure.
We have tried to reach a balance between serious intent and punitive. Keeping in mind that we do not accept credit cards, we require a 50% (for reservations of more than 4 nights) or two night deposit. 30 day cancellation period with $25 cancellation fee. Under 30 we refund if we can rebook. We never accept one night reservations.
Once we cash their deposit check, their money is ours. Most place holders will think twice before writing a check and hoping for a refund from us. We rarely get cancellations.

 

[Aussie Innkeeper]

That would never work here. Too strict. Guests have over 150 B&B's to choose from. They'd just go somewhere else.

 

[JBloggs]

That would never work here. Too strict. Guests have over 150 B&B's to choose from. They'd just go somewhere else..

That would never work here. Too strict. Guests have over 150 B&B's to choose from. They'd just go somewhere else.

Or those who do not have 150 B&B's to choose from, they'd just go somewhere else. Agreed.
We are not offering them the world on a plate, even so I would not want to make the policies too prohibitive, and as Silvers said, punitive.
The policies need to be guest friendly, not innkeeper friendly. None of us is in this for the tea and cookies, all of us want reservations and work hard to get them. Every lost booking cost all of us. Unless you have them lining up down the street, most of us don't, but some of us maybe do, then we have to work with the guests.
If everything changes overnight in our industry, then we need to consider changing too, we have to roll with the punches. It seems like more and more are charging it all up front, and it makes it hard. I have people call near on every day to make sure we don't do this, the extra phone calls are getting old.
But to end this, to each his own, if it works for you it may not work for me but you are there, and you know how to run your business. I am just providing feedback from where I stand.
In other news a Mom called who booked a wedding night here for her daughter and son in law as our place looked so romantic compared to all the others. Wow, that was so nice to hear. I inquired about their wedding too, they hired an officiant and are going to stand near the lake to get married, so we were looked at, but not what they wanted.
This is why we are so wonderful, we are all different. But we can still see what works and doesn't, that is how we all learn on this forum, so thank you to everyone who contributes!

 

[OnTheShore]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

That's what I was thinking. They are based in Portland. I'm glad they bought the place. If they hadn't, it probably would have been converted to condos. I don't want all the inns in town to disappear. I think we need each other.
.

Interesting. I know one of the higher-ups in that company... really nice guy (at least in the context in which I know him). And yes, all of their other properties are in Maine except for one in Vermont. Hopefully, Beachie, they will do well in your area!
edit to add: our own policy is 25% to confirm a reservation, non-refundable (unless we succeed in renting to someone else).
.

If it's the same company, they now have one in Mass. Grand opening is tomorrow!
.

Yes, it is the same company, so yes, they now have a property in Mass, too

 

[Lee2014]

This is typical for remote locations -- we stayed in Jackson Hole one winter and it was 50% at time of booking and the balance was charged at 30 days out. I believe there are a couple places in Maine that do this as well since their season is so short they really can't be having last minute cancellations. I'd never go this route but hubby wants me to up cancellation fee to $35 and cancellation period to 21 days rather than 14..

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.
.

The company that bought the place is based in Maine. Makes sense.

Ah, 'company'. So maybe they have places in Maine where that is their standard policy.

That's what I was thinking. They are based in Portland. I'm glad they bought the place. If they hadn't, it probably would have been converted to condos. I don't want all the inns in town to disappear. I think we need each other.
.

Interesting. I know one of the higher-ups in that company... really nice guy (at least in the context in which I know him). And yes, all of their other properties are in Maine except for one in Vermont. Hopefully, Beachie, they will do well in your area!
edit to add: our own policy is 25% to confirm a reservation, non-refundable (unless we succeed in renting to someone else).
.

If it's the same company, they now have one in Mass. Grand opening is tomorrow!
.

If it's the same company, they now have one in Mass. Grand opening is tomorrow!

Are you going?