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Jay
I like a challenge.. then I bought and renovated a B&B in Blackpool. Now I'm challenged! Champion puddle splasher, soup slurper, travel junkie, people watching addict that's a touch eccentric.Keeping it real.
Hi Rgandhmm, I have no clue where in the world you so can't provide any links for retailers. All I can suggest is for you research hotel suppliers for luggage racks and if you find them expensive, there may be outlets online that can offer them more cheaply. OR, I have seen some mats hotels/B&Bs can purchase which can be placed at the end of a bed in readiness for the arrival of guests - to give you an idea, here's a link: https://www.outofeden.co.uk/products/7740-364/luggage-mat-brown
The rooms in my B&B aren't spacious enough to accommodate a luggage rack as such, so the mats are a great alternative to protect bedding. Alternatively, any hardware shop/store will sell cost-effective rubber mats which are a good alternative.
Oh Georgeboujaoude, I laughed so much reading your latter comment about him telling the cleaning girls they would not make a good wife because they can't cook traditional Chinese food LOL!
He sounds a nightmare on the proprietary side, but culturally, I can see why he would have done that.. he was improvising without any thought to the damage he was causing, or the potential fire risk. I love different cultures, all incredible. I come from a background of English, Irish and Russian Jew, but also was raised in different cultures such as middle-eastern and Jamaican/West Indian and Indian so have a very good basic understanding of those cultures. When there's a discourse, it can get pretty heated, very high impassioned ("I will invoke the heavens to blow out your roof!" but, there's no grudge and it's finished ("I see you the same date next month!". When two Westerners argue over something, grudges are held and it's all out war that not even a cup of tea can resolve ;-) I am, of course, joking with that last comment.
Heh Thank you! I absolutely love what I do. Little by little I'm learning as I've never done this previously. I bought a run-down B&B just off the town centre and adore living here. The town is undergoing major regeneration currently, so lots of building works/extension of tram lines, but when works are complete it'll be stunning. I've found being a hotelier incredibly challenging.. I had done a lot of research prior to going into this but nothing prepared me for the realities, particularly as I had to undertake a full renovation of the property prior to opening to the public, which was also terrifying, but as a frequent traveller, I knew what I wanted to achieve and believe I give exceptional value for money, as well as a level of service that is personalised to each guest that stays at my guest house. My friends would definitely consider me challenged, I counter by saying, "I'm eccentric, there's a difference" ;-)
Hi Laura, many thanks for your reply, it's appreciated. I will indeed repost my question in one of those discussion groups.
Hi Michelediazge,
Whenever I have an issue that requires an immediate answer, I telephone BDC and an adviser helps me immediately. There will be a contact number for BDC where you live and if you can't find the one you were provided with when you joined, you'll find a helpful number on this list: https://www.booking.com/content/offices.en-gb.html and someone will guide you from there. When you call, have your property number ready so that you can quote that to the adviser.
Good luck :-)
Jay
Hi Bravorox150, as a fellow 'newbie' to BDC, I appreciate how frustrating it can be initially.
If you log into your Extranet, at the top you'll see 'Inbox', if you click on that it'll be split into two options, Guest Messages, Booking.com Messages. For the latter, you can then send them a message and they aim to get back to you within 24 hours. However, it is quicker to telephone them.
I have no idea which country you're in, but there will be a number for customer services: https://www.booking.com/content/offices.en-gb.html check this link out and look for your relevant country, have your property ID number to hand when you call.
Good luck,
Jay
Oh Frank, that is awful, and a tremendous shame for you. While I take into consideration that people are away and looking for a good time, so perhaps aren't as careful and considerate as they perhaps usually are, I still operate a zero tolerance stance, e.g., if I can prove they've smoked on my premises, they have to leave as I'm not jeopardising my other guests, insurance and fire safety for their feel-good-factor, and I won't be held to ransom by the threat of a negative feedback either, which is why BDC needs to review/upgrade their policies and work at also protecting the hosts who advertise businesses through them.
I'm curious, Frank, as you had x 3 negative reviews from the same guest, why not block them from returning to your property after the first time they engaged in misconduct on in your property, or was that before BDC introduced the Misconduct/Block features?
I do think those of us in this industry are given a rough deal in some respects because we are forced to accept general bad behaviour due to the issue of receiving negative feedback which we can do nothing about, and that needs to change.. So, come on, Booking.com, please revise this procedure and make it more balanced.
Kind regards,
Jay