I’ve been staying at the same hotel for IMC for the last 13 years. The current manager has “lost” my reservation (booked every year, now two years in advance as per their request), but managed to find my an extra room.
They are now claiming that there is (and has always been) a 7 day minimum stay during Ironman week.
Have other hotels started to require this?
Bob
It has been pretty common practice for years.
Ya gotta remember that they are running a business that is there to make money, period. They can easily fill every room with a 7 night minimum. They are maximizing the money they can make during that week. As a business they would be nuts to allow shorter stays and have rooms that will not fill for the full 7 nights. Trust me, I know how it works…its all about maximizing your rooms and the money you can make.
I was owner of a small Inn in FL when the Super Bowl was held 45 minutes away. I was never in favor of inflating prices but the Super Bowl Commitee states that hotels can charge 2.5 times their normal rate and its viewed as normal for the Super Bowl area. We even had a 5 night minimum at 2.5 times the regular high season rates. It was crazy. People were booking rooms at over $500 per night in a small bed and breakfast!!
Of course they can charge what they want, but I think this ends my streak of consecutive IMC’s at 14. It just costs too much money to get to Penticton now, and paying for hotel accommodation for days I’m not going to be there has taken this out of reach for me.
That and the second “losing” of my reservations (in three years) for a hotel that has had zero money put into it in the last 15 years just kind of takes the fun out of it.
Unfortunately Couer d’Alene filled up last week (which I could have driven to), so maybe I’ll do Leadville instead of an Ironman.
Hopefully WTC will start an Ironman Colorado some day soon.
Camping is much cheaper
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It seems that Penticton has gone the way of the Ironman Corporation. It is a shame, because I remembered the people of Penticton being some of the kindnest and most giving people.
I haven’t been back since racing there in the first two Ironman Canada’s–'86 and '87. I always wanted to return, but not if it is just a money machine like the rest of the Ironman philosophy. Guess I am back to Vineman.
You are right, 7 day minimum for an Ironman is insane. I could see 4 days, maybe.
Sorry you can’t go to the same motel but there are other good options.
Two years ago I called the Penticton Tourism Bureau (or whatever they are called) in July and asked what places still had rooms available. They gave me a name of a great B&B that my wife and I stayed for 3 days (no minimum). It didn’t break the bank.
Sarge
agreed here - lots of vacation homes and b+b’s still out there @ WAY less cost.
We’re paying USD 450 for 3 nights.