Hotel Has Stolen Our Christmas Party

eyeinthesky

Hi, I work for a retail store, and we had arranged for a Christmas dinner and disco at a local hotel on 18 December. A deposit was paid initially, followed by the balance based on final numbers. On the day of the party, the weather was treacherous, with icy roads and public transport cancellations, and the assistant manager, who had made the arrangements, contacted the hotel and asked about postponing the event. The hotel said it would be fine and re-scheduled the party for 22 January. The hotel were contacted on saturday, and asked how much would be owed if we added some more guests to the final number. The response was that the full amount of £25 per person was due, as the money previously paid had been forfeited, due to the event being cancelled. We had not been informed that we would lose any monies paid, as in that case, the party would have gone ahead and only those who could not get there would have lost out. Would we really have agreed to lose the £850 already paid, and then pay again to have a party in the same place? The retail staff are mostly part time workers, and cannot afford to lose this money. The hotel would probably have incurred some costs, but surely not enough to justify the whole amount?

Sagz_2

Do you have any details in writting? or are there any terms and conditions on their website?

whitewing

What method of payment did you use?

'Postpone' to me means delay to a later date not cancel.

What happens if you decide not to pay again for this one? Will they charge you again if the party doesn't go ahead?

Has your store got a solicitor that you can refer this too? Sounds like you need some fast action here.

.

gordikin

I do have concerns when I see 'staff can't afford to lose this money'. Why ? It's a social night out thhat has been cancelled...nobody has been injured or died? A number of poorly paid staff have missed out I agree...but come on...it aint a biggie?...DISCUSS?

paddyrg

It comes down to a "she said he said...", how do you prove whoever dealt with it didn't cancel and say "we'll have another one in January"? Ask the hotel to meet you halfway, maybe. They lost out on all the bar revenue last time, but had spent all their staff/hire/dj fees etc by then. So suggest it would be good business goodwill to meet you partway, maybe based on a minimum bar spend or something? I think both sides will benefit from compromise

whitewing

I would pay £25 to go to a staff Xmas meal to be 'friendly', but I wouldn't pay £50 (£25 for the meal that didn't happen; £25 for this week's) as that is a lot of money to me that I would rather spend on my family.

If the staff refuse to pay the extra at such short notice anyway, who does become liable? The company if the hotel won't budge?

Looking more to me that the hotel is in the wrong if they haven't already sorted out the cost at this late stage.

wacko911

Thats what the deposit is for and you expect to loose the deposit. I refuse to pay the balance until the event takes place. This encourages good food & good service, otherwise they have your money and treat you like s£$%^ and serve you reheated tripe.

System

The party was postponed on the day of the function? I would see such short notice as cancellation rather than postponement I would say that the hotel are within their rights to expect you to pay again. They have already paid out for the food, preparation and staff for the function. Why do you think that doing all that cost nothing and they should lay on your party again for nothing?

eyeinthesky

Thank you all for your replies. All we had from the hotel was a leaflet and this stated that a deposit was required, £200, and the balance to be paid 1 week prior to the function. Everything was dealt with by telephone. We do understand that the hotel has incurred costs, and fully expected to lose the deposit, but due to the extremely icy/ snowy conditions, they would also have had difficulty in getting staff in, and seemed relieved to postpone.
We have tried to reach a compromise with the hotel, firstly to lose the deposit, then we offered half of the full price, but they refused to budge at all.
Some of our staff, with retail wages being what they are, just cannot to afford to pay twice. £50 is half a weeks wage for many.

whitewing

It looks like to me that your company is going to have to pay it and get into wranglings with the hotel.

Personally, I would keep this from your staff for the moment or half of them will decide not to go anyway.

nexus2011

The whole idea of a deposit in this case is if someone cancels when the room could have gone to someone else regardless of any circumstances.I am amazed you never asked for all this in writing.It is the word of the hotel against your assistant manager.