My wife and I are performers, and proud to live in Nashville. We played overseas this year, and were treated extremely well by our hosts over there, so we invited them to visit us, here in Nashville, and they took us up on it. They stayed in our home, but one of the other performers on the tour wanted to extend her hospitality also, and offered to end their stay here with a night at the Opryland Hotel. We are all proud of such a beautiful place, and thought our German freinds would be impressed, as well as enjoying their stay there. We chose the last night of their visit, so that they could use the hotel shuttle to the airport, which we all know is a short distance from the hotel. The day before they checked in, I called to make sure the shuttle was available, because someone told me they charged for it, and I didn't want our freinds to be caught by surprise. The hotel's representative confirmed that there was a shuttle, but stopped there. I asked if there was a charge, because as we all know, in most good hotels, especially in proximity to an airport, this is a courtesy for hotel guests. Rooms in the Opryland Hotel are extremely nice, but the prices are pretty extreme, so I was surprised to find that there was indeed a charge for the shuttle. I asked what the charge was, as that information was not volunteered, and was told that it was $28.00. I asked if that would take care of all 5 passengers involved, and was informed that this is a per person charge. $140.00 to shuttle hotel guests the short distance to BNA.
I was embarrased to be a Nashvillian. If a cab driver had charged this rate, I'm pretty sure that his license would be pulled, as it reflects so badly on our city, and it's attitude towards those who grace us with their tourism. Make no mistake that this party of folks spent a good deal of tourist money in our city during their stay. We made other arrangements for their airport trip, and I haven't complained again, but these months later, I am still embarassed in how visitors to our city are gouged, with no governing body to insist on fairness. I think Gaylord should be embarrassed, but that day, they certainly were not. They should at least be bound by the rules of any other public carrier, like taxi driivers, and not allowed to make their own rules, simply because most of their guests may be able to afford it.
So, the hotel doesn't owe me or their guests any money, or compensation, but I think they owe the people and businesses of Nashville an apology, for the terribly greedy image that they give to people who we wish would want to come back, and do business with Nashville again.
Now, I regret that I didn't send this in sooner, but I have no doubt that this policy is still in affect, and giving us a bad name for greed on a service that is provided worldwide as a complimentary service in any good hotel. Since they don't inform you about this charge, unless you specifically ask about it, they also put their guests in a position of a "surprise" charge, at the last moment.
We hope our German freinds, who had a great time in Tennessee, will visit again, but I'm sure they won't want to stay at the Opryland Hotel, and I remain embarrassed about the impression that this left with them. I regret that I could not, now recommend this beautiful hotel to others that ask about where to stay in our city. It's only a small part of the experience to stay there, but it makes you wonder about other charges that may end up on your bill.
In my opinion. This is messed up.
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