Saturday, August 8, 2009

Fixed!

We have fixed the problem with our online "Best Rates" inquiry button. We upgrade our website hosting services a few months back and in the change to the new service some of the script in the online forms did not get changed as well. That has been fixed and tested and is working properly. Again, if you sent an inquiry and did not get a response during this time period, that was the reason. And, we always respond within hours of receiving an inquiry so if you do not hear from us promptly, please feel free to send an email to me directly at mbdishman@gmail.com.

Friday, August 7, 2009

We Always Respond And Promptly

I just discovered a disappointing glitch in our online form for "Best Rates" inquiry. It turns out that when the form is filled out and sent, the result is an email sent to us with blank data. This booking form had been working properly as it was tested. How long has this being going on? We are not sure but our webmaster is looking into it now and we will get it corrected. We always will respond to any email or inquiry within hours (never more than 24) from the time it is received. When this form is completed, a pop up message states just that and gives my alternate email address (mbdishman@gmail.com) in the event that a guest does not receive a prompt reply. When I was receiving these blank email forms, I thought that it was a result of those computer generated programs that try to flood the internet. That is why you see, like I have seen so often, that many sites have you fill out those squiggly letters or numbers that only humans can read and input, to prove that a real person is sending the message.

So, it was with great shock and disappointment that I discovered this last night. I wonder how many potential guests did not follow-up when they did not receive a response from us? I never have had anyone email us or advise when making an online booking that their original inquiry went unanswered so I was not alerted to the problem earlier. We know the importance of prompt communication and that in the age of spam and junk mail folders it is easy for mail or replies to go missing. Another way we try to make sure that the communication remains open is our "Auto Reply" that lets guests know their email will be responded to in 24 hours and anything past that time means that we did not receive their email and gives them our alternate contact.

For us, the reservation process is not just a way to secure new bookings but is our first point of contact with our guests and we want to make that as efficient, friendly and helpful as possible. So if you or anyone you know somehow did not receive a reply from us we apologize but it is not because we did not want to reply, we just did not receive the information that allowed us to do so. Now that you know, we hope to hear from you soon.