Canadian couple has a beef with Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro

[suarezn]

In this case the price went from $1,256 plus airfare down to $628 and some people wonder why there was outrage?
Some of the demands were even more outrageous, plus the threats.

These pricks would make the tourist taxi mafia blush.

All of the hotels have been paid but the common theme for a few is, "We would never go back!!". :tired:

Hey BTW this happened to the tourists in Mexico NOT in The DR, so please let's not mix things up here.

Below is part of the article since apparently you didn't read it.

Toronto native Lindsay Watson was vacationing with her friend, Luther Mallory, in Cancun, Mexico, when she received a letter under her hotel room door Wednesday night. The letter told her that she was expected to pay $1,256 for her stay at the hotel, plus airfare, before checking out.

Watson and Mallory immediately approached the hotel manager.

"He told us that if we didn't pay the full amount that he would call the cops and we would go to jail," said Watson, 22, a guest at the Golden Parnassus hotel.

Watson and Mallory then did what any responsible Canadian vacationing outside Canada would do: they called the Canadian consulate in Cancun to ask for advice and assistance. The response?

"They said `We suggest you pay the amount and just do what they say.' The woman we spoke to even said she didn't know anything about Mexican law," said Watson, who arrived home early yesterday. "They were absolutely no help."

On Thursday morning, Watson said, when about 50 Conquest customers had gathered in the hotel lobby, police and security guards arrived to prevent anyone from leaving. Some guests said their luggage and passports were taken away and they were told they couldn't get them back unless they paid thousands of dollars.

Watson and Mallory ended up paying $628 after negotiating with the manager, who they said constantly changed his story as to why guests couldn't leave the hotel.

Notice they did the same thing in Mexico. Not just to a couple but to about 50 people whom security would not let leave the hotel without payment. So even though you want to paint it as a Dominican thing this happened all over the world and everywhere guests were required to pay before they left.

 

[PICHARDO]

Pichardo,

Stop twisting posters words around to try to prove your point.
Stop the oh poor me, all Dominicans are being attacked, to deflect the behaviour of the staff of this resort.
And no the same scenario has not happened all over the world.
(PM me this Cuba story link you talked about. I googled it and cant find anything like you describe.)

"We have just been told here in cuba at the hotel Oasis that either pay for the 2 days we have been here by tonight or to get out, either pay or get out is what we have been told they don't care one way or another. Conquest is the tour company and the Cuban Goverment sent a letter to the hotels to collect the payment from the guest NOW. The goverment has stated that they have not recievd any payment for the rooms and we are now responsible for the entire cost?? We don't know what to do now?" ? caribean011

"My niece went threw Conquest Vacations and she is in cuba right now she said that the hotel made her pay another $600.00 and now she is scared she might not get home .can they do that?" ? leebee25

Your Best Stuff: Your Stories: Conquest Vacations shuts down

Sorry Robert!!! SOOOOOOO SORRY! But can't help it like this!

No one called the Dominican culture tiguere. But is there a tiguere culture in the DR that is even evident in the government? Ask the famous and very popular Dominican Nuria to answer that question.

Are you kidding me? Was that their real response?
. blah, blah, blah...

And regarding their threatened lawsuit against the couple.... I say let them try that scare tactic. See that tiguere culture again. Trying to bully people, again are they? Hmmmm!

blah, blah, blah...

Many posters who live and have lived in the DR are not surprised by the poor customer service these tourists experienced.

Where do you leave your super praised Cuban tourism's super educated never will do such a thing??????

Why because it happens too often, and they know this from personal experience.
But next winter when people are trying to find reviews on which resort to stay in, out of the hundreds, and this story comes up in a google search. They just might decide to skip this one, because hey people are not looking for stress on a stress free vacation. Why take the chance.

 

[PICHARDO]

Lots of people with the same problems reporting in the points where Conquest partnered with the local industry there in:

Britain, Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Central America, United States, Europe and the Caribbean (including here the DR).

In each of the places listed above (Europe means the EU) there are stranded clients facing the exact same hard tactics by hotel operators...

 

[IslandDreaming]

Twist it, bend it, spin it..doesn't matter

Bottom line is the headlines Canadians AND Americans will recall is" Guest held hostage, prevented from leaving Dominican Republic at gunpoint over Hotel bill"

Details don't matter, travelers won't seek the details, they will simply buy a vacation in a country where they feel comfortable, NOT the DR or Mexico

 

[Conchman]

To be a crime there has to be intent. There was no intent by these tourist.

Kevin

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. "I didn't know that weed was illegal here" is not a defense!

 

[Thandie]

Pichardo,

I see no where in those stories you posted that armed guards, blocking entrances and threats of police and jail were used.
Asking them to pay and using threats of possible violence are 2 completely different situations.

 

[Malibook]

Hey BTW this happened to the tourists in Mexico NOT in The DR, so please let's not mix things up here.

So even though you want to paint it as a Dominican thing this happened all over the world and everywhere guests were required to pay before they left.

I know that example was from Mexico.
Pichardo is the one who put it here and I simply used it as an example of the over-billing issue.

I am not trying to paint this as a Dominican thing.
This is DR1.

This is a Conquest collapse thing but some of the resorts, guests, and TICO leave much to be desired.

 

[Malibook]

In each of the places listed above (Europe means the EU) there are stranded clients facing the exact same hard tactics by hotel operators...

TICO contacted and paid several resorts directly.
For all we know some may have been contacted but refused to co-operate.

In any case, people were upset at being required to pay but the outrage is directed at the few places where over-billing and threats were involved.

 

[Malibook]

In each of the places listed above (Europe means the EU) there are stranded clients facing the exact same hard tactics by hotel operators...

The problems stem from Conquest Vacations Inc. suddenly shutting down its operations on Wednesday due to a decline in travel bookings because of the economy.
Afterwards, Canadian travellers said hotel management at some resorts were demanding they pay for their room and board, even though the tourists had already given Conquest the money.
On Friday, a Canadian foreign affairs spokesman emphasized that most hotels affected by Conquest's closure haven't been asking for more money.
"We have apprised local authorities of this situation and of complaints that Canadians are being threatened," said Andre Lemay in a statement emailed to The Canadian Press.
"They are taking our concerns seriously. Already today we have witnessed a marked change in the number of Canadian" problems being reported.

Still, stories continued to be reported to the offices of Richard Vanderlubbe, president of travel booking agency Trip Central in Hamilton, Ont.
He said one of his clients was being asked to pay an extra US$8,900 for a hotel in Mexico to compensate for Conquest's failure to pay the bill.
Vanderlubbe said he was telling clients to either refuse to pay the fees or negotiate their room price lower.
"This is a contract between one business and another, and if that particular business - being the hotel - decided to extend credit to a tour operator it's their problem, not our customer's problem," he said.
Vanderlubbe also said that his business, which sold Conquest's vacation packages, has also lost out on sales commissions it's owed through the sale of the company's holiday deals.
Vanderlubbe said he fired off a terse letter to hotel managers he believes have been inflating the amount from a cheaper package deal through Conquest.

However, changes appeared to be making their way to some hotels, including the Oasis Cancun in Mexico, according to a spokesman.
Enrique Klein, who represents Oasis hotels, said the company is trying to notify all customers that they will be given a discounted rate that is slightly below what Conquest would've paid.
On Thursday, Seepersaud said that managers threatened to call police if she didn't pay.
Klein said it is "possible" such words were said "not only at Oasis but at any other property."
But he said the hotel never sent anyone to jail and never had any guests detained.
"We actually had people who left the property without paying and we are in no position to hold them hostage," Klein said in a phone interview from Atlanta.
"We did not create this situation, and just as the customers, are victims."
"We're in the same boat because we'll have a substantial amount of money that will not be recouped from Conquest."
He said travellers already at their Oasis hotels will be given a 40 per cent discount on their rooms, or refund the difference.
Klein is also offering them a complimentary return stay at an Oasis hotel for the same number of nights with the same number of people.
:classic: This is someone who knows about customer service, public relations, business sense, and not-so-common sense.

CityNews.ca - Toronto's News: Canadian Travellers Continue To Dispute Resort Bills After Conquest Folds

 

[Robert]

Klein is also offering them a complimentary return stay at an Oasis hotel for the same number of nights with the same number of people.

This is someone who knows about customer service, public relations, business sense, and not-so-common sense.

It's good to see a hotel representative that get's it!
Same position as everyone else, but they did the right thing.

This is about customer service, retaining business and improving the reputation of local tourism for all involved.

Consumers have many options and these types of bull headed reactions effect everyone in the industry, not just the specific hotel.

 

[Thandie]

Yes it hurts everyone in the industry!
How many unhappy vacationers didnt end up taking that safari tour or some other tour because either they were afraid or too ****ed to do business with someone else on the island.... or were spending their time worrying about if they would have enough money to just pay the hotel room, an unexpected cost, much less the extras people usally spend on a vacation, gifts, alcohol, food.
Because they were not allowed to leave the resort how many small local businesses lost income? The street vendors, taxis, tour guides, ice cream shops, the coconut vendor, mom and pop trinket stores, restautants, etc.?

 

[wuarhat]

A hollow promise.

In this case the price went from $1,256 plus airfare down to $628 and some people wonder why there was outrage?
Some of the demands were even more outrageous, plus the threats.

These pricks would make the tourist taxi mafia blush.

All of the hotels have been paid but the common theme for a few is, "We would never go back!!". :tired:

That's what outspoken fans critical of the MLB and NFL strikes claimed also.

 

[Malibook]

An illogical comparison

That's what outspoken fans critical of the MLB and NFL strikes claimed also.

Those fans have 1 team.

Outraged tourists have several hundreds of options and can easily avoid a particular resort.

Unfortunately, the damage won't be contained to a particular resort.

Some people will avoid the resort, town, and country. :ermm:

 

[Tamborista]

Those fans have 1 team.

Outraged tourists have several hundreds of options and can easily avoid a particular resort.

Unfortunately, the damage won't be contained to a particular resort.

Some people will avoid the resort, town, and country. :ermm:

Hasn't this horse been beaten to death enough?

 

[Malibook]

Hasn't this horse been beaten to death enough?

Si, closed.

 

[wuarhat]

That'll be the day!

Are you kidding me? Was that their real response?
Yup typical everyone elses fault except the Dominicans!
No sense of reality, not an ounce of common sense.

Do you think it is ok to tell someone at the time of check out that they have to pay, when up until that point they were prepaid and owed no money to the resort. Whenever I have checked into a hotel the staff inform me of ALL fees so I am informed.
This couple was not the only one treated that way at the resort.
As they stated there were other tourists that they said they left in the resort who were in the same predicament and treated the same as them. They have witnesses.

And regarding their threatened lawsuit against the couple.... I say let them try that scare tactic. See that tiguere culture again. Trying to bully people, again are they? Hmmmm! Now the couples story holds more weight. Thanks for sharing that story. Tell them as you say this is Canada and not the developing DR. That does not work here.
If they do that TRUST me when I say every Canadian,
30+ million of us strong, will be on the side of that couple.
We will fundraise for their legal fund, protest, march, force our politicans to act on their behalf, it will be plastered all over the media, you name it we will do it. And the world will be on our side. Dont forget us Canadians are loved all over the world and are known for being nice, polite, gentle people. How many millions have Canadians donated to charitable causes to help the DR. Countless Canadian charities presently helping Dominicans. That resort management has some nerve!!
That nasty little resort would have a zero occupancy rate in minutes!!!!!
And the Dr tourism would be ruined beyond repair.

If people were not angered and disgusted by the resorts actions before, I guarantee they will be now, after this threatened law suit.

Maybe tomorrow I should call our National news, to call the resort owners to speak to these accusations of a threatened law suit you have made.

I only wish I could live as long as it took for the day to come that 30+ million strong and relatively comfortably people got off their dead asses in support of a moron who started a crusade over his right not to pay his hotel bill.

The only bully here is the ex-russian cop, who when he found out he wasn't tough enough, came home and cried to the local charlatan rag, which would print anything to sell a couple of papers.

 

[Thandie]

The only bully here is the ex-russian cop...

Not sure why you and others in this thread, felt it was important to refer to this Canadian man, exclusively as some Russian?
A large percentage of Canadians are immigrants or children of immigrants, but they are no less Canadian. So what was your point in isolating his heritage? Hmmm?

And obviously my point about 30million was an exhaggeration....
I was responding to Perchardo post that I suspect had its own usual 'exhaggerations'....of 'You know I spoke to this high profile insider who is related to the president, so I am in the know and so connected' lol
But if you have read and heard the outrage of many Canadians
in the press, on blogs, etc. who are upset and shocked about such treatment you would know that stories like this are way out of our "comfort zone" and therefore are not forgotten that easily.
Because you are right Canadians are relatively comfortable people, who are paying for a vacation (with hard earned dollars or even going into debt) so we can be even more comfortable ,and are not use to this kind of 'spice' one poster thinks we might like.

But in any business knowing and understanding and catering to the needs of your target market is the key to success.
Gouging and threatening your customers is not smart business, especially when people have so many other choices.
Bell Canada has learned that lesson well, now that it has competition and is literally begging for customers to return. To late!

 

[Malibook]

I only wish I could live as long as it took for the day to come that 30+ million strong and relatively comfortably people got off their dead asses in support of a moron who started a crusade over his right not to pay his hotel bill.

The only bully here is the ex-russian cop, who when he found out he wasn't tough enough, came home and cried to the local charlatan rag, which would print anything to sell a couple of papers.

All this fuss caused by one guy and one reporter.

 

[pedrochemical]

The tourists had to pay twice?
That is wrong.
I would be upset too if it happened to me.
Why should it be the responsibility of any tourist to pay twice?

The hotel should have done due dilligence on Conquest.
Maybe the hotel should have got the money from Conquest before they delivered the goods?
By choosing not to,the hotel effectively gave Conquest credit and got burned.
I am sorry about that, but they are in the travel business.
They should take more care.
Then they transfer their mistake onto the tourists?
That is just silly.

Perhaps they will have learned their lesson. Get the money before you hand over the goods.
Do the hotel not have insurance?

I would not have paid again.
I would not have gone to jail and I would have not have lost any sleep about it.

The hotel's beef should have been with Conquest, not with the innocent tourists who had already paid their bill.

I am sorry these tourists did not tell the scurrilous hotel to bash it up the jacksie.
Duh!

 

[wuarhat]

That's mighty translucent of you.

Not sure why you and others in this thread, felt it was important to refer to this Canadian man, exclusively as some Russian?
A large percentage of Canadians are immigrants or children of immigrants, but they are no less Canadian. So what was your point in isolating his heritage? Hmmm?

All of the travellers were Canadian. You might notice that the first words in my sentence were "The only", which indicates that I wanted to single out one individual. I can't speak for others since I haven't read the posts you refer to, but, for me, I find it quite effective when I want to discuss an individual to use unique facts about that person to describe them. By the way, the description I used was "the ex-russian cop" not "some Russian". I don't like one bit what you appear to be trying to imply, but if you want to hide behind veiled suggestions I can't respond to it directly.