www.CostaRicaTicas.com

For some reason, this was a difficult post to write, so am glad to see I made my point. I was worried that it sounded confused.

As I had said, I have no illusion that dress code policy has or will change, so I will have to face that reality when I return there as a guest. So having recognized my tastes have changed, I will just have to do as several have suggested and stay elsewhere when I feel like selecting from a different shelf. As far as I am concerned, the GM of this hotel is a shrewd business man who truly does care about customer satisfaction. Many a business could learn from his example. I look forward to returning a bit of my business back their way as I do enjoy staying there!

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OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

LtS4 - I read both recent posts twice. If I got it right, you emailed to cancel and that brought you to a lengthy discussion with the GM. As a result, you have been persuaded to consider staying at the Pres again even though you think that nothing you said will effect the portion of Pres policy which you abhor. Oh yeah, and the GM has good "people" skills.

I think you might have got sold, amigo.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Nah.....I did not get sold a ball of wax. I still do not like the Dress Code policy at the Prez, but truly do appreciate a business who actually wants to retain my business and are willing to go the extra mile to at least discuss my dis-satisfaction. As I have said, it has always been my preferred place to stay while I am in SJO, but will need to monitor my future selections to ensure I am not selecting just based on their ability to be allowed entry to the hotel. I still fancy the more conservative Ticas, which have never been a problem. But find myself drawn to the more "slutty" lately.......LOL My point more was about the class the GM showed by direct engagement with me on my feedback that I appreciated most.

I find it hard to believe that my money is any different than someone else who stays in the room. And there always seems to be someone to fill the room, these days! So I am struggling to grasp why the GM would spend his valuable time to convince a guest to reconsider the hotel given the current demand to stay there.

_________________
OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

YO Looking:

I glad that you were fortunate to have conversed with Daniel. He is a fine gentleman and a very diligent GM. As I had written about in a historical look on the Presidente, Daniel descends from one of the two founders of the Hotel and that hard work ethic is in his blood.

Whenever I had a problem at the hotel, Daniel or his asst. Katherine, corrected it. This is rare to find in CR at a major hotel. Bill at the Sportsman is of course a hands on GM - owner who cares for his guests but in a much smaller business. I've seen Daniel bus tables, bartend, work the front desk and even see guests to their room....Hell, he may have even washed dishes knowing him.

Too many on here seem to forget or do not want to consider that this hotel looks at the big picture. Certainly I respect other member's problem with the dress code but they have ample lodgings to choose from. And yes, as a major hotel GM, I would not want to be titled as a monger - whore hotel. I just imagine that Daniel's family is proud of the work he has done and the image he has created. It's quite a trick to still have "ladies" escorted to prospective rooms and yet make many nationalities, businessmen and tourists enjoy their stay at this hotel.

Certainly if you are uncomfortable staying there I can't blame you lodging elsewhere. I would recommend you having that drink with Daniel.....he is a class act.

If I were to have a drink with the GM to discuss how the hotel is run,I would explain that the problem that CRT members have with staying there now is that the dress code is still being applied in a very haphazzard manner. A chica's outfit may be acceptable one night by the guard on duty,and outright rejected by another the following night. The arbitrary nature of "who and how" the rules are enforced are difficult for guys to decifer. After all,we are just guys on vacation who want to have fun. It's not much fun for a guy to bring a chica back to his room,who looks to us like she would be dressed appropriately for a Presidential Inauguration to be reject from getting into the elevator of the hotel. Perhaps if there was ONE person on duty each shift,making decisions about what's acceptable,the decisions would be more uniform and acceptable.

That is exactly the conversation I am planning to have with him and had eluded to when he asked me for recommendations on how to improve that process. As others have mentioned, I have the impression of a Class Act, and I want to meet him so I can assess that for myself. As I have articulated, in other posts, I have stayed there 10+ times, for a total of 40+ days, and had never had any guest denied until this last trip. But the fact that it happened several times in just a few days raised a Red Flag that required some reflection, on my part, about my choice of hotels.

I recognize my choices for ladies seem to be changing, and those desires will sometimes not be a good fit for the Prez. But there are plenty of other times where my selections WILL fit the Prez Dress Code. So that just means that I will not always make the Prez my primary choice when I travel to SJO as it will depend on what kind of a mood I am in. But when I am in the mood for the conservative tica look that I still enjoy, The Prez is a good fit and a wonderful place to stay. The bottom line is I believe I may have overreacted, just a bit, to my experience and wanted to revise the record. I only wish I'd had this conversation with the GM much earlier as my post might have taken on a slightly different tone.

I appreciate the fact that they cared enough to directly engage with me on this matter. They could have easily blown me off, but they didn't! That is a quality that I truly value and am more than happy to reward with loyalty.

_________________
OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

What the hotel will learn eventually (probably when it is for sale) is that family themed travel/tourism is a losing proposition. Las Vegas was the textbook case for that ten years ago. Alot of tourism officials are working in other industries now as a penalty for trying to promote family tourism.
Eco tourists do not go to San Jose anyway. Next flight ask any non monger tourist how long they will stay in San Jose? I bet you will not find more than 2 or 3 that will stay longer than 24 hours. And none will stay longer than 48 hours. We (mongers) spend more and visit more frequently. The eco tourists will visit once or twice in a lifetime, where many of us are shooting for 5+ visits a year. But it is muy tico to spend big on promoting tourism to the occasional and very low dollar family tourist, while letting the lucrative big dollar monger clients walk out the door.

MrLasVegas if you are saying that the tourist market in San Jose is predominantly composed of mongers you are seriously mistaken.

What did or did not happen in Las Vegas has absolutely no correlation as that is a totally different destination and market than San Jose..

The Presidente management is astute enough to understand that catering to both is in their best interest just as ts SL has determined their market is mongers and the Grand Hotel Costa Rica has determined their niche is eco tourists and business men. In fact the majority of hotels cater to eco-tourists and grudgingly accept mongers. For every monger hotel you can name I can come up with ten, at a bare minimum, non monger properties.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I am not saying the market is predominantely mongers. I am saying the most lucrative market, the one that makes the trouble of operating the property worthwhile, is us. The family/eco tourist is very high maintenance, low profit group. With the K*ds and college age eco crowd, it is all about coupons, discounts and everything on the cheap.And they will make pests of themselves till they get it. As soon as the economy slumps, these travelers are the first to stop coming. They have mortgages, K*ds to feed, etc. Lots of reasons to skip spending money for a vacation.

The monger, or shall we call us "single leisure traveler" is trying to keep a lower profile. We will spend alot of money on items with a good markup, like alcohol and cigarettes. Also will be spending more on food. How many family travelers can make it to anyplace but Mc Donalds or Pizza Hut? Ever thought about taking a little one to a five star restaurant? Ain't going to happen.

What happened in LV has a great similarity to San Jose. The valley Las Vegas is in has alot of family tour activities. And back in the 50's, 60's and early 70's was a hot family destination with some adult entertainment as a sideline.It reinvented itself into "Sin City" in the current form in the mid 90's after trying to restart the family era. Destinations like Orlando have been taking notes and are trying to diversify to avoid getting branded a family destination completely.

I started out in LV 13 years ago as a break in (newbie) at Circus Circus.
It did not take long for me to figure out that this family friendly business was just to fuel a tax write off. And consequently pay was bad. Went to a more adult themed resort as quickly as possible, pay went up and better work enviroment. In short, this family friendly approach in the end is a losing game. Anywhere.