[Assam] The Nano & not so nano stuff

[Chan Mahanta]

>  >Just the way I have been fortunate to stay in clean
>and safe hotels in India.


*** But from what I can read, you don't have to be privileged to stay 
in clean hotels in India. Only the  real cheap hotels like those 
costing Rs. 2,000/- or  Rs. 3,000/-  per night  are filthy :-).


>  >Unfortunately,  I do not know of any technology that
>allows to physically verify the cleanliness, quality
of beds etc through internet.


*** That is an astute observation, possible only from a highly 
trained Indian technocrat like Asok of Dilbert.  But there is such a 
thing called users' comments and feedback. Someone who booked hotel 
rooms thru the internet should know that by now.


>  >You can just put a complaint to HOJO or inquire about
>their franchise model .   Unfortunately, I  did not
save their response ... else could have sent it to you


**** I have no interest in seeing them. When I get substandard 
service, I don't go back to them, because there are PLENTY of choices 
available, unlike around DumDum.

But my curiosity remains: If HOJO 's business model has no room to 
respond to customer complaints and disaffections, and THAT HOJO 
franchise epitomize the state of the motel/hotel business, as you 
argue,  it could mean only two things:

	Customers are fools and don't know or care when they are 
getting the short end
	of the stick and still keep going back to them.

	Or that there are no other choices available and are forced to.

Question is which is true?  I am certain it won't take the brains of 
a steel-trap  minded IIT engineer or IIM business whiz to figure that 
out.


>  >Just check up Tripadvisor.com and you will find
>complaints against numerous hotels in US not just
"THAT HOJO".

**** Surprise of surprises! I did not realize US hotels can be bad. I 
am devastated!!

But there is an antidote to it. Isn't there? When you see the 
complaints should you go back to them? Or are there no choices?



>BTW,  you (and many NRA/NRI) have numerous complaint
>against different Indian products/services.  Ask an
>Harvard MBA to explain how these Indian businesses are
surviving.

**** Do they? Must be their false sense of superiority, making you 
Indians look bad.

  I do have some ideas, but I lack common sense. Why don't you tell 
us? You are the expert.


>  >As a matter of fact,  I did not find it in any hotel
>in India ... even not so expensive ones ... may be I
was lucky.

**** Nooo! It must be the American hotels that are hotbeds of 
infestation.  You have pointed it out yourself  with THAT HOJO 
example from Orlando that must be the archetype of US motels/hotels.

>  >The hotels ranged from budget to 5 stars
like Park

*** I happen to know a whole lot about the Park Hotel. I was there 
when it opened. My close buddy and then partner was the hotel 
architect and sat with Jit Paul in his a/c office.  But that was long 
ago. I hope the inside story has since gotten better.


>  >Also,  what is important here is should (ethically) a
>chain owner own up the responsibility or just sell his
name and sit tight.

*** Wow! I learn something everyday.

So what should we surmise from this piece of wisdom that you shared?

	A: AAA rating means nothing. They rate it ** or ***  to a 
hellhole like HOJO franchise.

	B:  That HOJO customers , American fools, flock to it, in 
spite of it being the pits.

Why else would HOJO won't live up to its responsibilities while 
selling its name  ? That is the big conundrum here, isn't it?  But I 
am sure an IIM MBA can explain the riddle. Shall we?



>  >
We know about your apathy towards FOB

*** It is not apathy. It is a knowledge gleaned from observing many a 
desi in these shores who make sweeping judgements about the world 
from tiny examples and insignificant experiences, while remaining 
mired in a defensive mode from their own inferiority complexes borne 
out of decades of ineffectiveness in improving their national lot.



>  >Heh-heh ----  couple of years back I used a AAA
>Approved auto repair shop which was trying to rip me
>with an estimate of $1600.  I moved to a different
>shop and was done with $900 ... .
>When I complained to AAA they came up with
>explanations like our Approved shops give 1 year
>warranty on repairs etc. 
>And I already mentioned about the fate of my complaint
>to AAA in this issue.
>Want to know more ?   AAA gave me an incorrect Auto
>Insurance quote last year and dropped my collission
>coverage.  When I contacted, they added the same and
>charged me $400 extra.  It was only after I moved to
>Dept of Insurance, did they waived the additional
>charge. Being a recent incident I have all the
documents if you want to verify.


**** No need to prove. This I can believe . I always go to dealership 
repair shops , even though I know I pay more, because they are more 
reliable.


>  >but the company
>which owns HOJO also owns Ramada which run some star
>category hotels. Also, HOJO hotels are rated 2 - 3
star by AAA.



On the other hand, I am yet to be burnt on a AAA rated motel. There 
however are different ratings. One has to know what the AAA one 
diamond, two diamond or three diamond ratings are and what the black 
diamonds  represent or red diamonds represent. They do not have  STAR 
(*) ratings.  I just happen to have a AA tour book on my desk, and it 
does not show either HOJO or Ramada Inn in their  recommended 
hotels/motels list, much less rate them with stars.


I won't reply any more on this thread.

The POINT here is that, someone pointing out the dirty laundry of the 
Indian condition does not necessarily mean that the critic is 
attempting to compare it with the American or European or the 
developed world.  So the abject defensiveness displayed by the 
offended proves only one thing: Their own inferiority complex.















At 1:42 PM -0800 1/11/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote:
>But I have also >>been fortunate
>>>enough now to go stay in hotels that are safer bets.
>
>Just the way I have been fortunate to stay in clean
>and safe hotels in India.
>
>
>  >>we choose our hotels
>>>for location, cleanliness and room comforts , like
>>>the quality of the
>>>beds, the pillows, the air-conditioning and so
>
>Unfortunately,  I do not know of any technology that
>allows to physically verify the cleanliness, quality
>of beds etc through internet.
>
>
>>>Perhaps an MBA will explain how HOJOs stay in
>>>business, if their
>>>business model is what KC experienced at Orlando
>
>You can just put a complaint to HOJO or inquire about
>their franchise model .   Unfortunately, I  did not
>save their response ... else could have sent it to you
>
>Just check up Tripadvisor.com and you will find
>complaints against numerous hotels in US not just
>"THAT HOJO".  
>
>BTW,  you (and many NRA/NRI) have numerous complaint
>against different Indian products/services.  Ask an
>Harvard MBA to explain how these Indian businesses are
>surviving.
>
>>>But in tropical India it is present almost
>>>everywhere. You can tell
>>>by the telltale blood spots  on the mattress when
>>>you lift the bed
>
>As a matter of fact,  I did not find it in any hotel
>in India ... even not so expensive ones ... may be I
>was lucky. My range of travel included pretty much
>most of South India, parts of Western India and
>Calcutta.  The hotels ranged from budget to 5 stars
>like Park (at companies expense though :) )
>
>
>>>BTW, where did
>>>that quality reference came from ? Hope it was not
>from some FOBs
>
>
>We know about your apathy towards FOB but the company
>which owns HOJO also owns Ramada which run some star
>category hotels. Also, HOJO hotels are rated 2 - 3
>star by AAA.
>
>Also,  what is important here is should (ethically) a
>chain owner own up the responsibility or just sell his
>name and sit tight.
>
>
>>>If it was AAA rated, I would have gone to AAA for
>>>complaints.  They
>>>do care about their credibility.
>
>Heh-heh ----  couple of years back I used a AAA
>Approved auto repair shop which was trying to rip me
>with an estimate of $1600.  I moved to a different
>shop and was done with $900 ... .
>When I complained to AAA they came up with
>explanations like our Approved shops give 1 year
>warranty on repairs etc. 
>And I already mentioned about the fate of my complaint
>to AAA in this issue.
>Want to know more ?   AAA gave me an incorrect Auto
>Insurance quote last year and dropped my collission
>coverage.  When I contacted, they added the same and
>charged me $400 extra.  It was only after I moved to
>Dept of Insurance, did they waived the additional
>charge. Being a recent incident I have all the
>documents if you want to verify.
>
>>>**** I have never encountered bed bugs myself. I
>>>read about the
>infestations in NYC in a magazine.  But I have also
>>>been fortunate
>>>enough now to go stay in hotels that are safer bets.
>
>>>In recent years we have traveled a great deal around
>in the US. While
>>>we don't stay in four or five star rated facilities
>( the star rating
>>>is for facilities and amenities we don't need -- we
>choose our hotels
>  >>for location, cleanliness and room comforts , like
>the quality of the
>beds, the pillows, the air-conditioning and so forth)
>, we stay in
>good facilities, higher in quality than we used to
>choose in our
>younger days when the primary condition used to be the
>cost. But even
>then we never had any bed bug encounters.  Way back in
>our early
>years, our favorite used to be Motel 6. $ 6:00 per
>night. And they
>were clean and comfortable. There was always a Denny's
>nearby for a
>hearty eggs and ham breakfast with
>
>But in tropical India it is present almost everywhere.
>You can tell
>by the telltale blood spots  on the mattress when you
>lift the bed
>sheet. Something I learned not to do any more if I can
>help it. It is
>par for the course.
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>>>>**** Hmmm! I wonder why THAT hotel had vacancy,
>>>>while the rest were
>>>>all full,
>>
>>I thought you had a little more commonsense.  We
>>booked it in Advance ... through internet (HOJO site)
>>if you want to know how.
>
>
>
>
>>If the brand owner shruggs off responsibility, it
>only
>>means unethical business practice. 
>>Again,  I did thought you had more wit to understand
>>this.
>
>
>**** So what one might infer from it is that the
>American traveler
>does not care. They are far too unsophisticated
>consumers and are
>pleased to be ripped off by HOJOs of the world.   Is
>that what it
>means? I ask, because lacking common sense I seek
>expert advice.
>Perhaps an MBA will explain how HOJOs stay in
>business, if their
>business model is what KC experienced at Orlando and
>the quality of
>their franchise is defined by THAT HOJO in Orlando..
>
>
>
>>   >That is more appropriate for you who  build his
>views
>on India staying out of India for over 20 years.
>
>
>*** I explained I am no Indian hotel hopper. My
>experiences are
>primarily with those around Kolkata airport.  And
>airport retiring
>rooms in Delhi and Kolkata. My very few stays in Delhi
>hotels were in
>very expensive ones where I have no complaint other
>than the
>exorbitant prices. Now I have found the Ahuja guest
>houses which
>serve my needs quite well.,
>
>
>
>>   >I booked the hotel through Howard Johnson website
>and
>booked it just because it had the brand label.
>
>**** I see the problem: HOJO as the BRAND of choice .
>BTW, where did
>that quality reference came from ? Hope it was not
>from some FOBs
>:-). HOJO ,even way back in the 70s  used to be the
>butt of jokes
>EVEN  here in the midwest. Many are operated by desis
>. That is how I
>associated its ownership.
>If it was AAA rated, I would have gone to AAA for
>complaints.  They
>do care about their credibility.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>>>>If I am not mistaken, Orlando  has more motels and
>>>>hotels per square
>>>>mile than most other cities in the entire USA
>>
>>Sure you are not mistaken ?  I mean you were pretty
>>confident that HOJO is owned by Desi :-)
>>
>>>>if not the world. And
>>>>THAT  HOJO becomes the the standard bearer of the
>>>>industry?
>>
>>Hmmm ....  the same old game.  the Msn news on bed
>>bugs talks about hotels OTHER THAN THAT HOJO.  Search
>>the blogs and you will find numerous THAT HOJO/Days
>>Inn/ Travelodge etc.  Let me know if you need some
>>help in searching
>>
>>
>>>>Kup Monduk. The proverbial frog in the well whose
>>>>world view is formed by its confines.
>>
>>That is more appropriate for you who  build his views
>  >on India staying out of India for over 20 years.
>>
>>>>*** A very poor analogy. An automobile, a product,
>>>>is different from
>>>>a hotel FRANCHISE, a service.
>>
>>I booked the hotel through Howard Johnson website and
>>booked it just because it had the brand label.
>>Similarly you buy a product based on brand label.
>>
>>If the brand owner shruggs off responsibility, it
>only
>>means unethical business practice. 
>>Again,  I did thought you had more wit to understand
>>this.
>>
>>
>>>    >Exactly  and so Bed bugs in some sleazy hotel in
>>India
>>>should not be considered as a bench mark
>>
>>
>>
>>>>**** Heh-heh!
>>
>>>>So, bed-bugs in Indian hotels is a rarity huh?
>>>>Since I am no expert
>>>>on hotel hopping in India I will just have to let
>>>>the experts and the
>>>>experienced judge that one.
>>
>>
>>>    >We did move out a day after the incident  did
>not
>>have
>>much choice ... it was a holiday weekend.
>>
>>**** Hmmm! I wonder why THAT hotel had vacancy, while
>>the rest were
>>all full, in spite of bed-bugs and leaky bathrooms
>>that must define
>>the state of hotels and motels, except those horribly
>>expensive five
>>star rated ones!
>>
>>If I am not mistaken, Orlando  has more motels and
>>hotels per square
>>mile than most other cities in the entire USA, if not
>>the world. And
>>THAT  HOJO becomes the the standard bearer of the
>>industry?
>>Interesting indeed.  There is an ancient Oxomiya
>>phrase that
>>describes the tack: Kup Monduk. The proverbial frog
>in
>>the well whose
>>world view is formed by its confines.
>>
>>But really it is an unnecessary defensiveness. No one
>>is attempting
>>to judge the INdian condition with an American
>>benchmark. Looks tacky.
>>
>>
>>>    >
>>>However,  having choice does not justify the
>business
>>>model of HOJO ... an  American Company.   Imagine
>you
>>>buy a Tata Indica/Nano in Guwahati and if there are
>>>problem,  Tata says your dealer should take care of
>>it
>>>.... we do not have any responsibility !
>>
>>
>>*** A very poor analogy. An automobile, a product,
>is
>>different from
>>a hotel FRANCHISE, a service. Consumers are protected
>>by Lemon Laws
>>against defective autos. Filthy hotel operation is a
>>public health
>>responsibility, regulated by local authorities. One
>>would have
>>thought an expert in American business practices
>would
>>know the
>>difference between a franchise and a product
>>liability.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>At 10:28 AM -0800 1/11/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty
>>wrote:
>>>    >>Incidentally the bed-bug infestation in NYC is
>>NOT
>>>>>confined to sleazy
>>>>>hotels. It is an epidemic even in some of the
>>>>>city's glitziest
>>>>>high-rise condos and apartment houses, a public
>>>>>health crisis, almost.
>>>
>>>Exactly  and so Bed bugs in some sleazy hotel in
>>India
>>>should not be considered as a bench mark
>>>
>>>>>*** American consumers have many recourses.
>Easiest
>>>of it is
>>>>>availability of CHOICE.
>>>
>>>We did move out a day after the incident  did not
>>have
>>>much choice ... it was a holiday weekend.  In fact,
>>>on day of incident we did not have ANY CHOICE except
>>>moving to some 5 star paying a couple of hundred
>>>dollars.   you will surely have such CHOICE
>>everywhere
>>>in India if you are ready to pay for 5 stars
>>>
>>>
>>>However,  having choice does not justify the
>business
>>>model of HOJO ... an  American Company.   Imagine
>you
>>>buy a Tata Indica/Nano in Guwahati and if there are
>>>problem,  Tata says your dealer should take care of
>>it
>>>.... we do not have any responsibility !
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>>I have no trouble believing that.
>>>
>>>>>Actually my very first experience in a Chicago
>>>Travelodge in 1976
>>>was very much like what these videos portray.
>>>
>>>>>But to suggest or imply that these facilities in
>>NYC
>>>or Chicago or LA
>>>or SF or Boston define the hotel/motel scene in the
>>>USA is what
>>>defies ordinary logic.
>>>
>>>>>Incidentally the bed-bug infestation in NYC is NOT
>>>confined to sleazy
>>>hotels. It is an epidemic even in some of the city's
>>>glitziest
>>>high-rise condos and apartment houses, a public
>>health
>>>crisis, almost.
>>>
>>>Wonder where they came from.
>>>
>>>
>>>>     >HOJO Franchisees are owned by various people.
>>The
>  >>one
>>>>I am talking about is owned by some hispanic person
>>>>... but does that mean HOJO will shrugg off all
>>   >responsibility ... I mean is it the American way
>of
>>>doing business.
>>>
>>>
>>>*** American consumers have many recourses. Easiest
>>of
>>>it is
>>>availability of CHOICE. In more damaging instances
>>>consumer courts
>>>could be approached for damages.  If I go into a
>>motel
>>>that causes me
>>>concern, the very first thing I do is to go check
>the
>>>room out BEFORE
>>>I pay and check in.
>>>
>>>I did that in Kolkata too, after I experienced  one
>>of
>>>those
>>>three-star rated joints near Dum Dum the first time.
>>>Next time I did
>>>not go by the Pre-paid Taxi operator's
>recommendation
>>>or the taxi
>>>driver's urging. I went, checked the room, looked
>>>around the windows
>>>to see if the panes were all in, flushed the toilet
>>to
>  >>see if it
>>>worked , looked under the bed cover , turned the
>>>shower on to see if
>>>it worked or if it had hot water and so forth. In
>>this
>>>place with a
>>>Rs. 2200/- per night  rate  the toilet did not
>flush.
>>>It was a fast
>>>good bye. UNfortunately the CHOICES were few. I had
>>to
>>>settle for
>
>
>
> 
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