A $9.99 Big Screen TV Is Nothing Compared To A $0.01 Hotel Room - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 08-18-2009, 12:25 PM

Aug 15, 2:38 AM EDT

Italian hotel mistakenly offers 1-cent weekend

ROME (AP) -- You had to be quick, but what a deal.

A four-star hotel near Venice mistakenly offered the ultimate low-cost vacation - a romantic weekend in the Italian lagoon city for 1 euro cent.

Not surprisingly, the Crowne Plaza in Quarto D'Altino, 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) from Venice, received bookings for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights on the night the rate was posted on its Web site, the hotel chain acknowledged. And it seems those bookings may be valid.

The hotel first thought the offer was posted by a hacker, sales manager Fulvio Danesin said Friday. But it turned out to be human error at the Atlanta, Georgia, offices of Intercontinental Hotels Group, the hotel's mother company, he said.

The offer was supposed to be for a two-night stay at half price. A night at the 151-room hotel normally costs between euro90 ($128) and euro150 ($214).

The 1-cent rate was up only Sunday night, but that was long enough for travelers to book dates running from October through 2010, Danesin said. The hotel stands to lose euro90,000 ($129,000), he said.

Monica Smith, media relations manager for the hotel group in the U.S. , said Friday that some 228 guests made reservations for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights while the error was on the Web site and that the reservations would be honored.

"Although a pricing error, IHG is committed to honoring the 1-cent rate for guests who have a valid confirmation," Smith said. She added that rooms booked at the low rate "are nontransferable.'

© 2009 The Associated Press.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

catlover79 · 08-18-2009, 01:41 PM

I heard about that last night on our local news. It sure brings a whole new meaning to the the term "cheap quickie"!!

OH Nuts! · 08-18-2009, 01:49 PM

Quick. Call out the typo police. I think they need to be on O/T after all these snafus. Whoever goofed at the hotel chain will likely get a deluxe suite in the DOG HOUSE.

Chocoholic · 08-18-2009, 02:19 PM

Some people need to learn to proofread their work better

catlover79 · 08-18-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

Some people need to learn to proofread their work better

That's the understatement of the year.

Schmoopie · 08-19-2009, 04:01 AM

I wonder how many people thought that they could actually GET a hotel room at that price! I shudder to think!!!

JamesG · 08-19-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I wonder how many people thought that they could actually GET a hotel room at that price! I shudder to think!!!

Well, the lucky folk who made their arrangements on the 1-cent offer got it since the hotel decided to honor it.

08-18-2009, 12:25 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,235	A $9.99 Big Screen TV Is Nothing Compared To A $0.01 Hotel Room Aug 15, 2:38 AM EDT Italian hotel mistakenly offers 1-cent weekend ROME (AP) -- You had to be quick, but what a deal. A four-star hotel near Venice mistakenly offered the ultimate low-cost vacation - a romantic weekend in the Italian lagoon city for 1 euro cent. Not surprisingly, the Crowne Plaza in Quarto D'Altino, 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) from Venice, received bookings for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights on the night the rate was posted on its Web site, the hotel chain acknowledged. And it seems those bookings may be valid. The hotel first thought the offer was posted by a hacker, sales manager Fulvio Danesin said Friday. But it turned out to be human error at the Atlanta, Georgia, offices of Intercontinental Hotels Group, the hotel's mother company, he said. The offer was supposed to be for a two-night stay at half price. A night at the 151-room hotel normally costs between euro90 ($128) and euro150 ($214). The 1-cent rate was up only Sunday night, but that was long enough for travelers to book dates running from October through 2010, Danesin said. The hotel stands to lose euro90,000 ($129,000), he said. Monica Smith, media relations manager for the hotel group in the U.S. , said Friday that some 228 guests made reservations for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights while the error was on the Web site and that the reservations would be honored. "Although a pricing error, IHG is committed to honoring the 1-cent rate for guests who have a valid confirmation," Smith said. She added that rooms booked at the low rate "are nontransferable.' © 2009 The Associated Press. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

08-18-2009, 01:41 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I heard about that last night on our local news. It sure brings a whole new meaning to the the term "cheap quickie"!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-19-2009, 04:01 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I wonder how many people thought that they could actually GET a hotel room at that price! I shudder to think!!!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-18-2009, 01:49 PM	#3
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Quick. Call out the typo police. I think they need to be on O/T after all these snafus. Whoever goofed at the hotel chain will likely get a deluxe suite in the DOG HOUSE.

08-18-2009, 02:19 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Some people need to learn to proofread their work better