Hello Ryan and Benzi,
The way to resolve this is quite simple. According to their website, during the off-season cancelations made at least 24 hrs out are not chargeable.
Here is their current policy:
https://www.tamareshotels.com/terms-and-conditions
"Cancellation fee during regular season:
Guests canceling a reservation up to 24 hours before Arrival will not be charged" - This applies to the JAN 6-10 cancelation as we canceled 48hrs out (Fri before the Sunday check-in).
"Guests canceling a reservation less than 24 hours before arrival date will be charged for one night for each room reserved on the basis of the type of board and lodging reserved." This applies to our cancelation in March. Most of our group cancelled within 24hrs.
Jan 6-10 cancelation: no charge
- I add that we made up for most of that loss during the rescheduled conference in late Jan when we booked about the same number of rooms.
March cancelation: One night extra charged per customer.
The hotel needs to legally follow their policy per the website. We don't need to drop the hammer as of yet.
BRs, Will
William "Judy" Haag, Lt Col, USAF
ECJ7-JTrEx, Joint Training and Exercise Planner
DSN: 314-430-2203
Comm: +49 (0) 711 680 2203
William.j.haag.mil@mail.mil
William.j.haag.mil@mail.smil.mil
-----Original Message-----
From: Weber, Ryan A [
mailto:WeberRA2@state.gov]
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 9:55 AM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>; Unruh, Nicholas D <UnruhND@state.gov>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>; Benzi Zimerman <Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Tom,
When the issue in January came up, our visits NCO spent days going back and forth with W. Ashdod trying to work out a resolution for the cancellations and explaining our agreement with other hotels throughout Israel: we use their hotels (bringing them lots of business during slow times) but they agree not to come after us if something happens that causes us to cancel at the last minute. This arrangement works with all other hotels but W. Ashdod cannot seem to understand how this works in their favor in the long time.
After multiple conversations with them, they DID NOT agree to this and still wanted us to find a way reimburse them for 50% of the January visit. We told W. Ashdod that this meant we would no longer recommend them to travelers but they didn't care. After this, we recommended to EUCOM cut ties from W. Ashdod.
Unfortunately, the embassy does not have any further actions to take on this. I highly recommend that find an alternative hotel to work with in the future.
Thanks.
VR/
Ryan Weber
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
Assistant Naval Attaché to Israel
U.S. Embassy Branch Office, Tel Aviv
Office: +972-3-519-7486
Cell: +972-50-645-2298
-----Original Message-----
From: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 10:46 AM
To: Weber, Ryan A <WeberRA2@state.gov>; Unruh, Nicholas D <UnruhND@state.gov>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>; Benzi Zimerman <Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
New issue. The West Hotel Ashdod wants to charge us for the entire reservation, even though we all left over a week early because the Israeli Minister of Health told us to get out.
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: Weber, Ryan A [
mailto:WeberRA2@state.gov]
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 9:01 AM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>; Unruh, Nicholas D <UnruhND@state.gov>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>; Benzi Zimerman <Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Tom,
Is this a new issue (from JC-20) or is this still the issue from January?
Thanks.
VR/
Ryan Weber
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
Assistant Naval Attaché to Israel
U.S. Embassy Branch Office, Tel Aviv
Office: +972-3-519-7486
Cell: +972-50-645-2298
-----Original Message-----
From: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 9:53 AM
To: Unruh, Nicholas D <UnruhND@state.gov>; Weber, Ryan A <WeberRA2@state.gov>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>; Benzi Zimerman <Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Nick, Ryan,
See below. Who at the US Embassy can the IDF attorney work with to keep us from getting stiffed by the hotels for leaving Israel early.
V/R
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: Benzi Zimerman [
mailto:Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:41 PM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Tom - is there someone in the embassy we can try and work with?
From what I understand from the lawyer, this will be a challenge.
v/r
MAJ Benzi Zimmerman
Head, International Cooperation Desk
IDF Operations Directorate - Plans, Doctrine & Exercises (J3-5/7)
T: +972-3-740-7723 | M: +972-5-42074487 | E: benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il
-----Original Message-----
From: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:36 PM
To: Benzi Zimerman <Benzi_zimerman@mail.gov.il>
Cc: McDonough, Robert Charles CIV EUCOM ECJA (USA) <robert.c.mcdonough2.civ@mail.mil>; Haag, William J Lt Col USAF EUCOM ECJ3 (USA) <william.j.haag.mil@mail.mil>
Subject: FW: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Benzi,
See below, Is the IDF lawyer working this issue? They were supposed to be working with the MOD and MOF to get us some resolution on the cancelations
Thanks,
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: WA_Recp [
mailto:West.ashdod@tamareshotels.co.il]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 2:32 PM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Dear Mr. Thomas Hooper
We still did not get a final answer about the accounts of the whole USA ENBASSY group. This is the reason why we still don't have final invoices.
When we will have an answer and close all the accounts we will send you the invoice as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience and understanding,
The front desk staff
-----Original Message-----
From: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) [
mailto:thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 2:04 PM
To: WA_Recp
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
0800am on 8 March 2020
-----Original Message-----
From: WA_Recp [
mailto:West.ashdod@tamareshotels.co.il]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:01 PM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Do you remember the time you check out?
-----Original Message-----
From: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) [
mailto:thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:53 PM
To: WA_Recp
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
Yes, I did and they gave me the attached statement. However, I need a final invoice.
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: WA_Recp [
mailto:West.ashdod@tamareshotels.co.il]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 11:25 AM
To: Hooper, Thomas M CTR EUCOM ECJ7 (USA) <thomas.m.hooper2.ctr@mail.mil>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] West Ashdod hotel
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________________________________
Dear Mr. Thomas Hooper
Did you passed through the reception to tell that you are leaving on the 8/3?
Thank you,
< Caution-mailto:west.ashdod@tamareshotels.co.il >
< Caution-http://www.tamareshotels.co.il/ >
< Caution-http://www.facebook.com/tamares >