Agreed
I have traveled extensively for the over the last 10 years for the companies that I have worked for. Every now and then, there are last minute travel changes, corporate travel agencies to deal with, lost confirmation numbers, etc.
In this instance, I flew home sick. I had a fever and my tongue was so swollen, I could barely even talk to the gate agent at LAX. The travel agency was supposed to cancel the reservation, and for whatever reason, it was not.
I am a "platinum" member of the Holiday Inn network's reward program, so I have had to have my share of stays across the nation with this chain. This franchise refused to credit my account for the night that I was charged for the missed cancellation. NEVER when I had any problem like this in the past has the hotel not issued a credit. NEVER.
Yes, I know. There are policy statements for specific incidents like this. However, it is management discretion to override these types of issues. I know Sheraton used to try to charge for changing reservations and leaving early, and even that was taken care in the past in my travels if you have shown some loyalty. Do these issues happen frequently, no. Only several times in all my years of travel has this happened.
So please, beware. This may be a Holiday Inn Express franchise, but I was not treated as a loyal Holiday Inn or HIE customer. Please don't expect that either.
The next time I am in Tracy, I will make sure that I stay anywhere else, probably at the Hilton Garden Inn with the rest of my co-workers! Maybe there is a reason that for the hundreds of nights our company has paid for in the Tracy area, I was the first one that was actually going to stay there instead of the other accommodations. They must also know something.