Sleep Inn Beaufort, SC AND Choice Hotels, Inc. Filthy, musty, lack of hospitality...leaves a bad taste in your mouth! Beaufort South Carolina

To date: July 29, 2008 there has been no resolution by the hotel OR Choice Hotels Corporate Offices, and BOTH are aware of our complaints! The hotel has given nothing but a poorly written email laced with inaccuracies, and Corporate has yet to take any action!

Poor service + lack of accountability = a ripoff by all involved. they have NO regard for people and their money; only what they can take from the unsuspecting travelers.

Before I take anything back, I'll add more to it! --- That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
(Read the email trail and the account of the events.)

Subject: Re: Sleep Inn --- Beaufort, SC
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:26:58 +0000

Choice Hotels Corporate Offices:
I was told that I would receive a response from the Sleep Inn Hotel in Beaufort...July 17th and there's STILL no response! It's been more than 10 (ten) working days later.

One of your "Customer Relations" Representatives (Scott) tells me that there's nothing you (Corporate Offices) can do until you receive a copy of the letter, that's supposedly "in the mail" from Sleep Inn, Beaufort.

Problem:
- Continued lack of customer service/satisfaction from "Customer Relations" Department
- No follow-up from the Corporate Offices without being prompted
- Process to handle issues, such as these is flawed
- Continued service, or the lack thereof, will draw NEGATIVE publicity to Beaufort, SC and their Tourism Industry
- Justice delayed is justice denied!

Juan: Any other publicity that you can give on the dissatisfaction of this horrific experience back in June during Wendell's wedding would be much appreciated. I'll send a video for airing, if I need to!

I Remain,

Subject: Re: Sleep Inn --- Beaufort, SC
Date: Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:00:49 +0000
The incident occurred the weekend of June 6-8. We arrived at the hotel after traveling over 11 hours on the road. Our party (3 family sets) checked-in late on the night of the 6th and early in the morning of the 7th for a wedding to be held on that Saturday.

The morning of the 7th arrived and we left our rooms to attend the wedding. One room was entered before we left and the housekeeper was told that we'll be in the room for just a few more minutes, then they could come in to clean the room. Of all of the rooms that we occupied (four), NONE were cleaned!

We came back late, after the wedding reception to find the rooms in the same condition that we left them... We instructed the Front Desk and the attendant stated that the housekeepers were gone for the evening. We asked that the General Manager contact us THAT night, because that was considered an unsatisfactory answer! Needless to say, there was no return call.

The following day, we spoke with Raj Ardra (Arora)sp, who stated that he was the GM. His attitude in taking care of our requests and his response was unsatisfactory!

He questioned the fact that we showed him a "note" that was left by one housekeeper stating that "since, there were items on the bed "a hangar with it's plastic wrapping from a tuxedo rental, she could not make the beds and clean the room.

The Maintenance man couldn't fix the sliding door that was to give privacy to the bathroom from the living area in my room. When he came by for the second time, he stated that it was a "two man" job, and couldn't be completed that night.

The same Maintenance man couldn't find a remote control that would operate the television.

When we went to have breakfast that was advertised in the room rate, we had to ask how to gain access to milk! We were told later by the GM that the milk man didn't arrive, so we had to open the milk dispenser (as if it were a refrigerator) to get the gallon jug of milk out to pour...another safety/sanitation hazard.

The rooms had a musty odor. It was as if there was a mold or mildew problem in the carpet, padding, ventilation system, etc. Because of the extreme humidity in Beaufort, it's not uncommon for calls regarding humidity damage. There could also be a problem with the lack of having the room occupied (little or no ventilation in the rooms). Most people just try to air out their rooms or car but they soon realize that the musty smell just keeps coming back. That's because the musty odor is a mold or bacteria problem and the mold smell will just keep getting worse if allowed to sit for an extended amount of time. Once allowed to grow, the mold spores and bacteria get very accustomed and start to deposit their offending odor to other parts of a building or a car. That's also why people usually start getting the musty smell from their vehicles air ventilation system when the weather gets humid.

Mr. Raj Ardra's(sp) attitude when we approached him with this and many other issues specific to their (the other family sets), we were doubted in our claims! We left unsatisfied and as if we were lying. We instructed Mr. Ardra that we would follow-up with our comments to the Choice Hotels Corporate Office. For full disclosure, we did receive some consideration regarding our disputes, but there were a lot of unanswered questions as to why we were treated as we were and one family set received NO consideration in their complaint.

Not totally satisfied from my point of view, I'm addressing this letter to you for your review. A longtime resident of Beaufort, I grew up there and graduated from Beaufort High School. We came for a wedding and I KNOW that the caliber of hospitality presented to us in the hotel is not indicative of the people and businesses of Beaufort. Seeing that Sleep Inn, on Boundary Street is listed as one of the hotels in the area on your website, I was livid and know that with that type of service will only lead tourists to other destinations.

Respectfully,

Subject: FW: Sleep Inn Complaints for Beaufort, SC Stay
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:19:31 +0000

Fyi...this is NOT the hospitality that I am accustomed to, when coming to Beaufort...in a town where I was raised! This was a bit embarrassing to me and the guests that we invited!
You are at liberty to call and discuss Case # 3262267 as listed with Choice Hotels as a reference.

Subject: Sleep Inn Complaints for Beaufort, SC Stay
Date: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:28:01 AM

All,
I called and spoke with Bob in the Choice Hotels Corporate Office (1.800.300.8800 Ext. 5211) Customer Relations Department.

I relayed all of my concerns, and he was adamant about reminding me that he could ONLY take individual comments/complaints of any displeasure. I gave him your names and phone numbers, but he did not confirm that he would make any effort to contact you; therefore, if you deemed the stay and unpleasant one in any aspect, please call to make your comments known!:

Sleep Inn
2523 Boundary Street
Beaufort, SC, 29902
www.choicehotels.com/hotel/sc018

Owner: Rusty Wilson
General Manager: Raj Arora or Ardra gm.sc018@choicehotels.com
Owner Group: Hina Enterprises, LP
(Same as the hotel)
Hina Enterprises
2523 Boundary Street Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
PHONE: (843) 522-3361
FAX: (843) 522-9929
http://www.broadleafcapital.com/

E-mail us: jobs@hinaenterpriseslp.com jobs@hinaenterpriseslp.com
Occupancy Rate: 86 Rooms, 3 Floors

Rondarl
Manassas, Virginia
U.S.A.