Olympics woe: Weymouth hoteliers fear loss of thousands during Games summer

11:30am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in Local News By Emma Walker and Samantha Harman

Brunswick Terrace hoteliers, from left, Linda Mann, Wayne Nicholas, Martin Weller, Paul Nash, Carol Owen, Sue Leach,Glyn Owen, Alison Weller, Diane Rogers and Rose Brunt Brunswick Terrace hoteliers, from left, Linda Mann, Wayne Nicholas, Martin Weller, Paul Nash, Carol Owen, Sue Leach,Glyn Owen, Alison Weller, Diane Rogers and Rose Brunt

WORRIED hoteliers in Weymouth fear losing thousands of pounds as visitors avoid the 2012 Olympics after what has already been branded ‘the worst season ever’.

Booking diaries are startlingly empty for July and August with some guesthouse owners set to lose more than £5,000 whilst others cannot afford to pay their rent.

The departure of Condor Ferries, poor weather and a two-year roadwork blitz ahead of the Olympics are being blamed for a bad business cycle, despite promises that 2012 would be the most prosperous year yet.

Research shows nearly a third of Dorset hotels are at risk of failure in the next year.

Mark Brunt, of Brunswick Guest House in Brunswick Terrace, said: “None of the regulars are coming during the Olympics because they think it will be so busy. It’s certainly not the cash cow the organisers have been saying it will be.”

Martin Weller, owner of Channel View Guest House in Brunswick Terrace, said: “I would say 75 per cent of our regulars are not coming.

“I'm losing between £5,000 and £7,000 over the three to four Olympic weeks.

“We’ve got no bookings from Olympic visitors, either. It’s not what I was expecting, what with all the council has been saying.”

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Businesses have said radio adverts telling people the area will be congested has put visitors off. A public awareness campaign called Get Ahead of the Games is being run by the Olympic Delivery Authority to warn potential visitors of the need to make travel plans early.

Mr Weller added: “The adverts on the radio are saying there will be 60,000 people and it makes visitors think twice about coming here.”

Hugh Sumner, director of transport at the Olympic Delivery Authority said: “The road and public transport network in the local area will be exceptionally busy during the Games and so, to ensure that everyone can make the most of things this summer, it’s important that both residents and visitors are advised to plan their travel at the same time as they are making their hotel bookings, not leave it to the last minute.”

Peter Penman, owner of Horizon Guest House on the seafront, said: “It's cost me about £3,000 in bookings over the Olympic period. There's been so much hype over how busy it will be and it’s put people off.”

Some have said the council needs to advertise events that will be going on away from the Games after the huge drop in custom. Loraine Godwin, owner of The Richmoor Hotel and Shelley’s Restaurant on The Esplanade, said: “I am very concerned. This time last year we were almost full.

“In the long term we will benefit here, but the question is: ‘Who else is going to make it?’ “We need to advertise Weymouth more – all people are hearing about is how crowded it is going to be when the Olympics come.”

Sue Leach, owner of Sunnyside Guest House, said: “Half the regulars who come down for the carnival aren’t coming. They say it’s going to be too busy and the traffic will be horrific. I have already lost more than £1,000 because this season has been so quiet.

“I am very concerned. I can’t afford to pay my rent.”

We must remain positive

CHAIRMAN of the Weymouth and Portland Hoteliers and Leaseholders Association, David Price, pictured right, of The Molyneux Guest House is calling for more positivity ahead of the Games.

Mr Price said although some of his regular customers are not returning, other bookings will make this year as successful as any other.

He said: “It has been the worst April we have had in six years because of the weather and the economy but we have got to stay positive.

“We look set to lose some of our regular customers and it is worrying to think they will go somewhere else and not come back.

“But we are open and ready for people to come here.

“We really need more positive promotion of Weymouth outside of the town."

Comments(53)

ohcetesrod says...
11:45am Tue 29 May 12

Unless you already are, why not advertise on bookings.com or laterooms etc?
.
I would like to think this will help the rooms pretty quick?

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Fred Kite says...
11:50am Tue 29 May 12

Gold medal for moaning?

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Never Wrong says...
12:18pm Tue 29 May 12

Put your prices down to a more realistic costs and stop being greedy.
Mind you this report is ironic when we are having a fabulous weather period.
Why don't you all get together a put a advert campain out yourselves instead relying on the council to do your work...

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portlandresident says...
12:27pm Tue 29 May 12

Please people, tell your guests they needn't worry. Weymouth is well known for huge events. Yes, it'll be busy, but despite what people think, it'll be great. There's a great road system in place to handle the traffic. There will be a huge increase in buses, and the park and ride services will be a smashing way to enjoy 'games time', without worrying about finidng somewhere to park. What's more, we have the best views in Britain. I know there will be many who want to just visit Weymouth for their annual holiday, and not have anything to do with the games. That's fine. There's plenty of room for everyone. We must stop all this negativity, and turn it around. The press aren't interested in good news, they just want the bad. So far, you're doing a splendid job at giving Weymouth a worse name than it has already.

I say to those who want to visit and enjoy a holiday; 'come on down'... We're open for business! See you soon!

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Monmouthsman says...
12:29pm Tue 29 May 12

Never Wrong might well be right and have a good suggestion but I have heard those awful announcements on radio stations across the South of England saying don't go to Weymouth. They will be hard to counter with even a big advertising campaign.

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tedbungy says...
12:34pm Tue 29 May 12

Most of the moaning over the past 2 years has been done by the Guest House owners, i would asume that as well as moaning in the Echo you have had a good old moan to any body who would listen including your guest.

No suprise they aint coming back

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irisred says...
12:53pm Tue 29 May 12

Or perhaps its their negative attitude that's driving people away? This is hardly a a positive message to be sending in order to encourage people here. Would you want to stay with such moaning minnies? I wouldn't!

I think its a brilliant suggestion to start a short run of an adverising campaign of their own and get on the booking websites. Surely a lower priced filled room is better than an empty one??

On the plus side, this does seem to indicate that there won't be anywhere near the traffic issues they're predicting. Bonus!

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roger goss says...
2:31pm Tue 29 May 12

Is it me or are there others,I always said the only winners in the olympics would not be the the residents of Weymouth and Portland,those in charge will get their palms crossed with silver,those that gain could be the employed as they may find it easier to get to and from work, a total waste of council tax.

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Brian.H says...
2:44pm Tue 29 May 12

Just checked one of the hotel websites, nearly doubled their prices during the Olympic period. Only yourselfs to blame.

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BaileyCat says...
2:58pm Tue 29 May 12

Guest House owners -only to be expected when you put your prices up, how can you expect regular visitors to be loyal when they know how expensive everything will be. Stop blaming everyone else. Pure greed! Weymouth will gain much from all the improvements that have been made to the infrastructure. How else would we have had all this money spent on improvements. I'm sure all your regular customers (and more) will be back next year and you will be rubbing your hands with glee!! Also 'Portlandresident' I thought the 'Park and Ride' was for Games ticket holders only!

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nearlythere says...
3:27pm Tue 29 May 12

why cant the ECHO, be more positive in their headlines.!!!!
people look at this c##p paper
online and all they see are negative comments about Weymouth,start selling the resort and B&B`s do special deals to get people in.
I have lost about 2 grand due to all the rain and bad weather,but this weekend l will be making the most of the sunshine(hopefully)

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susanrhughes@googlemail.com says...
4:24pm Tue 29 May 12

All that rubbing of hands over the last two years at the thought of how much they could charge visitors. Even refusing to let advance bookings know what the price would be in case they didn't charge as much as another and 'were seen off'. So we aren't going to get the usual 30th plus the extra 30th. We all knew that.

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Buckles says...
4:50pm Tue 29 May 12

I have just been on www.bookings.com and got a quote of £840 during the peak holiday season for a family room (2 adults & 2 children) for 7 nights in a seafront b&b and for a family of 4 to stay in a local holiday park with lots of facilities, including swimming pools, nightly entertainment, bars and restaurants on site the cost was £726.
Maybe b&b's are not cost effective for families anymore and that is part of the problem.

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maximan says...
5:20pm Tue 29 May 12

nearlythere wrote:
why cant the ECHO, be more positive in their headlines.!!!!
people look at this c##p paper
online and all they see are negative comments about Weymouth,start selling the resort and B&B`s do special deals to get people in.
I have lost about 2 grand due to all the rain and bad weather,but this weekend l will be making the most of the sunshine(hopefully)
Okay ..."guest houses say everything is wonderful"... it's a lie but as long as you're happy

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Chris Bratchell says...
5:35pm Tue 29 May 12

One problem here has been that regular guests decided a year ago not to come to Weymouth in 2012, and that meant any time in 2012 not just during the games - I know this from personal experience.
The official advertising has been very unhelpful, they should have included some of the positive news as given by portlandresident, instead it just sounds like a "Do Not Come" message.
The tourism officials in local government seem to be in denial, will not admit there is a problem, the smug "wonderful opportunity" statements are nauseating.
Right now we need it clearly said that the main Olympics are just two weeks, Weymouth is open for business, and everyone can still have a great holiday here. We need to remember that our core business is with ordinary holidaymakers. We also need good weather so we can get the late bookings. We need people planning now to ensure there is an Olympics legacy for ordinary businesses in 2013 and beyond. Weymouth cannot prosper without a thriving tourism sector.
And, BaileyCat, very many guest houses and such businesses did not put their prices up specially for the Olympics.

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I'mavoter says...
6:17pm Tue 29 May 12

Fred Kite wrote:
Gold medal for moaning?
You 'd moan too if it was YOUR business that was suffering !

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bootedsw says...
6:22pm Tue 29 May 12

Why is it that we get the same message about this time every year and then in September we get a headline that tells us all that it was a scorcher.

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I'mavoter says...
6:37pm Tue 29 May 12

roger goss wrote:
Is it me or are there others,I always said the only winners in the olympics would not be the the residents of Weymouth and Portland,those in charge will get their palms crossed with silver,those that gain could be the employed as they may find it easier to get to and from work, a total waste of council tax.
And the non-visitors have probably heard that most of the town centre roads will be closed to traffic during the wretched olympics, and the new Park & Ride won't be available to them either( unless you pay £10 + a £2.50 booking charge, and book a place ) Harbour mooring fees
are Trebling during the Olympic
period.

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siratb says...
6:40pm Tue 29 May 12

Buckles wrote:
I have just been on www.bookings.com and got a quote of £840 during the peak holiday season for a family room (2 adults & 2 children) for 7 nights in a seafront b&b and for a family of 4 to stay in a local holiday park with lots of facilities, including swimming pools, nightly entertainment, bars and restaurants on site the cost was £726.
Maybe b&b's are not cost effective for families anymore and that is part of the problem.
Exactly. I did this a while back. I worked out that it is cheaper (and less hassle) for a family of 4 from Birmingham say, to fly EasyJet to Majorca, stay for a week in a modern hotel complex with guaranteed sun and cheap sangria, than to drive to Weymouth and stay is some hotel which lets be frank, looks like it is decorated by the set designers of East Enders.

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Peter Baylis says...
6:43pm Tue 29 May 12

I would be more worried about having another tragedy at sea during the Olympics, rather than moaning about hotel bookings. Get things in perspective.

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Peter Baylis says...
6:43pm Tue 29 May 12

I would be more worried about having another tragedy at sea during the Olympics, rather than moaning about hotel bookings. Get things in perspective.

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YerTisThsUn says...
7:04pm Tue 29 May 12

They Bu**ers am I bit late this year aint um? Theym usually on yer moanin about Easter and 'ow theym all gunna suffer and won't make any money this year. Tis the same old same old wiv this lot Theym do moan more the T'Bill Foghorn

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212 dorset says...
7:25pm Tue 29 May 12

I'mavoter wrote:
Fred Kite wrote: Gold medal for moaning?
You 'd moan too if it was YOUR business that was suffering !
If it were MY business I'd rather fill the rooms up at sensible prices and have it full up rather than price prople out the market with ridiculous pricing. I'd also not be running to the Echo moaning, i'd be looking at innovative ways to get my guest house full up throughout the summer. Im not at all in favour of the Olympics, as I feel its going to come and go without much fuss, but theres huge potential to make money, and if I was lucky enough to have a guets house, I'd be making the most of it by thinking positively and not constantly moaning to the local rag about how sorry we should feel for you.

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I'mavoter says...
7:26pm Tue 29 May 12

Peter Baylis wrote:
I would be more worried about having another tragedy at sea during the Olympics, rather than moaning about hotel bookings. Get things in perspective.
Unless of course it was YOUR hotel that losing bookings & income ! Wonder if you'd have made the same comment then.

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212 dorset says...
7:33pm Tue 29 May 12

I'mavoter....Maybe you should reveal which hotel/guest house you own, and then we may feel more sympathy for you, unless you've followed suit and put your prices at an unrealistic level for the average man on the street.??

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davescorpio0 says...
7:47pm Tue 29 May 12

The Olympics are a JOKE. Most people applying for tickets only obtained 1 for a day. so they don't need accomadation. The Olympics organisors didn't metion ticket rationing. Also the people who got the best tickets will of course stay on their luxury yachts. The Council hiked parking fees and tripled morring fees. Portland boat owners told they could not use their boats for 12 weeks. Seb Coe should be fired as they will have lined their pockets at the expense of ordinary folks and regarding the remarks about hotels over pricing. These people have suffered 2 years of HELL and lost business because of STUPID roadworks which make Weyouth look like Kamikazi town. I own a caravan same price rent as last year and only 1 week booked out of 6 weeks hols. I suggest the Council and Olympic organisers that Jeremy Clarkson had the right idea about people like them.

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weymouthfox says...
8:04pm Tue 29 May 12

My aunt in Bristol sent me an advert about coming to the Weymouth Olympics which shows a queue of traffic at a complete standstill over a hill. She comments it looks like a warning not to go anywhere near Weymouth this summer. Is this negative advertising doing our hoteliers a lot of harm I wonder?

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ksmain says...
8:36pm Tue 29 May 12

I am sat here reading these comments and the report and wondering why anyone thinks that this is a surprise.

I think that I would ask myself a question - if I were a holidaymaker would I:

1. Want to spend a long time queuing to get in and out of Weymouth or waiting to get into designated areas to park as, I personally believe that the road system here will not be able to cope and more than half the roads in Weymouth Town Centre are shut.
2. Want to come here knowing that half of the normally accessable public facilities are off limits or inhabited by those watching the Olympics. After all, the beach is being taken over by a giant screen, the Nothe area is off limits, and who in their right mind would want to slog their way through to Portland.
3. I wouldnt mind betting that some will be expecting that prices will go up over the duration.
4. On top of that there is no guaranteeing the weather. I would certainly be unhappy if the weather was bad, and having to put up with all of the 3 above.

I personally think that because of the above, that Weymouth would be a hard sell this year. I also cant say I have seen much evidence of the Council in encouraging their normal tourists to come here this year. I also reckon that most of the supposed 60,000 piling into Weymouth will be day trippers and not likely to stay in Weymouth anyway.

I certainly wont be here - I am off abroad while members of my family look after the house. It would be interesting to know if the booking of holidays out of the area by Weymouth residents has gone up this year! I believe that whether the Olympics benefit Weymouth long term remains to be seen.

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mr w says...
8:53pm Tue 29 May 12

One word needed, GREED!

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The Yardie says...
9:27pm Tue 29 May 12

Thank goodness that the Olymprics will never happen again (I hope) in the UK duing our lifetime.
ONCE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

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Get a grip says...
10:06pm Tue 29 May 12

They all look a miserable bunch, you would not want to spend your holidays with them.

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wurzelbasher says...
10:12pm Tue 29 May 12

Screw the Olympics, it's going to be sheer hell. They should've gone to the Bristol channel instead!

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jmc1 says...
10:13pm Tue 29 May 12

The Yardie wrote:
Thank goodness that the Olymprics will never happen again (I hope) in the UK duing our lifetime.
ONCE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
I suspect it will be the last time,as when it's all over, the country will be well and truly bankrupt by then

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I'mavoter says...
12:24am Wed 30 May 12

Buckles wrote:
I have just been on www.bookings.com and got a quote of £840 during the peak holiday season for a family room (2 adults & 2 children) for 7 nights in a seafront b&b and for a family of 4 to stay in a local holiday park with lots of facilities, including swimming pools, nightly entertainment, bars and restaurants on site the cost was £726.
Maybe b&b's are not cost effective for families anymore and that is part of the problem.
What you are conveniently leaving out of your comment, is that the B&B price includes a nice home cooked hearty breakfast, which the holiday park prices Do Not ! If you went to the holiday park cafe for breakfast, that would probably cost you an extra £5 per head,per day. Add that cost to your weekly cost comparison ! If you are going to compare prices, do it accurately and fairly !

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I'mavoter says...
12:28am Wed 30 May 12

212 dorset wrote:
I'mavoter wrote:
Fred Kite wrote: Gold medal for moaning?
You 'd moan too if it was YOUR business that was suffering !
If it were MY business I'd rather fill the rooms up at sensible prices and have it full up rather than price prople out the market with ridiculous pricing. I'd also not be running to the Echo moaning, i'd be looking at innovative ways to get my guest house full up throughout the summer. Im not at all in favour of the Olympics, as I feel its going to come and go without much fuss, but theres huge potential to make money, and if I was lucky enough to have a guets house, I'd be making the most of it by thinking positively and not constantly moaning to the local rag about how sorry we should feel for you.
So you'd run your virtual guest house at a loss then ?

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portland rebel says...
12:55am Wed 30 May 12

and they been telling us for years to expect 60,000 extra visitors a day during olympics. 60k my a***e.

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I'mavoter says...
1:06am Wed 30 May 12

212 dorset wrote:
I'mavoter....Maybe you should reveal which hotel/guest house you own, and then we may feel more sympathy for you, unless you've followed suit and put your prices at an unrealistic level for the average man on the street.??
Don't make assumptions. I don't own a hotel or guest house !

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ijwufo68 says...
6:48am Wed 30 May 12

I'm sorry for them, but they listened to all BULLS**T with the olympic.

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markerpen says...
9:22am Wed 30 May 12

I agree they appear to have been doing their own negative marketing campaign for months now.

There are enough problems in Weymouth without cutting your own throats guys.

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siratb says...
9:22am Wed 30 May 12

Here are a couple of tariffs I pulled off the web at random:

2012 TARIFF
Per person per night
Weekly Low Season
£32 - £34 weekly from £224
.
Med Season
£34 - £36 weekly from £238
.
High Season
£36 - £38 weekly from £252
.
2012 Olympic Games
29th July - 11th August
£50 - £60 weekly from £350
.
and
.
Tariff Daily Weekly
£32pp - £38pp £180pp - £228pp
7 nights for the price of 6
Olympic dates 28th July - 11th Aug £50pp
.
.
So for a family of 4 to come to Weymouth for a week during the Olympics, I make that £1400. Hmmm, Easyjet and spain sounds a better deal. It is no wonder the regulars are not coming down!

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monkeydog says...
9:53am Wed 30 May 12

Every time I read about legitimate complaints or concerns regarding local businesses I have to wade through reams of sarcastic, simplistic comments from the Little Englanders of Weymouth. 'What are you moaning about? It's lovely here. I love it. It's a lot better than living in a shed in Bolton.' These people have no understanding of the situation faced by local businesses except for what they read in this paper and the Daily Mail. The guesthouses, hotels, the rest of the service industry and the visitor are largely responsible for driving the local economy. Every negative event such as the mishandling of the ferry issue, press reports about how busy the town will be, council incompetence, roadworks etc. impacts on local businesses which in turn has an impact on the lives of everyone who lives here, including the petty moaners, with more shops and businesses closing down. The next time you people go on your weekly visit to town and find your favourite chip shop has closed down or that shop from the national chain next to Debenhams has closed due to Weymouth being a tired, dying ill-managed mess then think about these stupid comments you made about people who are desperately trying to keep their businesses afloat.

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Portland G says...
10:30am Wed 30 May 12

I have also just been on to bookings.com and very interesting it was too. Out of 87 hotels it was only showing 18 with availabilty for 27/7 to 11/8 and most of those shown only had 1 or 2 rooms left. One guest house on there was quoting £3080 for the 11 days for 1 room with 2 adults occupying on B & B. Having just returned from Cyprus 4 adults had a 2 weeks stay including flights for about £1600. It would seem from this article that there are conflicting reports of the situation. On the one hand we are being told that the hotels/guest house are virtually empty, on the other hand there seems to be a lack of accomodation but then the prices the are being quoted do seem to be extortionate. It is a no brainer really, Weymouth for £3000+ or Cyprus for almost half.

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212 dorset says...
11:17am Wed 30 May 12

I'mavoter wrote:
212 dorset wrote:
I'mavoter wrote:
Fred Kite wrote: Gold medal for moaning?
You 'd moan too if it was YOUR business that was suffering !
If it were MY business I'd rather fill the rooms up at sensible prices and have it full up rather than price prople out the market with ridiculous pricing. I'd also not be running to the Echo moaning, i'd be looking at innovative ways to get my guest house full up throughout the summer. Im not at all in favour of the Olympics, as I feel its going to come and go without much fuss, but theres huge potential to make money, and if I was lucky enough to have a guets house, I'd be making the most of it by thinking positively and not constantly moaning to the local rag about how sorry we should feel for you.
So you'd run your virtual guest house at a loss then ?
"So you'd run your virtual guest house at a loss then"?? If you cant charge sensible prices for your rooms I suggest whoever the hotellier is , is in the worng business and needs to change career paths!

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AndyCooke says...
4:06pm Wed 30 May 12

I was heartened to see such sensible comment from CHAIRMAN of the Weymouth and Portland Hoteliers and Leaseholders Association, David Price.

This is a tough season for many not just in Weymouth but along the entire south coast.

Unfortunately every time an article like this appears in the Echo it just ends up doing more harm than good.

Whilst times are tough there are plenty of ways our guest houses can act now to generate bookings and if any of them would like to contact me to to discuss and review their current marketing activities my company would be delighted to work with them ... 01305 773777

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birken says...
6:18pm Wed 30 May 12

It's no wonder people are not comming,Portland Heights Hotel are only accepting bookings of a minimum of seven nights and are charging £250- (POUNDS) A NIGHT for a double,WOW

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ksmain says...
7:27pm Wed 30 May 12

Portland G wrote:
I have also just been on to bookings.com and very interesting it was too. Out of 87 hotels it was only showing 18 with availabilty for 27/7 to 11/8 and most of those shown only had 1 or 2 rooms left. One guest house on there was quoting £3080 for the 11 days for 1 room with 2 adults occupying on B & B. Having just returned from Cyprus 4 adults had a 2 weeks stay including flights for about £1600. It would seem from this article that there are conflicting reports of the situation. On the one hand we are being told that the hotels/guest house are virtually empty, on the other hand there seems to be a lack of accomodation but then the prices the are being quoted do seem to be extortionate. It is a no brainer really, Weymouth for £3000+ or Cyprus for almost half.
Exactly the problem right here. Plus you cant guarantee the weather (in Cyprus in August you can) and you will have limited access to certain things that in normal seasons you wouldnt have.

Some businesses need a reality check and pitch their prices accordingly. This is the reason that we NEVER have our main holiday in the UK as it comes across to us as a financial ripoff!!!!

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Linda Mann says...
8:42pm Wed 30 May 12

I am in the picture above, and as someone on here comments we are a sorry and glum looking bunch. We probably weren't at our best having served breakfast and cleaned rooms for a few hours before being pushed out in the rain and told by the Echo not to smile! I agree with some of the comments on here, and Im sure lots of you have watched 4 in a bed or the Hotel Inspector and think you could do better, and maybe you could. Yes we do nearly all advertise on bookings.com or late rooms, which is not free for us as most people think but costs a minimum of 15% per booking. Good luck with passing that on to your guests. In six years my business has gone from mostly people phoning up or knocking on the door to being largely internet based. We had set our prices on the advice of booking.com and other industry and Olympic and Travel industry advisors as to be honest we had not a clue how to pitch it. Nobody expects to pay the 'usual' prices when any event is on, be it a concert or The Olympics. I am very positive about The Olympics and think it is a marvelous opportunity for beautiful Weymouth to Showcase itself to the world.

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Desk24 says...
11:28pm Wed 30 May 12

When ,If Condor run, Blitz north France with deals etc. True about tight money, break even late tarrif deals might help. I just dont know, try anything.

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pd7 says...
9:21am Thu 31 May 12

Olympic Games
This could have been nice for Dorset but the way it has been managed and planned is a disaster.
The only real motivation for it is how much money you can make out of it. But in the real life this is not going to happen.
Looking at a few boats hundreds of meters of shore is not a crowd puller.

I am just keeping well away from the complete farce that is starting to unfold.

This should have been a world class event with world class support.

But I have been to better sports days at primary schools.

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boobooweymouth says...
1:58pm Thu 31 May 12

Linda Mann wrote:
I am in the picture above, and as someone on here comments we are a sorry and glum looking bunch. We probably weren't at our best having served breakfast and cleaned rooms for a few hours before being pushed out in the rain and told by the Echo not to smile! I agree with some of the comments on here, and Im sure lots of you have watched 4 in a bed or the Hotel Inspector and think you could do better, and maybe you could. Yes we do nearly all advertise on bookings.com or late rooms, which is not free for us as most people think but costs a minimum of 15% per booking. Good luck with passing that on to your guests. In six years my business has gone from mostly people phoning up or knocking on the door to being largely internet based. We had set our prices on the advice of booking.com and other industry and Olympic and Travel industry advisors as to be honest we had not a clue how to pitch it. Nobody expects to pay the 'usual' prices when any event is on, be it a concert or The Olympics. I am very positive about The Olympics and think it is a marvelous opportunity for beautiful Weymouth to Showcase itself to the world.
Interesting to read your perspective Linda. Out of interest why did you go to the Echo with this? Why not just take a simple business decision to reduce your pricing slightly to increase bookings?

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fastjet says...
2:39pm Sun 3 Jun 12

siratb wrote:
Here are a couple of tariffs I pulled off the web at random:

2012 TARIFF
Per person per night
Weekly Low Season
£32 - £34 weekly from £224
.
Med Season
£34 - £36 weekly from £238
.
High Season
£36 - £38 weekly from £252
.
2012 Olympic Games
29th July - 11th August
£50 - £60 weekly from £350
.
and
.
Tariff Daily Weekly
£32pp - £38pp £180pp - £228pp
7 nights for the price of 6
Olympic dates 28th July - 11th Aug £50pp
.
.
So for a family of 4 to come to Weymouth for a week during the Olympics, I make that £1400. Hmmm, Easyjet and spain sounds a better deal. It is no wonder the regulars are not coming down!
Just a shower of money grabbing sods!!!**!

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monkeydog says...
6:00pm Sun 3 Jun 12

siratb wrote:
Here are a couple of tariffs I pulled off the web at random:

2012 TARIFF
Per person per night
Weekly Low Season
£32 - £34 weekly from £224
.
Med Season
£34 - £36 weekly from £238
.
High Season
£36 - £38 weekly from £252
.
2012 Olympic Games
29th July - 11th August
£50 - £60 weekly from £350
.
and
.
Tariff Daily Weekly
£32pp - £38pp £180pp - £228pp
7 nights for the price of 6
Olympic dates 28th July - 11th Aug £50pp
.
.
So for a family of 4 to come to Weymouth for a week during the Olympics, I make that £1400. Hmmm, Easyjet and spain sounds a better deal. It is no wonder the regulars are not coming down!
Those prices are actually quite reasonable. The comparison with EasyJet and Spain is quite absurd without further information. People come to Weymouth because they choose to. If they preferred to go with EasyJet to Spain they would. Guesthouses set their prices according to a number of criteria and they are subject to prices for essential services and goods which are non-negotiable and they have to cover price hikes in gas and electricity just as every other citizen has to. Before they even open their doors they've spent £2-3000 pounds on insurance, advertising, decorating etc.To suggest as one person said that they are geedy 'sods' is ill-informed and stupid. Most people who run guesthouses earn little more than the average wage if they are lucky and they work very hard to get that. Without them Weymouth would be a dead town and these miserable people having a go at them would find themselves living in a less attractive and lively town. And, for what it's worth, the regulars are not coming because of adverse publicity re the Olympics and poor Council management, not the b&b prices. Before you come out with such absurd comments get your facts right.

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Lizzy Bennett says...
1:28pm Mon 4 Jun 12

How will you all feel when due to the Olympics Wweymouth becomes much more popular as resort.
I was speaking to a B&B owner the other day and he is full because he is charging sensib le pric es.
Dont blame the Olympics for our crap weather this year.

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