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Government closes Amon Plaza (Clarion)
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11867		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  VegasBob [ Fri May 26, 2006 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Government closes Amon Plaza (Clarion)
The Costa Rican government closed the Amon Plaza yesterday for failure to pay their equivelant of Social Security taxes for their employees. This was their third offense which calls for a mandatory closing. I am unaware of if/or when they will reopen. They are allowed to keeps their doors open for the guests who are there currently until they leave,vut they can't take any new bookings. Unfortunately the Paradiso Casino was caught in the middle of all this. They are a separate entity from the hotel and just lease the space.They were investigated also but found to be totally in compliance so front door of the hotel is staying open to allow access to the casino.
The weirdest part of all this is that the Amon just announced a $25 chica fee. They have been running about a 25-30& occupancy rate overall. So they can't fill the rooms,don't pay their taxes,and the solution that the genius owners come up with is to discourage business by charging a stupid chica fee. What a way to run an airline!!!!
Author:  Mucho Gusto [ Fri May 26, 2006 9:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh man, this news sucks. Especially after reading that a lot of CRT members
have reservations there in the upcoming months. Good luck guys.
MG
Author:  Grey Ghost [ Fri May 26, 2006 9:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Yea that does suck, I'll bet Bill and the castillo will profit from this.
Author:  LVSteve [ Fri May 26, 2006 10:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Yes, they will but I feel worse for the Paradisio people. The hotel could stop paying the light bill and the Paradisio would be out of business.
They deserve better. If you are in town and like to gamble, I would encourge you to support them by playing here as much as possible. Nixon, Graham and Unell need our help right now.
LVSteve
Author:  Admin 1 [ Fri May 26, 2006 10:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Hopefully there will be a long term resolution to all this that will benefit CRT but for now we will keep you up to date on the latest developments.
Author:  Tman [ Fri May 26, 2006 10:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Dont panic yet. The government has motivation to make sure the hotel gets back open. These shutdowns happen often and are usually short term. The hotel has been quietly for sale and perhaps this will make the price more realistic (it was way too high in my opinion) and that someone who knows the hotel business better can take over and make this place rock.

Anyone want to buy a hotel 8) ?
Author:  Witling [ Fri May 26, 2006 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 
As often happens, things can turn to shit in a heartbeat.

I had a reservation at the Amon for TONIGHT!

I just called the number on CRT for Nixon of the Paradiso Casino.
A woman answered and there was a baby making noise in the background. I assume it was his wife and the number is his home number.

She said Nixon is in England and as far as she knew the hotel is open.

I called the Hotel at the number on the Clarion (Choice Hotels) website and got no answer.

I then called Clarion's 800 number here in the states and the customer no-service rep told me that my reference number from Nixon didn't match any reference number she had (no kidding). I then asked if she knew if the hotel was open. She put me on hold for a couple minutes.

When she returned she told me that her supervisor told her....wait....sit down...this is good.... "The hotel had sustained heavy damage in the hurricane but would be reopen on June 1st"!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I told her that was bullshit since I was just down there 2 weeks ago and I also just read from friends in town that the hotel had been closed by the local government for not paying their social security.
Of course she had nothing to add to that.

I should have kept my Best Western reservation but fortunately I got a room at the Morazan for $58 inc tax. Now let's just hope it's there when I get there.

And things were going so well.

VB, thanks for the heads-up.
Author:  Broadway [ Fri May 26, 2006 12:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
My two friends are staying at the Amon Plaza so I just walked there to meet them for breakfast (hadn't seen VG's post until now) but the place looks weid. They have yellow tape closing the outdoor restaraunt and yellow tape across everything (it looks like a crime scene). When someone checks out, they put the yellow tape across the room. There's nobody at the front desk and all of the employees look nervous. They are serving breakfast on the third floor. I went to the casino and asked for Nixon and the guy said he's not around. Hopefully they will resolve this soon but I think it would be a good place to avoid for the time being.
Author:  Broadway [ Fri May 26, 2006 12:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
PS: Even the computers have the yellow tape across them as do the house phones. The breakfast is actually being served on the 4th floor.
Author:  Irish Drifter [ Fri May 26, 2006 12:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Broadway wrote:

Quote:
They have yellow tape closing the outdoor restaraunt and yellow tape across everything (it looks like a crime scene). When someone checks out, they put the yellow tape across the room.


This is exactly the situation that happened at the Gran Via in January. After 3 or 4 days they got it straightened out and the tape was removed the computers and phones turned back on the laundry and restaurant reopened. Three months later the owners shut the hotel down

This has happened at the Amon Plaza before and they reopen in a couple of days but it seems to indicate real financial problems which will eventually lead to a permanent shutdown or sale.
Author:  Irish Drifter [ Fri May 26, 2006 12:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tman wrote:

Quote:
Anyone want to buy a hotel ? 8)


Maybe Jmac will buy it to house the dancers he hires for his Kamur night club. He could staff the hotel very cheaply with his strung out body guards. :lol:

Word on the street :evil: is that they work for a very small "fee" :shock:
Author:  Jmacaula [ Fri May 26, 2006 2:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wow, I wasnt aware the Amon Plaza was in any financial troubles.

So are they offering anything to guests that have already booked there, and are scheduled to be there right now? That would totally suck landing in CR to find out your hotel is closed.

Im sure you could find another hotel but thats besdies the point.

No hotel purchasing for me. Way to many digits in that money figure.
Author:  Muffdiver [ Fri May 26, 2006 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Amon Plaza
This is scary! I am one of two CRts who are staying at Amon Plaza.

So that's why the front desk was so strangely deserted when I came in with my Tica of the day at 3:00 this morning... the place was like a ghost town.

However, the rooms are still being serviced, everything in the room is operational and breakfast in the fourth floor was actually pretty decent.

This hotel is not a bad hotel at all. The rooms are just like the average Holiday or Ramada Inn style, complete with the coffee pot and snack/beverage cabinet. The king size bed is quite comfortable and the TV works fine. It is also fairly quiet.

I think if it was run properly it would be a very good investement.

Muffdiver
Author:  LVSteve [ Fri May 26, 2006 9:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
***************** IMPORTANT NEWS *****************

PLEASE READ!!!

JUST HAD A CALL FROM GRAHAM, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE PARADISIO CASINO.

THE HOTEL AMON PLAZA HAS BEEN OPENED.

THE TAPE IS DOWN, ALL SERVICE ARE BACK.

ALL EMPLOYEES ARE BACK.

ALL RESERVATIONS WILL BE HONORED.

EVIDENTLY, THE GOVT. (CAJA) MADE A MISTAKE AND LOST THE RECIEPT FOR PAID TAXES.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE. THEY ARE OPEN.

LVSTEVE
Author:  Zebra [ Fri May 26, 2006 9:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
I wonder if the government will reimburse them for lost revenue while they were closed since it was the government's mistake. :lol: :roll:
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