Terrible experience!!!!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 06/12/07
Where do I begin?!!! When booking my party for my grandson's commuinion, at first seemed very good. It did not take long for the problems to start. There was a misunderstanding regarding the size of the room and seating. I was very clear that I wanted to split the tables by the dance floor and told Jerry (Manager of banquets)I do not work there, nor was it explained that you had to have 100 people to have the whole ball room. When I received my seating chart (3 days before the party) I saw that I only had 3/4 of the room and all the tables were packed into one area. I was very upset so I had my daughter call to clear things up. After speaking with a Manager of the restuarant, she was told to speak to James Saloczy(GM). Instead of making waves, I was able to work it out, so not to cause problems for Jerry. The night of the party, the food was great but they ran out out the pasta and chicken and we had to wait 20mins. before the cheif made more. That was horrible, hungry guests were going back to their seats thinking that was it and some did go back up after but most did not!!! Then, the buffet table was broken down at 9:00pm, the dessert was only put out at 8pm, and the food and dessert were being broken down at 9PM. I was also told by the GM, James Saloczy, that I was lying about the time, I have video with the time on it and I am willing to provide this to show anyone. The center pieces on the tables were even taken off and my guests thought the party was over(the party was supposed be until 10pm but at 9-9:15 my guests began to leave thinking the party was near the end because the tables were cleaned off). While the DJ did the electric slide, the waitresses were going across the middle of the dance floor, so he had to stop the music. I'm sure hot food and water going across the dance floor is some kind of safety issue. Plus, besides the guests thinking the party was over, when the dessert was served they came around with coffee, no one was offered seconds and if you wanted hot tea, you had to track down your waitress and then was given your tea. One person, my niece, waited for 1hr. (9pm) until she received her tea. Remember, dessert was served at 8PM and tea at 9pm. This was an embarrassment and anyone looking to book a party, should rethink the Holiday Inn of Carteret. Also, after having my daughter contact the General Manager again, James Saloczy, he told her he would look into the issues we told him about and get back to her. Instead he had Geraldine contact her and ask how everything turned out. I explained the issues above and she said "ok, I just wanted your input". Then, James Saloczy called my daughter and told her I was very happy with the party and my daughter seemed to be the only one unhappy. He also went on to tell her that he was secretly listening to the phone conversation that I had early with Geraldine and I was never told he was on the line. What kind of business operates like this???? My daughter told him she wanted him to explain this to me and called me on three way, he called us liers and was yelling at us on the phone, I asked him for his bosses name and number and he refused and told us "TO TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSWHERE" I was never so shocked in my life. We have had plenty of parties here and NEVER were we spoken to like that!!!! Terrible General Management. I plan to go all the way to the owner to inform him how his GM talks to people and sends his busines away!!!
