Why we do not have an availability calendar on-line

[Silverspoon]

Well, in a previous thread you all gave me a piece of your collective mind on the advantages of booking on-line and having an availability calendar on our web site, but today I feel vindicated. An e-mail inquiry came in from a woman who is eloping in May but wants to celebrate with a few couples in July. She wants to reserve both suites in the main house for 3 nights for her friends and 5 nights in the cottage for herself and new hubby. Now you all may think this is grand but we do not. We do have availability but want no part in her gathering. We do not host groups of 3 couples, nor do we want anything to do with weddings or wedding celebrations.
Additionally she says, "We’d also appreciate any suggestions you have as to how to make our gathering personal and relaxed. We will definitely enjoy the walking trails and rent or bring our bikes. We also would love to explore kayaking! In addition, we are tossing about the idea of having a casual dinner the Sat. eve. of our stay, in which case we likely would have another 6 guests join us. Is that something you could host/we could cater on-site – a simple, relaxed dinner (BBQ, clambake, for example) for no more than 10, 12 max? We could certainly all meet at a restaurant, but the patio, the view and the gardens just beckon for a casual celebration dinner with our friends. It would be just perfect."
So she wants a nice wedding celebration, using our personal private space for a clambake for 12. I don't think so. I nicely responded that we would be happy to host two adults for a week in the cottage but that we could not host her friends or her lovely party. I suggested another local inn, which is larger, has more common area and is equipped to meet her needs. I congratulated her and sent her on her way.
In her next e-mail she threatened to write nasty things on the internet about us...we were her first choice, the perfect place for her party and she was greatly disappointed. A while later she wrote back with a nicer response thanking us for the reply. I can only imagine the headaches we would have had if we had on-line booking and had to confront her upon arrival. I feel like we dodge a bullet and escaped a major PITA.

 

[egoodell]

Well, in a previous thread you all gave me a piece of your collective mind on the advantages of booking on-line and having an availability calendar on our web site, but today I feel vindicated. An e-mail inquiry came in from a woman who is eloping in May but wants to celebrate with a few couples in July. She wants to reserve both suites in the main house for 3 nights for her friends and 5 nights in the cottage for herself and new hubby. Now you all may think this is grand but we do not. We do have availability but want no part in her gathering. We do not host groups of 3 couples, nor do we want anything to do with weddings or wedding celebrations.
Additionally she says, "We’d also appreciate any suggestions you have as to how to make our gathering personal and relaxed. We will definitely enjoy the walking trails and rent or bring our bikes. We also would love to explore kayaking! In addition, we are tossing about the idea of having a casual dinner the Sat. eve. of our stay, in which case we likely would have another 6 guests join us. Is that something you could host/we could cater on-site – a simple, relaxed dinner (BBQ, clambake, for example) for no more than 10, 12 max? We could certainly all meet at a restaurant, but the patio, the view and the gardens just beckon for a casual celebration dinner with our friends. It would be just perfect."
So she wants a nice wedding celebration, using our personal private space for a clambake for 12. I don't think so. I nicely responded that we would be happy to host two adults for a week in the cottage but that we could not host her friends or her lovely party. I suggested another local inn, which is larger, has more common area and is equipped to meet her needs. I congratulated her and sent her on her way.
In her next e-mail she threatened to write nasty things on the internet about us...we were her first choice, the perfect place for her party and she was greatly disappointed. A while later she wrote back with a nicer response thanking us for the reply. I can only imagine the headaches we would have had if we had on-line booking and had to confront her upon arrival. I feel like we dodge a bullet and escaped a major PITA.

This is exactly why we don't take REAL TIME calendar reservations. Should I have received this inquiry I would have done the same - sent her an email explaining that we could not take her booking as we could not accommodate groups or group functions.
Same thing - except with online booking REQUESTS I can take bookings as well as screen out the ones I don't want.
RIki

 

[Madeleine]

When we get this sort of inquiry it is never from the booking calendar, it is always via a phone call. Mostly because the guest realizes she will have to give me her cc info for all of the room nights and no one wants to take that chance.
AND, most importantly, groups want discounts or other special perks.
I know you're explaining why you like doing things the way you do. Having the online calendar does not present a problem for us with this kind of situation. (It may for others who do all of their booking online, tho!)
You could have found yourself with the same thing by each of them reserving the rooms by calling you individually. And I'd be on the watch for that if you've got a bridezilla on the line.

 

[JBloggs]

Silvers, come on now this has nothing to do with online reservations. All of us get these sorts of calls and inquiries.
I have to say the online bookings are the ones that are NOT this way, they always call and email a dozen times. Sorry you had to deal with her, she is emotional at being told no.

 

[Aussie Innkeeper]

I've had guests sit at my breakfast table and tell me that the will NOT stay at a B&B that doesn't have on-line reservations. The younger set, especially, simply cannot believe that there are establishments that will not give them the tools they need to 'do it themselves'.

 

[Joey Camb]

Its the reason in my booking system I only have 1 room set up as a twin so it keeps out stag and hen doo's this means when a twin booking comes in I move it to a zip and link room which again means a 1 twin is showing. Also just becuase you have online avaliability doesn't mean you have to show everything all the time I know plenty of people who only put 2 rooms on and as they sell put on another one etc means they have the advantage of online booking, prevention of over booking and screening out of groups. It just depends on what you want to show and what software you are using.

 

[JBloggs]

I guess it has been a while since anyone has considered partying at this old girl, perhaps there is something to all those doilies afterall.

Actually I had a mother pleading with me for her daughter to wed in our gardens on Christmas or NY's Eve. I told her there aren't any gardens in December. She was adamant and very pushy. I said we can host them here for the wedding night. "Oh no they are staying at the hawly-day inn for that, they got a good rate."
She even called back after being told no once, to convince me how nice it would be. no, again.

 

[Madeleine]

I guess it has been a while since anyone has considered partying at this old girl, perhaps there is something to all those doilies afterall.

Actually I had a mother pleading with me for her daughter to wed in our gardens on Christmas or NY's Eve. I told her there aren't any gardens in December. She was adamant and very pushy. I said we can host them here for the wedding night. "Oh no they are staying at the hawly-day inn for that, they got a good rate."
She even called back after being told no once, to convince me how nice it would be. no, again..

That is just so annoying obnoxious.

 

[Hillbilly]

Silvers, come on now this has nothing to do with online reservations. All of us get these sorts of calls and inquiries.
I have to say the online bookings are the ones that are NOT this way, they always call and email a dozen times. Sorry you had to deal with her, she is emotional at being told no..

Agree!........ It should make you feel good she wanted to enjoy your place that much! I see $$$$$. Should of givin her a crazy price.

 

[Hillbilly]

Well, in a previous thread you all gave me a piece of your collective mind on the advantages of booking on-line and having an availability calendar on our web site, but today I feel vindicated. An e-mail inquiry came in from a woman who is eloping in May but wants to celebrate with a few couples in July. She wants to reserve both suites in the main house for 3 nights for her friends and 5 nights in the cottage for herself and new hubby. Now you all may think this is grand but we do not. We do have availability but want no part in her gathering. We do not host groups of 3 couples, nor do we want anything to do with weddings or wedding celebrations.
Additionally she says, "We’d also appreciate any suggestions you have as to how to make our gathering personal and relaxed. We will definitely enjoy the walking trails and rent or bring our bikes. We also would love to explore kayaking! In addition, we are tossing about the idea of having a casual dinner the Sat. eve. of our stay, in which case we likely would have another 6 guests join us. Is that something you could host/we could cater on-site – a simple, relaxed dinner (BBQ, clambake, for example) for no more than 10, 12 max? We could certainly all meet at a restaurant, but the patio, the view and the gardens just beckon for a casual celebration dinner with our friends. It would be just perfect."
So she wants a nice wedding celebration, using our personal private space for a clambake for 12. I don't think so. I nicely responded that we would be happy to host two adults for a week in the cottage but that we could not host her friends or her lovely party. I suggested another local inn, which is larger, has more common area and is equipped to meet her needs. I congratulated her and sent her on her way.
In her next e-mail she threatened to write nasty things on the internet about us...we were her first choice, the perfect place for her party and she was greatly disappointed. A while later she wrote back with a nicer response thanking us for the reply. I can only imagine the headaches we would have had if we had on-line booking and had to confront her upon arrival. I feel like we dodge a bullet and escaped a major PITA.

This is exactly why we don't take REAL TIME calendar reservations. Should I have received this inquiry I would have done the same - sent her an email explaining that we could not take her booking as we could not accommodate groups or group functions.
Same thing - except with online booking REQUESTS I can take bookings as well as screen out the ones I don't want.
RIki.

Just wondering! have you ever thought about this from a guests point of view. Would you like to fill out a form and wait a few hours or days to see if what you want is available? Would you stop looking at other properties while you wait? Something to think about.

 

[Happy Keeper]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

 

[Madeleine]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

Nothing wrong with it, we do it too. It's just that she doesn't want groups. Especially not wedding groups given what they then wanted to be able to do on the property. Essentially, host their weding reception for nothing.

 

[Happy Keeper]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

Nothing wrong with it, we do it too. It's just that she doesn't want groups. Especially not wedding groups given what they then wanted to be able to do on the property. Essentially, host their weding reception for nothing.
.

It didn't say for FREE, it said cater- that means MONEY in your pocket.
It didn't say reception, it said three rooms for 11 room nights. Some of the best times at our place are when the guests know each other. Everyone is really relaxed.
Like I said- different strokes for us.

 

[egoodell]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

Nothing wrong with it, we do it too. It's just that she doesn't want groups. Especially not wedding groups given what they then wanted to be able to do on the property. Essentially, host their weding reception for nothing.
.

It didn't say for FREE, it said cater- that means MONEY in your pocket.
It didn't say reception, it said three rooms for 11 room nights. Some of the best times at our place are when the guests know each other. Everyone is really relaxed.
Like I said- different strokes for us.
.

It didn't say for FREE, it said cater- that means MONEY in your pocket.
It didn't say reception, it said three rooms for 11 room nights. Some of the best times at our place are when the guests know each other. Everyone is really relaxed.
Like I said- different strokes for us.

These kinds of requests usually take over the whole inn and if you have any other guests does not work well.
RIki

 

[Madeleine]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

Nothing wrong with it, we do it too. It's just that she doesn't want groups. Especially not wedding groups given what they then wanted to be able to do on the property. Essentially, host their weding reception for nothing.
.

It didn't say for FREE, it said cater- that means MONEY in your pocket.
It didn't say reception, it said three rooms for 11 room nights. Some of the best times at our place are when the guests know each other. Everyone is really relaxed.
Like I said- different strokes for us.
.

She didn't want a reception at first. In the next contact she wanted a private, on site party for an additional group of people. She's getting married + she wants a dinner for extra people = wedding reception. Extra money maybe. A lot of extra work definitely. It's not extra money if you don't have the proper location. They need restrooms for one thing. And the innkeeper needs to be counting noses to be sure the property is not invaded.
And, yes, all those room nights lost. But sometimes having the whole place taken by people who know each means they take over not only the space provided but any space they can get a toe in.
I've never had a single room gang up on me, but I have had 3 rooms traveling together park themselves in the inn kitchen and make snide comments the many, many times I had to tell them to vacate the kitchen. They wanted me then to cook their food for them because I wouldn't let them use the kitchen. 'We'll be in the living room, having our drinks, call us when you're finished.'
See, that sort of thing doesn't happen when it's all strangers, it does when the herd takes over.
If it's never happened to you then you are truly blessed with wonderful guests. We get a different kind of traveler. So, yes, different strokes. Because I am in the same geographic location as the OP, I get what she's talking about. And I know that many areas never see the kinds of guests that we do. Just saying that I understand that 11 room nights from a wedding group would not the best use of my time and resources.
And, she called it right given the response back from the guest threatening to blast her online.

 

[Silverspoon]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

We do accept reservations for 2 couples traveling together but even that can be problematic. Last summer 2 couples traveling together cleared off the desk in the common room and set up a bar that they made good use of for 3 days.

(One of the guest suites has a sitting room with desk that could have been used but they choose to totally take over the house.) They asked for many, many suggestions... from limo service to suggesting an itinerary for their major party night out, and we felt like we were their servants the entire time they were here. Now, I know that I have made a generalization about groups... and we have successfully hosted plenty of couples traveling together as well as family groups (mostly regulars). However, we are FULL all summer...no problem. We do not need to take on additional work..no matter how much $$$ is involved. So if we can eliminate the problem guests, or at least keep the probable PITAs to a minimum, we actually enjoy being innkeepers and have fun with our guests and even, possibly, find that we are looking forward to our 24th year inn keeping.
MY POINT in the original post was that IN THIS CASE, having the ability to screen guests before booking worked in my favor. That's my point and I am sticking to it!
Over and OUT.

 

[Silverspoon]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn.

Nothing wrong with it, we do it too. It's just that she doesn't want groups. Especially not wedding groups given what they then wanted to be able to do on the property. Essentially, host their weding reception for nothing.
.

It didn't say for FREE, it said cater- that means MONEY in your pocket.
It didn't say reception, it said three rooms for 11 room nights. Some of the best times at our place are when the guests know each other. Everyone is really relaxed.
Like I said- different strokes for us.
.

She didn't want a reception at first. In the next contact she wanted a private, on site party for an additional group of people. She's getting married + she wants a dinner for extra people = wedding reception. Extra money maybe. A lot of extra work definitely. It's not extra money if you don't have the proper location. They need restrooms for one thing. And the innkeeper needs to be counting noses to be sure the property is not invaded.
And, yes, all those room nights lost. But sometimes having the whole place taken by people who know each means they take over not only the space provided but any space they can get a toe in.
I've never had a single room gang up on me, but I have had 3 rooms traveling together park themselves in the inn kitchen and make snide comments the many, many times I had to tell them to vacate the kitchen. They wanted me then to cook their food for them because I wouldn't let them use the kitchen. 'We'll be in the living room, having our drinks, call us when you're finished.'
See, that sort of thing doesn't happen when it's all strangers, it does when the herd takes over.
If it's never happened to you then you are truly blessed with wonderful guests. We get a different kind of traveler. So, yes, different strokes. Because I am in the same geographic location as the OP, I get what she's talking about. And I know that many areas never see the kinds of guests that we do. Just saying that I understand that 11 room nights from a wedding group would not the best use of my time and resources.
And, she called it right given the response back from the guest threatening to blast her online.
.

Madeleine, you get it. Thanks for the support. Perhaps it is our geographical location that matters. 99% of our guests are top notch...I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[Madeleine]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

We do accept reservations for 2 couples traveling together but even that can be problematic. Last summer 2 couples traveling together cleared off the desk in the common room and set up a bar that they made good use of for 3 days.

(One of the guest suites has a sitting room with desk that could have been used but they choose to totally take over the house.) They asked for many, many suggestions... from limo service to suggesting an itinerary for their major party night out, and we felt like we were their servants the entire time they were here. Now, I know that I have made a generalization about groups... and we have successfully hosted plenty of couples traveling together as well as family groups (mostly regulars). However, we are FULL all summer...no problem. We do not need to take on additional work..no matter how much $$$ is involved. So if we can eliminate the problem guests, or at least keep the probable PITAs to a minimum, we actually enjoy being innkeepers and have fun with our guests and even, possibly, find that we are looking forward to our 24th year inn keeping.
MY POINT in the original post was that IN THIS CASE, having the ability to screen guests before booking worked in my favor. That's my point and I am sticking to it!
Over and OUT.
.

Have you noticed this with couples traveling together- one couple, or most of the time one spouse of one couple is much, much more work than the other 3 put together? That one person always seems to be coming up with something that is not done quite right? Like it's their party and it's their rep on the line if this is not the best vacation ever?
We've had the same couples year after year and it's the same thing year after year. Enough already. You're all adults. If Couple A doesn't like something let them tell me, not you, oh designated complainer.
I have picked some real doozies when we've traveled with other couples. We all laugh about it and everyone says, 'Do it again Madeleine,' no matter how many times I try to have someone else make the reservations and pick the place.

 

[Happy Keeper]

Hmmm.... Am I the only that didin't see anything unusual about couples traveling together. We get that every so often. Heck - we travel with friends. I guess we are a different sort of inn..

We do accept reservations for 2 couples traveling together but even that can be problematic. Last summer 2 couples traveling together cleared off the desk in the common room and set up a bar that they made good use of for 3 days.

(One of the guest suites has a sitting room with desk that could have been used but they choose to totally take over the house.) They asked for many, many suggestions... from limo service to suggesting an itinerary for their major party night out, and we felt like we were their servants the entire time they were here. Now, I know that I have made a generalization about groups... and we have successfully hosted plenty of couples traveling together as well as family groups (mostly regulars). However, we are FULL all summer...no problem. We do not need to take on additional work..no matter how much $$$ is involved. So if we can eliminate the problem guests, or at least keep the probable PITAs to a minimum, we actually enjoy being innkeepers and have fun with our guests and even, possibly, find that we are looking forward to our 24th year inn keeping.
MY POINT in the original post was that IN THIS CASE, having the ability to screen guests before booking worked in my favor. That's my point and I am sticking to it!
Over and OUT.
.

Now now now Hold on a minute. You have to remember that I've only been doin` this 6 years and I am a long ways behind you on experience and I know nothing about your business. I really was just thinking in very general terms. You've got your routine, it works, you're full during the summer, and you know who your perfect customers are. You deserve a lot of praise for that.
Sticking to what works is what it's all about and (like I was saying in another thread, the industry is so diverse, that no one answer fits any question we might ask.

 

[Copperhead]

Staying on topic here - online availability/reservations. I did not understand your reasoning at first - even with the email you posted here. BUT when you stated that you were already FULL for the summer - 'you don't need the 11 night (pita's)' NOW I get it. You are as busy as you want to be already, people that choose your place are content in calling/emailing. I am so glad it works for you!
Here it would not work, if I did not have online reservations, I would miss a good many bookings to a place that does. BUT, I do have to agree with the others here, people like the one that emailed you are not the type to book online - they call or email. You did dodge a big bullet, have to agree with that.