Spaggis, thanks for posting that. It's really quite ridiculous, and you have some "name-brand" properties on that list too (the Marriott, of course, and Pacific Palisades is a Kimpton, and Quality Inn Airport).

FWIW, the Pacific Palisades is no longer part of the Kimpton hotel group.

There are now 3 complaints about the Robsonstrausse canceling Olympics reservations on Trip Advisor. The hotel posted such a poor defense of its practices as a response, it's almost comical.

http://tinyurl.com/y9zw57s

Thank you for posting the names of the hotels with such questionable practices. We are planning a trip to Vancouver in August 2010 - before and after an Alaska cruise - and we will be certain NOT to look at any of those hotels.

Too bad they don't seem to realize that the Olympics are only for a limited time ... but the internet is forever ....

christy1, I remembered this thread and thought you'd be interested in an article in the Globe this morning about the Robsonstrasse and how it refused to sign up for VANOC's hotels program, which sets price limits during the Games so that visitors are not gouged. This hotel's manager fully admits he is taking advantage of the Olympics to jack up prices way over that of other hotels who DID sign up for the program. He says the profits will be used to finance "renovations". Ha.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/about-vanc...e+life+strasse

Thanks for the update. I notice there are multiple Trip Advisor postings about Robsonstrausse guests having their Olympics reservations cancelled by the hotel. It seems like this behavior is the exception--I'm glad to see that this isn't rampant among Vancouver hotels.

Is your friend still looking for a hotel room? I MAY be able to steer them toward a reputable business looking to resell a hotel block for the entire time. I would assume it would be at their cost. If they are interested please let me know [email protected]

No, they luckily found another.

I hope you all realize the rates will go up exponentially - Simple economics of
Supply and demand. All the hotels in Vancouver have had an expected price hike. In fact, every business has a bottom line philosophy and that is to make money. Customer services goes out the window when the demand for rooms in Vancouver is high. You cant blame a business for followings its own mandate. No one is to blame - only VANOC.
They forced a rate cap on hotels in 2006 for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics by securing 31,000 rooms from various hotels in Vancouver for there own corporate use and this created a compression in the market with only 11,000 rooms available to the general public. Also added pressure when the Norwegian liner floating hotel canceled all reservation for Feb 2010 and left 1100 passengers hunting for hotel rooms. As long as the market can bear the high price, the demand will continue

Desmo, if the hotel has a contract with a person who has paid a nonrefundable rate in full, as in this case, then surely you don't think the hotel should be canceling on its guests.