Incompetence and Attitude
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 06/04/07
For a year I worked with the Crowne Plaza sales rep to have our wedding guests stay in a pleasant hotel. I wasn't able to give them pleasant because even holding the room block guest list and on-line confirmations many of my family and guests at check-in were told there were no reservations for them. Even when we, the bride and groom, checked in, the suite we were promised was not the one we were given and we had to strongly discuss with staff to get the promised suite provided to us. Additionally, we were told via e-mail and personal visits from us to the sales rep that all attempts would be made to put our block and other guests together. We were spread out over 4 floors.
The guest gift bags weren't given out by the desk clerk because "it isn't in the reservation notes," even though the day before the rep said she would ensure it was done. I told her I was the bride and that was my father and to give him one. She said she has "to check with the manager." I got upset and then she stormed off with my father's credit card and never returned. A manager finally hunted her down and got the card back. Because I was trying to straighten all of this out, I was unable to pick up my wedding dress and had to do it the day of the wedding. Later I was told it was in the notes but after the information about military discounts and the clerk hadn't read everything. I was further told that everything was taken care of, but when I checked in our babysitter her room reservation also did not exist and I had to go up to the suite, in my wedding dress, to get the confirmation sheet.
I strongly suggest that this hotel, while having a pretty lobby, not be the hotel you use for any event. They are incompetent at handling a fundamentally basic and important task of room reservations. My sister, whose room was reserved on-line had been changed by the hotel to have her check-in date 2 days after my wedding!!!! Also, her room was not cleaned one day and upon return from the wedding at midnight, the clerk said, "What do you want me to do about it!?!?"
I spent over $1,500 on my suite ($275/night) and two additional rooms and I received nothing in compensation for this fiasco. Only after I talked to the director of catering about payment of sodas we owed was my complaint heard. She was kind enough to send fruit, crackers, and champagne to us on our honeymoon. It still does not begin to make up for the frustration to my guests and particularly to me on the day before and the day of our wedding. Do not let your perfect day or special event be frustrated by the imcompetence and uncaring attitude of the staff at this Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill. This "hitch" didn't ruin our wedding with all its meaning but it did cause plans to be altered