FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I just got one of those “Sorry for your inconvenience but we cancelled your two-room reservation…” letters from the GM of Embassy Suites in Seaside today. I made reservations in August 2004 but they wanted to put us up in Scotts Valley 40 miles away! So I called to scream at him and when explained that we sponsor several factory racers and will be working the event he put me on hold. After several minutes of what I expect was “Uh oh, how do I deal with this” etc, etc, he came back on to say they will, in fact, have the rooms for me. He said they cancelled my rooms because they didn’t have my contact info. I said “So how did I get this letter if you don’t have my contact info?”. Pause. “Well, we didn’t have your phone number”. I told him to fax me a signed letter by the end of the business day today confirming my rooms. I just got it. So this makes me wonder what would happen if I was just Joe Motorcyclist coming to see the races and not an industry person there to provide vital support to our factory racers. I am sure, at best, I’d be staying 40 miles away. But I would “..be able to enjoy all the amenities the hotel has to offer”. Like a free breakfast I wouldn’t be able to eat because I would have to wake up at 5am every day to get to the track! I look forward to my 2-free-nights stay coupon arrival! Donny Schmidt Race Tech/Dealer Support Suomy USA 800.524.9938 x103 www.suomy-usa.com FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I am so glad to see that Roadracingworld.com has brought attention to the deliberate price gouging and overbooking during the bike racing events. Last year I booked with Expedia at the Vagabond in Salinas for 118.00 a night only to be told the rate was 198.00 when I arrived. Unfortunately I did not have the print out from Expedia with me and got screwed paying the difference. The unbelievable part is the same room is 78.00 a night on all other days. This year it went up to 246.00 a night! Hopefully this fiasco will not continue in the future. Rob Graham Fairfield, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: What have you found out about the Hotel stuff going on in Monterey? I had reservations at the Embassy and got the boot. I’m curious if you have heard of any recourse that is being taken by people that had cancellations. What ever came of the TV station deal? Thanks Todd Fenton Attack Kawasaki Santa Fe Springs, California Check out this post: ~https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=23302~ FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: Dear Road Racing World: I am one of the many people who had their long standing room reservations cancelled, mine by the Hyatt Regency. On June 15 I received a phone call from a Ruben Chavez of the Hyatt Regency Monterey during which he politely informed me: “We’re sorry Mr. Bourgoin, we made a mistake and overbooked the hotel and we are unable to honor your reservation at this time. However, we have made reservations for you at the Hyatt San Jose, 70 miles away . . .” I explained to them that this was unacceptable and that I made my reservation on August 20, 2004, that I confirmed it several times over the last 10 months and most recently with confirmations emailed to me by the Hyatt on March 24th, 2005. Regardless, they basically said “we’re sorry, but you can stay at the Hyatt in San Jose, and we will pay for your stay in San Jose”. They also told me that the reason they were sending people to San Jose is they were unable to locate any rooms in the surrounding area. I told them that was unacceptable and would be pursuing legal action if they tried to cancel my reservation. I asked for the name of the hotel manager and the hotel revenue manager and told them they would be hearing from me. As soon as I got off the phone, I called Monterey Peninsula Services. Amazingly enough they were able to confirm two double rooms and one single room for me at the Best Western Beach Dunes in Marina, 8 miles up the road (there are 5 of us riding down from Seattle). I booked the rooms, and spoke that evening with the manager of the Best Western to confirm and double confirm. I received an email confirmation from the Best Western and I felt better about having a backup plan in place. However the cost of those rooms is $325/night for the doubles and $350/night for the single. The rooms at the Hyatt were booked at a rate of $231 per night. I called the Hyatt back and without going too much detail, came to an agreement whereby the Hyatt would pay an amount equal to what I would have spent with the Hyatt on rooms + tax. I received the check last Friday and we will use this to offset the costs at the Best Western. So while its not as nice as the Hyatt, its close, its decent , and its on the beach. All in all our group didn’t end up in as bad a situation as some folks. We were at least able to get rooms nearby and we were able to get the Hyatt to compensate us. Still, pretty badly botched up situation. Dan Bourgoin Sammamish, Washington