Fashion Uniforms

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because:at many other Hotel I have stayed at, have best rate guarantee the manager would adjust the price if you tell them at the front desk the price on *** .com when the price was lowerThe manager told at the other Hotels it was a common courtesy and it's the right thing to do, When a hotel has hidden sale price and do not extended to customer as especially when a customer as knowledge of the sale and tell the front desk THIS IS NOT BEST RATE GUARANTEE AS THEY WANT US TO BELIEVE.
Regards,
*** ***

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because:It does not explain why for months we were told to move forward with our tax exempt paperwork and plans at the direction of the hotel, only to have it reversed AFTER the fact. No apology for this incorrect information was ever given and they were not "patient" with us. It also does not appear as though this has been passed along to the accounting department for the hotel
Regards,
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Yes, we asked for the tax exemption paperwork this group claimed to have to review it but we never guaranteed that the group would be tax exempt. I thought we had apologized for any communication issues but if we did not, I am truly sorry for any communication error in letting the group know that the regulations of the Virginia tax code are inflexible and your organization is not tax exempt for non tangible purchases which includes hotel room rental. Our standard practice is to tell all groups that it is unlikely that they will qualify for tax exemption but frequently that is not what the contact wants to hear so we offer to look at their paperwork but we still bill them for the tax as we did with this group. As I have stated before, the groups exemption for tangible personal property does not apply to hotel room rental, it is valid for the purchase of tangible property which would be something you can pickup and take away with your or a meal that you eat. This is the Virginia tax code and is not in our control. I have no other answer to give and there will be no refund of the tax on the rooms for this group. Scott M***, General Manager

Choice Hotels does have a best rate guarantee but as with any guarantee, there are requirements which are that the reservation must be booked in advance and within 24 hours of booking the reservation proof must be provided to the Choice Central Reservations team that a lower rate exists which...

must be verified prior to arrival at a hotel.  The rate guarantee program is administered by the Choice Hotels central reservations staff who can be contacted through the 800 reservation number or online through the ChoiceHotels.com web site.[redacted] came to our hotel with no reservation and asked for a room.  We gave him a senior citizen rate of $113.05 + tax for a total of $128.20.  We do not price match on line rates when the guest has no advance reservation and we have no obligation to do so.  If a guest sees a better rate online we suggest they should book it that way as frankly, the rate usually does not exist or has restrictions.  I am sorry that the gentleman feels we should have lowered our rate but he had the option to go to another hotel and he decided to stay the night at the rate we quoted.Bottom line, he did not make an advance reservation and provide proof of a lower rate being available within 24 hours of the booking so we will not refund any amount because no refund is warranted.Scott M[redacted]General ManagerComfort Inn & Suites, Alexandria, VA

The Commonwealth of Virginia allows tax exempt status to many groups for the purchase of tangible personal property which would include office supplies, food, a meal in a restaurant or anything else that is a physical product.  Rental of a hotel room in not a tangible item, it is the use of a...

space for a period of time.  In general only travelers from the federal government who have their lodging paid directly by the government, foreign travelers with a diplomatic tax exemption and a few organizations that receive a letter of exemption from the Virginia legislature can get tax exemption on intangible items like the rental of a hotel room.  This group just does not qualify.Our sales team tried to be patient with this group and asked them to send us what documentation they had and they sent us a form that was for tax exemption on the purchase of tangible personal property only.  So, again, this group does not qualify for tax exempt status on their hotel stay.  We tried to tell them this multiple times but they just don't like the answer.  Being in the customer service business we try not to tell no but in this case the answer no.Scott M[redacted]General Manager