HoJo discount rates - BIG CHANGES!!

[MommyLove]

This is pretty big news for people who have been enjoying the HoJo 50% discount Entertainment rates for years. Here's the scoop. (And because I've seen links to HoJo's site allowed before, I'm going to assume that's still allowed and will include links.) Here we go:

with the Entertainment Card:
*You can get 10% off rack rates all the time.
*Or, you can check their Entertainment/Retro rate post (the one we've all been using) to check for special dates when you can get 20% using the Entertainment Card.

with a Disneyland Annual Pass:
*20% off all the time.
*30% off with the "Retro Annual Pass Rate". Check HERE for the dates.

the Super Family Rate:
*This is how to get the 50% off that we used to get via the previous Entertainment/Retro program. To get "up to 50% off", you have to wait for them to email out the special deal. So, you have to put yourself on their email list. There is a new post on their website here about the Super Family Rate.
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Aug 10, 2012 update:
Per an email sent from HoJo to people on the mailing list, they asked for profiles to be updated to include first and last names. Then, there are some new rules to be able to use the Super Family Discount rates:

* In order to receive the SUPER Family Rate discount, you must present a printout of the email at check-in. The email must show your name and the travel dates that you reserved.

* Name on reservation must match name on the email printout.

* Open dates will only be sent out via official HoJo email notification. Dates posted on 3rd party sites are not valid and will not be honored.

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[MommyLove]

So... some of my thoughts. To me, it looks like they will still be offering 50% off rates, we'll just be finding out about it in a different way. Hopefully the "up to 50% off" wording is not a sign that a full 50% off will be rare. I'm sure they still want to achieve maximum occupancy and are experimenting a bit. I'm also noticing the 30-day cancellation policy for the Super Family Rate. Since cancellations were the reason they changed the discounts, this isn't surprising me.

Also, I'm glad to see that I won't have to bother with the silly Entertainment card. We'll either use AP discounts, or the Super Family discounts (which don't require any pass or card). I will say, that unless we get really good rates, we won't choose HoJo. For example (and as I mentioned in the other thread)... since our family has expanded since the last time we got to vacation at Disneyland three years ago, it's pushed us over the edge into needing something more than just a two-bed room. Since we have little ones and a double stroller, we want to stay within walking distance (taking ART with a stroller... no thanks) so we can easily go back to the room mid-day and nap. The 50% rate at $129 for the Kids Suite at HoJo is a great deal. But the two-queen-plus-bunk suite at Park Vue is a great option too. It's so close to DL and they have the breakfast... two huge pluses for us. When we compare Park Vue's suite price (in October we're getting 4 nights at $128 and 2 nights at $148) with the 20% off rate of $159-$183 at HoJo... well, in that case, we would choose Park Vue.

So bottom line... if we can get the 50% rate at HoJo's, we will stay there. If not, we're likely going to opt for elsewhere.

For our family, we bought PAP's so that we could have a "year of Disney" and we hope to go as many times during that year (starting in October) as possible. If I got an email from HoJo with 50% off rates, we would try to go during those dates. Even if we weren't planning to go then. And even a last minute offer if it worked out with my husband's work, the kids' school, etc.

I think it will be interesting to see how the emailed offers compare with the previous discount program.

 

[MommyLove]

Regarding reservations made with the previous retro rate, as Raphael from in-house reservations told me on the phone yesterday, YES, they will still honor those.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Would you mind explaining more about how cancellations made them change the discounts? Were people booking the retro rates and then cancelling in too-large numbers, after HoJo had denied rooms at those rates to others because they thought they had a sufficient number of bookings?

 

[MommyLove]

Would you mind explaining more about how cancellations made them change the discounts? Were people booking the retro rates and then cancelling in too-large numbers, after HoJo had denied rooms at those rates to others because they thought they had a sufficient number of bookings?

I don't really know much more than just the bit that Raphael told me... that they cancelled that program "about two or three weeks ago" because there were too many cancellations.

Maybe someone from HoJo will jump in and give us some more input.

 

[bigblock]

Thanks for the info, we love staying at HoJos.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I don't really know much more than just the bit that Raphael told me... that they cancelled that program "about two or three weeks ago" because there were too many cancellations.

Maybe someone from HoJo will jump in and give us some more input.

first of all I didnt know Rafael had moved over to in house...he was a front desk manager for a long time...2nd of all I am having a hard time believing that the reason they gave up the 50% is due to too many people cancelling...if that was true then dates would continuously be opening up instead of being N/A altogether...and if you see the actual discounts now compared to what they were in the past, it leads me to think that its just because they dont need to sell rooms anymore...too many people were coming there and they are doing very well financially...if you are getting a lot of turnaround then you give additional incentives NOT up the rates and get rid of the best promo any hotel down there has ever had....

 

[skiingfast]

I don't really know much more than just the bit that Raphael told me... that they cancelled that program "about two or three weeks ago" because there were too many cancellations.

Another black mark against Hojo. Sounds like a half truth to me trying to cover for their lack of discounts.

I am not sure when maybe 6-10 months ago Hojo changed its policy for the retro rates making them non cancelable. Thier reasoning was because people were squatting on the retro dates when there was no penalty to cancel them. So they were making it hard for other to get the rates.

Now what Hojo is doing is screwing thier customers. Instead of guests choosing when they can stay, they take away the choice and tell guest when they can come.

Sure it's probably because they are less reliant on filling rooms with discounts, but in the end bad customer service.

 

[MommyLove]

My thoughts in red:

Another black mark against Hojo. Sounds like a half truth to me trying to cover for their lack of discounts.
"Another" black mark? What are the other ones? So I'm taking it you're not a HoJo fan.

I am not sure when maybe 6-10 months ago Hojo changed its policy for the retro rates making them non cancelable.
The reservations were always cancelable, you were just charged for one night if you didn't cancel within their terms. Which, as I recall, was only a penalty if all the nights were at the retro rate and you cancelled with less than 48 hours of your first night. Something like that. Now, if you get a Super Family Rate, the policy changes to a cancellation policy of 30 days. This makes sense if there were too many cancelations with the old discount rate program. I'm sure it's hard for a hotel to fill rooms within 48 hours. Much easier to fill if they have at least 30 days notice.

Now what Hojo is doing is screwing thier customers. Instead of guests choosing when they can stay, they take away the choice and tell guest when they can come.
I don't see it this way. They were always the ones to decide when the 50% off rates were available. Now they're just letting us know in a different way. Instead of it being posted online, they send out emails to inform those who are on the email list. I actually kind of like this. I don't have to keep checking... they'll just email me. What remains to be seen is how often they're going to be offering these deals and if they're going to be a full 50% off.

Sure it's probably because they are less reliant on filling rooms with discounts, but in the end bad customer service.
Having a varying price structure isn't bad "customer service". It's supply and demand. If they can fill all their rooms at rack rate, then will. If not, they will offer discounts. I'm not happy about possibly not getting rooms at the same price I used to. But I don't begrudge them for this new change or consider it bad customer service.

 

[MommyLove]

My thoughts in red:

first of all I didnt know Rafael had moved over to in house...he was a front desk manager for a long time...
Sorry... I asked for in-house reservations and Raphael is who I talked with on the phone. I don't actually know his position in the company.

2nd of all I am having a hard time believing that the reason they gave up the 50% is due to too many people cancelling...if that was true then dates would continuously be opening up instead of being N/A altogether...
It remains to be seen if they're actually not going to give 50% off discounts. The Super Family Rate says it goes "up to 50%" off. I'm curious to see what the offers will be. As far as the cancellations... I'm guessing it was difficult to fill rooms when they got short notice of cancellations. I'm having a hard time coming up with a different reason for the changes other than too many people canceling.

and if you see the actual discounts now compared to what they were in the past, it leads me to think that its just because they dont need to sell rooms anymore...too many people were coming there and they are doing very well financially...if you are getting a lot of turnaround then you give additional incentives NOT up the rates and get rid of the best promo any hotel down there has ever had....
Ya, I think if a hotel can sell rooms for maximum price, they WILL. It's surprising to me to see how much the Disneyland Hotel is now compared to what we payed when we last stayed there. But they must be able to sell rooms at those prices! I think the HoJo 30% off for AP'rs for certain dates is kind of an interesting twist... maybe they're going to try some more moderate discounting to fill rooms before they go to the 50% off. It will be interesting to watch how this develops.

 

[skiingfast]

I liked the Hojo but they have made things worse and worse and worse for thier fans. They have not been open and honest with us. That's why it's just another negative against them.


If you had been checking the availability rates it would be obvious that if they had too many cancellations they figured out a way for it not to be a problem. In the last few months they had been using lots of last minute Retro Rates. Apparently offering last minute rates for repeat customers wasn't good neough for them.


Signing up for email list is not so they can alert you, it's a way for companies to advertise to you. I don't need more spam in my inbox.

Hojo's ratings are slowly dropping. I think the reason is many guests who got retro rates gave it great reviews. Without the retro rates reality of what the hotel is is showing through. It's a basic old hotel much like the rest of Harbor.

 

[limace]

I know it's blasphemous to say this, but I've always thought of the Hojo as kinda meh. The pool is great, that's for sure. Other than that, it's a little farther than I'd prefer to walk, the rooms are fine, the service is fine-nothing spectacular. And if you're normally tied to only vacationing on school holidays like we are, the retro rate was never available.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

My thoughts in red:It remains to be seen if they're actually not going to give 50% off discounts. The Super Family Rate says it goes "up to 50%" off. I'm curious to see what the offers will be. As far as the cancellations... I'm guessing it was difficult to fill rooms when they got short notice of cancellations. I'm having a hard time coming up with a different reason for the changes other than too many people canceling.

i can tell you when they are going to offer it...during offpeak season when not a lot of things are going on...ie mid jan-feb and mid to end of sept and possibly Nov. after veterans day for a couple weeks at the most...its not going to be during summer, Oct, nor spring break when a lot of people really could use the 50% off...and I completely disagree with your thoughts on them having a hard time filling rooms with short notices...for years Ive been hearing people say on here that they tried to get a retro rate and a couple of their days werent available and they called every day to check and see if anything came up...plus, I know that hojo reps belong to this message board and could easily put in something that they are adding dates because frankly I feel the majority of the people they have gotten to get them to where they are are from this board and then word of mouth from them to other people..i am really disappointed in hojo and their lack of loyalty to the people who have stood by them and gone there for years even when it was still not as nice as it is now...

I liked the Hojo but they have made things worse and worse and worse for thier fans. They have not been open and honest with us. That's why it's just another negative against them.


If you had been checking the availability rates it would be obvious that if they had too many cancellations they figured out a way for it not to be a problem. In the last few months they had been using lots of last minute Retro Rates. Apparently offering last minute rates for repeat customers wasn't good neough for them.


Signing up for email list is not so they can alert you, it's a way for companies to advertise to you. I don't need more spam in my inbox.

Hojo's ratings are slowly dropping. I think the reason is many guests who got retro rates gave it great reviews. Without the retro rates reality of what the hotel is is showing through. It's a basic old hotel much like the rest of Harbor.

my sentiments exactly and Ive noticed the ratings dropping myself...watch and see now that they've done this how many people start looking elsewhere...

I know it's blasphemous to say this, but I've always thought of the Hojo as kinda meh. The pool is great, that's for sure. Other than that, it's a little farther than I'd prefer to walk, the rooms are fine, the service is fine-nothing spectacular. And if you're normally tied to only vacationing on school holidays like we are, the retro rate was never available.

I liked bldg 2 but not fond of bldg1 and i would NEVER stay in bldg 3 or 4 EVER...every time ive ever walked by there it smelled like old carpet or something

 

[kirstie101]

For us this doesn't change munch. I really like the Hojo but it isn't the only hotel we stay at as the retro rates usually werent available for our dates anyway. Historically I've been able to get cheaper rates by sharing a suite with my mom over at DI&S. I'll contine to do what I've always done, which is check rates at all the walking distance hotels that I like and then I'll book at the cheapest one. Most likely that wont be Hojo's which is too bad.
Hojo's will remain my preferred hotel and I'll book there when the price is comparable to the other motels I like.

And honestly I dont blame Hojo's for ending this program. In a lot of ways it was too good to be true. I mean come on, the weekend before Christmas I got a room on a friday and saturday night for $59 a night. Thats pretty unbelievable. Dont get me wrong, I loved the rate and I will miss the rate but you had to know it couldn't last forever.

 

[BayAreaMom]

I absolutely LOVE HoJos and this policy change won't affect that. For our family it is a MUCH nicer experience than other motels on Harbor (we have stayed at PVI and Desert Inn & Suites and were really disappointed).

We will not take our business elsewhere because: we love the interior halls and landscaped garden setting, we feel safe, we love the free ample parking, we love the pools/sprayground, we love the KIDS suite!

We have stayed at HoJos 5 times between 9/2011 & 6/2012. Only a few (1 or 2) of these stays were Retro Rates. We did get a 20% AP discount- this helps a lot and I hope they continue to offer this because this to me is much more valuable than the Retro Rates. We make our reservations up to 12 months out and don't have much flexibility- if somehow it works out to get a >20% discount, great, otherwise we are happy with 20%.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i havent used hojo in while but the non canclebule thing made me stop useing them, these other things are just downers now but hay ill check others first before hojos from now on tho this oct is last one for while

 

[NVDisMom]

plus, I know that hojo reps belong to this message board and could easily put in something that they are adding dates because frankly I feel the majority of the people they have gotten to get them to where they are are from this board and then word of mouth from them to other people..

My thoughts exactly. What are they going to do when so many of us from this board a)stop booking rooms b)no longer recommend it here or to our friends and family and c)honestly evaluate it at full rack rates? I have taken many trips with friends and family and stayed there in multiple rooms (and always at a discount). Without the discount the property isn't worth it IMO. I'll stay at CCI where I get breakfast and a shuttle for $40 less a night. Or at Anaheim Plaza for the same rate as HOJO's previous retro rates. Or directly across the street at one of the suitable motels there. The only thing they have going for them now that they are primarily a rack rate property is their indoor corridors.

I don't begrudge HOJO for their decision. Its a business decision, albeit one that I believe will back fire once occupancy rates settle down after the Carsland grand opening chills out. I think THAT is when we start seeing emails in our inboxes begging us to come stay at the lower rates. But by then I will have probably spammed them and have found a new go to place.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

For our family it is a MUCH nicer experience than other motels on Harbor (we have stayed at PVI and Desert Inn & Suites and were really disappointed).

hey I would love hojo too after staying at PVI and DI&S...but Im not talking about places that..FFI, BWPPI, CCI, Hilton, Sheraton, Red Lion, all these places are very compatible pricewise with Hojo and offer A LOT more than hojo does...in fact, most of them offer better things and frankly I think even with the 20% discount, the rates for BWPPI are way better, its closer than hojo and the amenities are better...

I don't begrudge HOJO for their decision. Its a business decision, albeit one that I believe will back fire once occupancy rates settle down after the Carsland grand opening chills out. I think THAT is when we start seeing emails in our inboxes begging us to come stay at the lower rates. But by then I will have probably spammed them and have found a new go to place.

Exactly!

 

[kkmcan]

We love hojos and have used the retro rate so many times! We love the interior hallways, the luxurious beds and bedding, the room size and the fact that it is walkable, albeit a little farther than those other ones on harbor.

We also found it to be super quiet. Never heard our neighbors or outside noises.

 

[hojogm]

Well, we knew there would be a lot of questions about the changes to our discount programs, so here are the facts…

Why change the discount programs?
We realize these discount programs were extremely popular with our Hojo and Disneyland fans. In fact, the discount codes were so popular that they ended up on all sorts of discount pages around the internet. We needed a way to connect directly with our loyal fans, and to reward them with special deals. Our subscription email lists allow us to connect with our fans and offer the right information to the right folks at the right time.

Why do we offer discounts?
Discounts are used for various reasons. Sometimes, we allow deep discounts early to build a small base of business for a day. Other times, it is to fill up the last remaining rooms for a day. Mostly, these deep discounts are viewed as a reward to those who are repeat customers, such as AP holders. Much like a loyalty program with retailers, our new “Super Family” discounts are targeted to Disney Fans who stay with us often. Using our email list allows us to communicate directly to those folks. Registered users can “opt-in” to receive only specific updates (AP holders, last-minute deals, etc), and we will not bombard users with unwanted updates. We are working with the Howard Johnson reservations system to hopefully offer the “Super Family” rate more often, but with a limited number of rooms, on a first-come-first-served basis. So, you can see the email notifications will be the quickest way to get your notifications.

Entertainment Discount
It seemed silly to us to require folks to buy an Entertainment Book (even on EBay) in order to get a discount. We recommend subscribing to our email program to get notified of other discounts. We will now offer the “Super Family” 50% off rate, along with length of stay discounts up to 30% which don’t require a “membership” or Disney AP.

What else is changing at Hojo’s?
We are re-investing in big ways, right now. We are installing 275 37” LED flatscreen televisions for our guest rooms, in addition to HD service with more family programming. We have completed renovations in about half of the 94 Pavilion building rooms (Standard Double rooms) so far. They are receiving new carpet, bright and fresh paint, Mary Blair Small World artwork, and updated lighting and bathrooms. They are actually some of our best looking rooms, now! We’ll post new photos on our blog page soon.

I believe that our product, including great service, premium beds, premium coffee, new larger HD televisions, Castaway Cove and pools, Main St. Market convenience store, new gameroom, Mimi’s Café, etc. is a great value and experience (even at our regular rates) compared to our neighboring hotels, and is a “Super” bargain when you can get it at all at 30%- 50% off!

Jonathan
GM