After a flight delay, arrived at this hotel a little after midnight which was no problem since I had guaranteed late arrival via credit card. My reservation read "NON-SMOKING QUEEN". I was given a Queen room that was smoking and had a strong smoke smell.
I went down to the desk to point out that I had reserved a NON-Smoking Queen room. The owner asked if I didn't want the room; thinking that he was offering me another room, I said, "Yes". He subsequently gave me a piece of paper showing a zero charge. I asked him what was going on and he told me I could take my business elsewhere. I said no, I'm not going anywhere; I have a reservation. He told me he didn't want my business. I told him that I needed to stay at that hotel as it was extremely late, close to my destination the next day, and that I would call Howard Johnson reservations.
I called reservations and they said that they couldn't do anything about it. Even if you exclude the fraudulent cancellation by this "owner", the fact that Howard Johnson reservations don't even stick up for their own customers means they should be put out of business.
I told the owner that reservations insisted that I get my room. He asked to speak with them, saying they had no right to tell him how to run his business, and I refused. I needed someone to take my side. I begged the manager to help me out; he said he couldn't do anything as the owner controlled the entire hotel. I still refused to leave. After saying something like, "Please sir, I would appreciate it if you could accommodate me, and even though the smoking room was not what I reserved it is better than nothing", he remained silent for a couple of minutes longer and finally gave me a non-smoking king size room on the first floor.
Finally the pressure was off, and I was staying there two nights, but I would NEVER stay there again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Stayed 6/16/07 and 6/17/07.)