Actually…neither, get me down! WOW what a weekend! We knew that we were booked solid this Saturday night for a party/group….Cubensis is playing at OC Tavern tonight and they booked up the whole INN other than room number ONE:)-. It is a very rainy day…This morning was a perfect ending to yesterday…and a beginning to today…It makes sense..really!Last night, pretty heavy rains….I checked a fella into room number two, very nice man, had been staying at the shelter…his bike was stolen…such a pity…just so happens, I had an abandoned Shimano mountain bike in my back patio area, so I gave it to him! He booked his room, paid cash, had a credit card for the deposit and truly heard my statement that there was NO smoking in the rooms…so much so that he popped the screen out of the room to come out the window, for a smoke…as he was LOCKED in his room!!!! The deadbolt seized up somehow and he couldn’t get out! This led to me having to go IN through the window…then out…I got his stuff, including his new bike, and sent it through the window…then I got myself out…and man oh man…the bruises on the back of my legs and fanny…I look like I’ve been flogged, Molly…! SOOO, we then move him to room 10 with sincerest apologies, I open the door to the room with the key and moments later, he is knocking on my front door (not the office, my door, he was an observant fellow and figured out our room…) He shouted at me that I had not given him a room key and presented me with the key chain with ring and all, sans key….we still haven’t found it and its really a mystery! I gave him another key, he was very nice….I felt bad this morning with all of the rain, as he wanted to stay another night…but we were sold out (YAY- on the sold out part!) Another guest started chatting with him while he was waiting for his cab…ultimately, the guest in 5 ended up taking Harvey to the bike shop for new tubes…it was all very sweet and gratifying (minus the rolling in and out of the room through the windows…) but Harvey was so thankful for the bike…and later the ride….Happy Holidays!So, this morning…it is RAY….KNEE….ING! room 11 has sprung a leak…perfect timing since the guests JUST checked out…and my owner had JUST driven up! Crisis averted….putting new comforter in 13….housekeeper comes running through the parking lot…Donna, Donna…. (yes, it’s a long A…Dana…but people really do things to my poor, easy, four letter name…anywho…)
The white duvet cover on the bed is fully stained at the bottom corner, another leak…but it must have happened in last weeks rain…mind you, its 12:30 at this time and guests will start checking in at 1….E, the housekeeper, rapidly removes the cover, wash, dry, reapply…and she is out the door with all beds and rooms set by 1:15…still cant make that math work!Did I mention yet that I spent SEVEN hours on the phone with AT&T yesterday to get our internet up????I felt so accomplished when we hung up because we had reconnected me…the CSR even commended me on my learning abilities and suggested that perhaps, if I got tired of the hotel biz….I might want to become a tech for AT&T….seriously@!!! 7 hours of intense phone training…good to know that is an option ;). Imagine my chagrin this morning when the internet was down AGAIN!!!! I went through a lot of the things that we tried yesterday…no luck….oh… do remember…this is the night that I have FIFTEEN reservations and I cannot process credit cards without an internet connection….Ummmm, hmmm…..Okay, so in addition to a few thermostats that seem to have their own agenda…and the gazebo ceiling that wants to cave in from saturation….and me lending a house lamp to a guest, and offering to lend my GPS to another guest…things are mostly smooth this eve….this is THE party spot…the OC Tavern show starts at 9:30…I spied a few dogs in the parking lot and had to invite them to go home….as well as party guests who are not INN guests who are parking in our tiny lot…we had a last minute cancellation…which was unfortunate because I turned away four people today…but I figured, I needed the guest to be part of this group so they didn’t mind that they weren’t going to be sleeping….fortunately, while delivering, my personal, trash can to the party room (oh my, they are NOT smoking cigarettes…but they are Grateful Dead fans…so it did seem they were smoking something else….!!) I was able to re- rent the room, great for the canceller as I let him know that if I was able to re-book, I wouldn’t charge him….YAY…wow, I am so nice!We are on the guest list, invited to the parties and have all access passes…which is funny, because there isn’t much access…hunny cooked us some amazing steaks which led to him taking a nap, after buying a red bull….to get him ready for tonight….Um, I have tried to wake him 3 times…..maybe we won’t make an appearance….OUCH… I just adjusted myself on the seat…oh man, I have B.R.U.I.S.E.S from that darned window sill scoot….oh man….oh man! Hunny is up now, still waiting on one guest with two rooms….oof….Microwave is not working in the gazebo…GFI + Rain….um, well… had to move a micro from one room to another for a guest…did I mention that I caught a few doggies at the party…OMG
Plenty more went on...but I had to step away from the non internet computer! This was Friday and Saturday...tomorrow I will let you know about the check out adventures! Stay dry!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
One, Two, Three...Um, NO!
Holy moly Catwoman....Batman too...This is so interesting...I am amazed a few times a week...again, if they don't ask, they don't know AND well, back in the day...the answer was yes...I have a chore ahead to let the general population know that we are a hip and funky and respectable operation;).
I will say, I am really grateful for our heater...its been chilly! I spend quite a bit of time in the office during the day, it gets good light, has a heater and actually gets some fresh air too!
Okay...so, within two days, I had three people ask for the rate for "two, three and eight hours..." Um, well most people complain that they get a hotel room for less than 24 hours and it seems like a bit of a rip off, with check in at 3 or 4 and check out at 11 or 12...but, no, these folks just need a few hours...My answer each time is the same, "Well our daily rates are great and you can get a single bed for $64 on weekdays and $69 on weekends, and well, you can leave whenever you would like...OMG, I don't need to know what might be going on...people who want to rent during the day are particularly annoyed by my response...I had a gal a few days ago who came by while I was out and hunny called to let me talk to her, it was just after noon and she wanted to pay $40 to have a room from 12-8, "Just to shower"....umm, well, you will be really pruney after an 8 hour shower AND, you will totally run up the water bill! those weren't my comments, but again, what I was thinking...what was funny was her fervor and determination in telling me that the good news was that she would be gone by 8pm on Friday night...um, and that helps me how? the room still needs to be cleaned before someone else can check in...she pushed and pushed and I responded, "Really? Do you want to know how my business works? If so, I can spend the time to explain it, but I will pre-empt with the fact that I cannot rent you a room for a few hours for $40....she got irritated and hung up on me.
What is most interesting is how everyone wants to spend $40 for x hours...is that the going rate at the hourly places? On a slow night, its tempting, just to get $ on the books...however, I am guessing the "by the hour folk" won't refer the folks we are looking for...wow...anywho, I declined the offer on all three...so I guess the lesson is: even if you're looking for the 'by the hour'- ask for the lowest rate for the night....
Other than that, we had a pretty good weekend. I connected with the MGR at OC Tavern and he is up for some cross marketing... that is awesome...AND...we had a few people from Goody's, band mates and their girlfriends and fans, staying over last night. I am encouraging people to review us on travel advisor and yelp..let's hope they do...and its good!
Ciao for now, it's my 'official' night off, steak, spinach, mac n cheese...and going to bed early...HEAVEN!
I will say, I am really grateful for our heater...its been chilly! I spend quite a bit of time in the office during the day, it gets good light, has a heater and actually gets some fresh air too!
Okay...so, within two days, I had three people ask for the rate for "two, three and eight hours..." Um, well most people complain that they get a hotel room for less than 24 hours and it seems like a bit of a rip off, with check in at 3 or 4 and check out at 11 or 12...but, no, these folks just need a few hours...My answer each time is the same, "Well our daily rates are great and you can get a single bed for $64 on weekdays and $69 on weekends, and well, you can leave whenever you would like...OMG, I don't need to know what might be going on...people who want to rent during the day are particularly annoyed by my response...I had a gal a few days ago who came by while I was out and hunny called to let me talk to her, it was just after noon and she wanted to pay $40 to have a room from 12-8, "Just to shower"....umm, well, you will be really pruney after an 8 hour shower AND, you will totally run up the water bill! those weren't my comments, but again, what I was thinking...what was funny was her fervor and determination in telling me that the good news was that she would be gone by 8pm on Friday night...um, and that helps me how? the room still needs to be cleaned before someone else can check in...she pushed and pushed and I responded, "Really? Do you want to know how my business works? If so, I can spend the time to explain it, but I will pre-empt with the fact that I cannot rent you a room for a few hours for $40....she got irritated and hung up on me.
What is most interesting is how everyone wants to spend $40 for x hours...is that the going rate at the hourly places? On a slow night, its tempting, just to get $ on the books...however, I am guessing the "by the hour folk" won't refer the folks we are looking for...wow...anywho, I declined the offer on all three...so I guess the lesson is: even if you're looking for the 'by the hour'- ask for the lowest rate for the night....
Other than that, we had a pretty good weekend. I connected with the MGR at OC Tavern and he is up for some cross marketing... that is awesome...AND...we had a few people from Goody's, band mates and their girlfriends and fans, staying over last night. I am encouraging people to review us on travel advisor and yelp..let's hope they do...and its good!
Ciao for now, it's my 'official' night off, steak, spinach, mac n cheese...and going to bed early...HEAVEN!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Food for thought...Everywhere...
Goodness, I feel like I am part of a subculture, on occasion, now. My empathy has to be outrun by my business sense and responsibility...I will admit, this post isn't funny...so be prepared.
Yesterday, the office was pulled apart, electrical issues being worked out which caused huge dust messes and internet to be down etc...a fella came in just after 4. He was polite and offered his ID and credit card, I would have thought he was homeless, he may be, but he had what he needed to rent a room. He was very kind. I attempted to run his card, but since our internet was down, it wouldn't go through...I called for authorization but our merchant number wasn't registering and they suggested I call the number on the credit card, directly, it was his debit card, the bank wouldn't give me any info, he was so patient. He spoke with the bank, he had used his debit card to withdraw more than $300 that day so they released funds, he got cash and paid for his room. I was emphatic about the no smoking in the rooms, he assured that he would smoke outside....
Oh my, well, I guess he thought I said, "smoke only IN the room and make sure you stay in bed..." There was a half pack of cigarettes in the bed and a full cup of cigarette butts on the side along with a devoured package of cookies, bag of chips, partially consumed sring cheese, chocolate milk, candy bars and an un opened can of chili...it was a lot to take in, he also left his big winter coat on the bed, looked like he slept just under the comforter with his jacket on top of him.
He was a good sport and left his room key, I couldn't bring myself to charge his card for the smoking deposit (sucker..) oof, maybe its my holiday spirit...
I just felt bad for him...
lighter and brighter next time...I promise!
Melancholy tonight because my mister went out to a show that I couldn't go with because I was working...and I didn't have ANY walk-ins and we only have two rooms booked..oh well, at least I wrote a little sad stuff for y'all.
Still thankful for absolutely everything!
Yesterday, the office was pulled apart, electrical issues being worked out which caused huge dust messes and internet to be down etc...a fella came in just after 4. He was polite and offered his ID and credit card, I would have thought he was homeless, he may be, but he had what he needed to rent a room. He was very kind. I attempted to run his card, but since our internet was down, it wouldn't go through...I called for authorization but our merchant number wasn't registering and they suggested I call the number on the credit card, directly, it was his debit card, the bank wouldn't give me any info, he was so patient. He spoke with the bank, he had used his debit card to withdraw more than $300 that day so they released funds, he got cash and paid for his room. I was emphatic about the no smoking in the rooms, he assured that he would smoke outside....
Oh my, well, I guess he thought I said, "smoke only IN the room and make sure you stay in bed..." There was a half pack of cigarettes in the bed and a full cup of cigarette butts on the side along with a devoured package of cookies, bag of chips, partially consumed sring cheese, chocolate milk, candy bars and an un opened can of chili...it was a lot to take in, he also left his big winter coat on the bed, looked like he slept just under the comforter with his jacket on top of him.
He was a good sport and left his room key, I couldn't bring myself to charge his card for the smoking deposit (sucker..) oof, maybe its my holiday spirit...
I just felt bad for him...
lighter and brighter next time...I promise!
Melancholy tonight because my mister went out to a show that I couldn't go with because I was working...and I didn't have ANY walk-ins and we only have two rooms booked..oh well, at least I wrote a little sad stuff for y'all.
Still thankful for absolutely everything!
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