St. James Hotel -Didn't stay there and already not impressed

Being from the area and getting married in Red Wing this fall I made reservations for a block of rooms at the St. James. Now months later after the block has been reserved, our guests have started to call to book and no record of the reservation has been found. I called the person in chage of bookings and the entire hotel has been taken due to a convention. I still have the message on my phone confirming our reservations. Looks to me as if they had the opportunity to bump me for a soldout night and they did. Not a good representation of customer service on there part - not trying to fix their mistake or notifying me of the incident.

St. James Hotel -Didn't stay there and already not impressed

If not already post in a review. That%26#39;s where most people look for feedback on a specific place. Also might also get a public response from the management.

St. James Hotel -Didn't stay there and already not impressed

I would agree to be sure to do a review of the hotel in the normal review place, that is where people will be more likely to look for this kind of information.

Did you do any type of written confirmation for your block of rooms, or just a verbal agreement? If you did a written agreement, I would look for clauses regarding cancellation. In my former life as a sales manager for a hotel, we commonly had a cancellation clause, that frankly went both ways. If you cancelled your entire block of rooms, we could have a preset compensation for holding rooms out of inventory and then losing revenue, and conversely if we cancelled a block on you, you could expect a preset compensation.

If you only have the phone message, (and want the block at the hotel), you could try calling or going to the hotel and ask for the General Manager. You could calmly but firmly make your point that you have the phone message and say that you do expect the hotel to honor its commitment. If that does not bring results, you can always mention that you could file a complaint with the various Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Bureaus they are ';proud members of'; (go to their website under their ';about us'; portion).

Ultimately, without a written legal contract you may not actually get the rooms (and it may be more trouble than just finding another hotel), but at least you will have made your point, and if you bring enough financial problem, that is the strongest objection and vote you can make as a consumer.

Consider checking out a bed and breakfast and having your family stay there. Support a well run business!

I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Red Wing.... mmmm it was really nice! I think it was the Golden Lantern. I am sure you could rent out a whole house and have gift opening and breakfast there on Sun.