Games Restricting Travel to DR

Today we just had a potential guest cancel her plans for a short stay at our hotel in mid-August. When she tried to get a flight into Sto Dgo via American Air, her flight reservation was denied. It seems that AA has restricted incoming flights due to the games. The guest did not say what the restriction was but that she could not book tickets on any available flights.

She also read the State Department Travel Advisory Warning for potential violence and disturbances during the games and that didn't help,...it scared the bejesus out of her.

I wonder how many of us hoteliers are going to be affected like this with the games right in the middle of our mini summer season (which isn't all that good this year anyway)? The games bringing us business? They're already running it away. Perhaps we should add our lost revenues to the cost of the games for the true picture of what this is really costing us.

I don't think this guest was trying to weasel out of coming. As you can see from a portion of last her email (after a flurry of mails back and forth making all arrangements with us) that I've posted below, she was unable to secure her flight on the 14th coming in from the northeast (and not Miami).

The state department warning has already been discussed here on the forum and this is just another concrete example of how something as trivial as a standard travel disclaimer affects us. When the world sneezes the DR gets pneumonia.

Portion of Guest's message: "I was in the process of booking my flight to come. After selecting my flights and preparing to purchase tickets - a message came up stating that a ticket could not be processed and to choose another destination. I decided to call directly to reserve my flight. However, the airlines have restricted travel, but the agent could not tell me why. I investigated further and learned about the games you mentioned. An online Washington AFP article from July 3 states that the US State department has alerted travelers about security precautions and unrest that may take place during the games. Several warnings were given to travelers during the times of the games. I can't even make an airline reservation. I was getting very excited about this trip and looking forward to coming. I will have to change my plans. Thank you so much for all of your help."

I can only report what a guest tells me. And having been in this business for a while, I've kinda learned who's BSing and who's not. I tend to believe her. Of course I could be wrong, but since you're in Canada and I'm down here in the boonies in the DR you probably know better than I.