Hotwire Hotel: 3* Tupelo Town House Motel

[madeline]

Can someone help me identify a 3 star hotel in Tupelo, Mississippi on Hotwire.com for July 25-26. 3-star hotel in Tupelo

This hotel features the following amenities:

Complimentary Breakfast

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

The costs as of today $40.00) ( price has went up from 39-40 dollars)

Hotel details

Location: Tupelo

Star rating: silkHotelStarRating:3-star

Check-in date: silkCheckInDate:Sat, Jul 25

Check-out date: silkCheckOutnDate:Sun, Jul 26

Price summary

Hotel rate per night: silkPricePerRoomPerson:$40.00

Nights: silknoOfNights:1

Rooms: silknoOfRooms:1

Subtotal: silksubTotal:$40.00

Tax recovery charges

& fees: silktaxesAndFees:$10.18

Total price: silkgetTotalPriceWithAddOns:$50.18

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE =)

[thereuare]

This property has not yet been identified.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[madeline]

I have identified the 3 star hotel, on Hotwire for Tupelo, Ms as TOWN HOUSE MOTEL ( 931 South Gloster, St , Tupelo MS, 38801-) because I went ahead and booked the hotel (via your link for hotwire)for July 24-July 25th. (changed dates from July 25-26)

The Icons are pool. breakfast, and internet connection,

The price 39.00

Tax and recovery fee 10.18

total-49.18

However, there is a problem with the rating 3 star rating of this hotel. On most websites,( like Hotels.com, Expedia) the hotel is list as not rated, and the one website, I did find photos of Town House Motel, it lists the motel as one star. ( hint, the furniture is from the 70's, and the of course it is a motel and all doors are on the outside- like a motel 8

Please can someone advise me on what action I should take? So far, I have contacted HOTWIRE, and asked them to investigate the Town House Motel's hotel ratings. The rep, was nice and said that they would investigate the rating and get back to me in 7-10 business days.-as always, the rep stated that all sales are final.

But, what do you do if the rating is GROSSLY wrong?

Thanks in advance, for your advise.

p.s I guess some deals are to good to be true =(

[AaronJB]

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and letting us know about this new property to add to the site's hotel list.

Sorry to hear that the results were definitely not what you expected - this definitely does not seem like a 3* to me (especially for a motel of this sort) and 1* or 2* would certainly be more accurate. I would definitely keep following-up with HOTWIRE and sending links and photos backing up your evidence that this is definitely not a 3* property.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE link.

Enjoy your stay.

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE has been using the average rating of Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity, but the issue here is that Expedia and Travelocity don't rate this property, leaving the star rating the same as Orbitz, which rates this property 3 stars. (PRICELINE rates it 1*)

I'd call or email HOTWIRE and explain that 2 of the 3 services used to average the star ratings dont' follow this property, and while the averaging process may work when you have enough datapionts (ie- three from the three sites mentioned), it doesn't work when only one property follows the hotel. As well, let them know that PRICELINE rates this a 1* so even if you averaged the Orbitz and PRICELINE rating you'd come up with a 2* rating.

Good luck.

[madeline]

I wanted to update and let you know that I heard back from Hotwire.com and this is what they had to say: By the way thank you for all the advice you guys gave me on addressing this issue with hotwire.com ---

The email reads as follows:

"This email is regarding your hotel booking in Tupelo, Hotwire

Thank you for the feedback you provided about the Town House Motel in Tupelo. Customer feedback helps us ensure our properties continue to meet the high quality expectations we expect from all of our partners. After receiving your feedback, we re-evaluated your hotel and are confident the 3-star rating accurately reflects the service level, accommodations, and facilities of this property.

If you have any concerns when you arrive at the Town House Motel, please feel free to contact us directly at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473).

Thank you for choosing Hotwire".

Sincerely,

XXXX

Hotwire Customer Care"

www.hotwire.com

I have to say I am very, VERY disappointing in there findings saying that this hotel is a 3 star hotel. My next recourse, is to file a complaint with BBB and to see if they can assist me. I know that Hotwire.com has an A plus rating-so hopefully things will be just in litigation.

Also, I looked on the google map and went to streets and was able to see a visual of the hotel (motel) and let me tell you it is NOT A 3 star hotel.

Frustrated--Any other advise is welcome.

[AaronJB]

I'd definitely call them and try one more time to see if you can talk to someone willing to work with you. Very sorry to hear that they weren't very helpful so far, though.

[madeline]

I'd definitely call them and try one more time to see if you can talk to someone willing to work with you. Very sorry to hear that they weren't very helpful so far, though.

Another update- I called Hotwire ( July 13, 2009) again (this will be 2nd call and 2 -e-mails--so far) still no resolution to the star rating issue.

I spoke to the first rep, and she just said that she was confident that this hotel is a 3 star and said that no changes would be made because on July 11th a team of Hotwire specialist deemed this hotel a 3 star.

Okay, so not getting no where with that rep ---I asked if I could talk to a supervisor, and the supervisor got on the phone and stated that an investigation team would re-open the case and look at the ratings one more time. He also, stated that Hotwire goes by guest surveys and I asked him that I didn't see any customer ratings on any of the major website- (Priceline,Expedia...) - but he assured me that they survey past customers from Hotwire ,who had stayed at hotels like Town House Motels had indeed rated, this hotel a 3 star---Funny thing, I was only able to find 2 customer ratings, on the web and was one very poor and one neutral for the hotel (found customer reviews on yahoo travel)

Well, now I wait another 24-48 hours for the Hotwire to contact me, again. and see if any resolution can be made-- I will keep you posted on the outcome.

p.s side info--I called The Town House Motel directly, and I inquired about the rates for a night. and the rate is $37.75 a night ( I got a higher rate- 39.00 from Hotwire.com)--- In addition, there is no restaurant on premise, their hotel, breakfast rotates between coffee and a doughnut or coffee and a honeybun. And in regards to wireless connection, the Town House Motel rep, told me that the wireless sometimes works and sometimes doesn't but they do have dial-up service available,if the wireless is not working. Wow, things are not looking up for this Motel--Also, this motel doesn't have a website- The supervisor at hotwire, said he would take a look at the website of the motel--ha, that made me laugh---because their is none--I really wonder how the investigation team works? Any insight? I feel at this point, since Hotwire.com has a no refund policy I am really no alternative but accept it--but, I will not--I will continue to contact hotwire and/or the BBB until a reasonable solution has come forward.

Thanks again, everyone for your help

[AaronJB]

Sorry to hear that things still haven't gone well with this situation, but I'd really keep trying to get a resolution w/HOTWIRE, as this definitely appears to be nowhere near a 3*.

[madeline]

GREAT NEWS-I got an e-mail from HOTWIRE, and they have given be a choice of a complete refund, or a free night stay at Town House Motel, and a credit of my hotel stay in hotwire bucks because after much consideration, Hotwire has changed the rating of the Town House Motel to a 2 star to reflect the more accurate rating of this Motel. ---ANYWAYS< I AM VERY HAPPY!!! I just wish it didn't take so MANY e-mails, and phone calls to make this happen-Anyways, thanks for your help, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT--BETTERBIDDING IS A WONDERFUL WEBSITE-- -Cheers-and happy bidding to all!

[AaronJB]

I'm REALLY happy you were able to work this out with HOTWIRE! :)

Let us know if you would like us to suggest alternate hotels for these dates.