Hojos- has anybody else had this happen?

[dalepool]

I had the same thing happen to me couple of years ago. Yep, the staff knew nothing about the entertainment rate. This happened not once, not two times, but three. I kept being transferred to central reservations. I am thinking now I was just told the reservation was being made with In-House services. When I asked to speak to the manager sure enough I did but it was the central reservation manager. They sure do make you think you are talking to the hotel manager on site. Anyhow I finally saw on Dis to call the direct line. So call direct line to get in house reservations and use 800 for -- hummmm can't think of a reason I would need to call the 800 number.

As a side note, When calling to make a reservation say you are making an entertainment reservation.

I feel for you, as I have been there and done that.



Have a great trip

Patty

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Can't say that I have ever had that problem. I call during their business hours when the in-house team is there.

Was this the website you got the phone number from? http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

Next time call and ask for Lorealle directly. You can also email her.

 

[pixiewings71]

~I called the direct #.

~Asked for "Anahiem In-House Reservations"

~then when they hadn't heard of it, I asked ALL OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO if they were working at the Anaheim hotel itself and they said "yes".


I'm not sure what else I could have done to assure that I was talking to in house reservations.


Like I said... eventually I got the rate, but it was a hassle. It's reassuring to know that this wasn't the norm!! Yeah, I just found it quite odd that they didn't know what I was talking about.

After reading the above posts, I just can't believe now that I was talking to the hotel directly. But I have no idea why they would have lied to me. Also, not sure what else I could have asked/done to make sure I was.


Anyway... no worries. We got our reservation at a great price. I'm just glad this doesn't happen often.

You either called the right HoJo and they sent to the 800 line or you called the wrong HoJo. Sorry, it's happened to me too. Called for the Ent Rate, asked for In House Reservations (asked for Lorealle by name) and the phone rang and rang and rang, then the ring changed and someone picked up, I asked for the Ent Rate and was told it was just 10% off the room, I asked if I was speaking with the HoJo Anaheim In House Reservation team and eventually found out I was not. I hung up and called the HoJo back, got In House that time and made my reservation with no problem at all.

Here's the # for the HoJo Anaheim, make sure you ask for In House Reservations or ask for Lorealle or Jennifer (both are awesome) 714-776-6120. hth!

 

[Hojoanaheim]

After reading the above posts, I just can't believe now that I was talking to the hotel directly. But I have no idea why they would have lied to me. Also, not sure what else I could have asked/done to make sure I was.


Anyway... no worries. We got our reservation at a great price. I'm just glad this doesn't happen often.

Hi PineapplePrincessCA!

Oh boy, I'm so sorry that you had such a rough time getting your ET Rate booked! I promise that everybody who works here at the hotel knows about [and loves!] our ET/AP rates- so I'm 100% positive that you were speaking to someone at the Central Reservations number.

Unfortunately, because the Central Reservations team are handling all of the calls for all of the Howard Johnson properties, there's just no way for them to know all of the information about all of hotels- and that's everything from the different features that each of the properties may have to the varied discounts or special offers that they support. Additionally, they have been instructed by their supervisors to tell callers that they are at the hotel, when they're not. These are just some of the reasons that we always recommend that our guests call us directly and make sure that they ask for In-House Reservations.

I'm so sorry that you had to endure all of that- but I'm VERY glad to hear that you were able to get the rate and that you'll be staying with us after all! If you'd like to email me your confirmation number and dates of stay at lorealle.bishop@hojoanaheim.com, I'd be happy to take a look at your reservation and make sure that everything is in order.

Lorealle

 

[Belle Ella]

^ A big reason why we all love the HoJo!! Lorealle is always so awesome and helpful!!

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

Thanks, Lorealle!

Additionally, they have been instructed by their supervisors to tell callers that they are at the hotel, when they're not.

Huh??
Why is that??

I've been reading over and over again on this board how you NEED to talk to the hotel directly to get the discount so that's why I made SURE I was. I don't understand why they are told to lie to the guests.

Anyways.. no worries. We've stayed there before w/o a problem. I'm confident everything is worked out now. I just thought it was a very odd and I wondered why nobody had heard of it.

I called 714-776-6120 on a weekday (not sure the time; midday or so).

 

[pixiewings71]

The time I got transferred to central I was on my lunch, so midday. Just seems as if they are busy in the office then the phone switches you over itself.

 

[bumbershoot]

the phone rang and rang and rang, then the ring changed and someone picked up, I asked for the Ent Rate and was told it was just 10% off the room

Yes yes yes, exactly my experience (that I try to mention in every hojo/ent rate thread I see, so that people know!). And I too called at lunchtime. I mean, it's when a person on the west coast is free, right? At lunchtime? Drat, it's when the HoJo people are on their lunch, too.

 

[Shakthi]

The same thing happened to me when I booked my reservations earlier in May. I called the number that is supposed to be the direct number to Anaheim Hojo but the lady that answered had never heard of the AP rate before. I checked that I was really talking to In-House reservations, which she confirmed. Then, I proceeded to educate her on the AP and Entertainment rates. She had no idea what I was talking about, but was very nice and patiently searched for the rates. Eventually she did find it by accident and everything was fine.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I'm glad you finally got that rate!

I was trying to book a hotel recently (different state, different chain) and had what was obviously a person at Central Reservations tell me that she WAS in-house at the actual hotel. She really insisted! Even though I knew that she was NOT someone who worked at the hotel. I called back and got through to the actual hotel and was able to book a better discount.
I don't understand it.

 

[smiley_face2]

Thanks, Lorealle!



Huh??
Why is that??

I've been reading over and over again on this board how you NEED to talk to the hotel directly to get the discount so that's why I made SURE I was. I don't understand why they are told to lie to the guests.

Anyways.. no worries. We've stayed there before w/o a problem. I'm confident everything is worked out now. I just thought it was a very odd and I wondered why nobody had heard of it.

I called 714-776-6120 on a weekday (not sure the time; midday or so).

Lorealle is awesome! so are the other girls working the in house reservations, Kimberly, Jessica and Desi!
If I were you, I would indeed email Lorealle with your confirmation number just to make 100% sure you are booked into the correct Hojo's. With all the trouble you had, I'd not be resting easy until I had it in writing via an email from her you can print out.
I've called probably 8 times now with our latest reservation....changing dates, room types, room locations, number of rooms....lol... but never had a problem getting ahold of one of the girls directly by asking for the in house reservations, or by one of them by name. I also have them email me out the confirmation, and a printout of the reservation with the rate showing.

 

[jessica52877]

After reading the above posts, I just can't believe now that I was talking to the hotel directly. But I have no idea why they would have lied to me. Also, not sure what else I could have asked/done to make sure I was.


Anyway... no worries. We got our reservation at a great price. I'm just glad this doesn't happen often.

Yep, this happened to me earlier in the year. Called the hotel directly and asked for in house reservations. I was speaking with a lady and nothing was going right. She made me make 3 different reservations, told me I would probably have to move rooms (she was saying that the disney view wasn't available for all my nights). Only could get me the ET rate for a couple. It was odd.

I mentioned it on facebook to Lorealle and she immediately fixed everything. I also somehow assume I was switched to central even though I asked for in house and asked if they were in house!

We arrive tomorrow and I really hope everything goes fine!

 

[pigby]

It sounds like you were being transferred to the main reservations line. If you did not ask for IN HOUSE reservations, they probably transferred you to the main line everytime. Did you ask for in house?

I had the same problem - I did ask for In House reservations but unbeknown to me, they put me through to the general reservations line (as I found out later) - it must have been as I rang at the weekend (Sunday)and In House don't take calls. I did ask if it was the Anaheim hotel and they said it was also (but clearly it was general reservations just wanting a booking).

 

[jaylensmom]

I haven't read the complete thread but this did happen to me last month...At first they told me they didn't have an ENT rate, the second and third time I called they told me the rate of $109 and and the fourth time they told me $119. I came to the boards got some advice called back again and finally got the ENT rate.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I had this happen too. I had booked my Ent rate directly with the Anaheim reservations department and then I called back to upgrade to a queen bedded room. The first person I talked to was definitely at the Anaheim location but when he transferred me back, it got kicked over to the central reservations number. After the run around of not knowing about my rate and not being able to find my reservation (she claimed I didn't have valid conf. number) I was about to hang up on her when she said she could offer me a fabulous deal on a rental car. Then I knew for sure! Even though she had assured me she was right there in Anaheim. I just hung up.

What I did was call the Hojo back, the man that answered the phone explained that the reservations person had stepped out and he took my number and this very nice girl called me back within a few minutes.

So if this does happen, just as the operator at the Hojo itself to have someone call you back.