We originally reserved on November 9 for our accommodations and the meeting room located in Beachgate IV. We were given a tour of Beachgate II suites, Beachgate IV hotel style rooms, and the meeting room in Beachgate IV. We were told by property manager Jodie, that we would receive the meeting room for free for the weekend even though we would not be renting more than ten rooms, most would be suites so it would be the equivalent of ten rooms. A deposit of $101.70 was made for my hotel reservation on that day. I then sent a letter out to all of the members of my family asking them to reserve in one of these two buildings so we would be all together. We knew nothing of the other buildings, except for Beachgate III, which was about to be torn down.
In early April, I emailed to ask if any other rooms were available and to confirm we had the meeting room reserved for the weekend. I received a response confirming our reservation for the meeting room in Beachgate IV on the weekend of May 16th & 17th.
On April 24, my cousin emailed me to let me know the property manager had contacted him to ask if we would allow another larger group to use the meeting room on Saturday. I didnt understand why Jodi would be contacting someone that was not arranging anything for our reunion when she clearly had my email address. Not to mention obviously as youll read later, had other pertinent information. Originally I was totally against the idea especially after the way we were asked. It was made clear just how much more important the other group was due to them renting of the rooms on the property. We were only a measly family reunion. However I considered the other group instead of the way we had been treated while being asked to give the room up. I agreed to let the other group have the meeting room from 4:00 PM 6:30 PM on Saturday. This was also confirmed with Jodie by email.
Once we arrived for the reunion it was even clearer how much more important the other group was. Even though everyone in my family had requested suites in Beachgate II & Beachgate IV, all the suites had been moved to Beachgate V to accommodate the other group. We tried to just let it go so it did not ruin our weekend, the one weekend a year that we get to see each other.
The following day we stayed away from the meeting room to allow the other group to arrange their dinner and so on. At 5:30 I began to get things ready to transport to the meeting room, at 6:00 PM my husband was told that the other groups caterer was running late. This was a blatant lie. We spoke with the other group who informed us that they were told they could have their dinner in the meeting room at 7:00 PM. I felt terribly bad for this other group; apparently they had been lied to just as much as we had. Jodie had told her staff she couldnt remember who booked first, even though the other group said they hadn't booked until two months prior, and then she asked us to share the room with the other group. I had told Jodie since our very first meeting that it was very important I have access to the DVD player and projection screen during dinner to show a montage of old family photos. I do not know what happened to the other group, but the whole situation completely ruined my weekend as someone who was trying to plan a wonderful, stress free reunion for my wonderful family.
But thats not the end of the story. As a last slap in the face I noticed on my credit card bill, I was charged $180.60 for the meeting room I was told I would be getting for free. The same room I was asked to share, then found out that Jodie had no intention of solving a conflict, but expected her guests to do so. Not only was I charged, but I was charged without my knowledge. The charge went through on April 29th when I was over 100 miles away. This charge needs to be reversed. I will post again when and if the charge is reverse.
It is such a shame that such a fabulous property has such terrible management. My family had even discussed having graduation parties at Beachgate over the next three years, we have seven children in our family that will be graduating between 2009 and 2011. We would have also loved to have our reunion there every year, but instead would never refer anyone to the property.
Chicoinelink
Jourdanton, Texas
U.S.A.
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