Hotel Le Bleu la blows for Irene price-gouging

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/29/2011-08-29_bklyn_hotel_soaks_shelter_seekers_for_999.html

Stay Classy, Hotel Le Bleu!

I agree with supply and demand. Capitalism at its best. Few years ago I went to Atlantic City on Valentine's Day. Found the last room in a run down hotel. They wanted $549 for the night. Didn't take it. Went to Absecon which is the next town over and only about 20 minutes away. Paid $60. But what I don't understand is from where were the people coming. If they were Park Slope residents then why would they need to stay there. If they were from other areas then as the gal said in the article..."it's on you."

lol if nobody wanted to pay that they should of went to shelter or some where else. plus its in gawanus!

They were probably people from around the Gowanus area that were subject to the evacuation. While I agree with capitalism, a 400% increase smacks of usury. There's making a buck and then there's price gouging.

The New York General Business law forbids those who sell essential consumer goods and services from charging excessive prices during what is clearly an abnormal disruption of the market.

Those who do so will ultimately see a reduction in their profits, faced with penalties, fines and directives to set up reimbursement funds.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=weather&id=8330498

Block : 980

Lot : 75

http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/BBL

well if you care for look for who the scummy owners are lol.

The price was an error on Expedia - from Brownstoner -

HOTEL LE BLEU OFFICIAL RESPONSE

**WRITING IN ALL CAPS TO INDICATE OFFICIAL RESPONSE, NOT TO INDICATE YELLING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSIONATE COMMENTS AND NOTES. LET US BE CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT PRICE GOUGE, NOR HAD ANY INTENTION TO DO SO. OUR HOTEL NEVER POSTED A $999 RATE ON OUR WEBSITE OR QUOTED ANY PERSON ON THE PHONE OF SUCH RATE. THIS WAS STRICTLY AN EXPEDIA (AND AFFILIATES) PUBLISHED RATE. WE ARE GOING THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS AT EXPEDIA FOR A PROPER EXPLANATION WHICH CAUSED OUR HOTEL UNNECESSARY SCRUTINY WITH OUR LOYAL GUESTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY WE LOVE TO BE PART OF. THE HIGHEST RATE ANY GUEST PAID THIS WEEKEND AT OUR SOLD-OUT HOTEL WAS $269/NIGHT.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE PROACTIVE ACTION TO REACH OUT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OURSELVES AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE THIS MORNING TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION. WE HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO OREN, THE PUBLISHER OF THIS ARTICLE, AND HE IS CLEAR ON THE MISUNDERSTANDING TOO.

WE HOPE TO CLARIFY FOR OUR LOYAL GUESTS, PRESENT AND FUTURE. WE STRIVE TO THE BEST COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN PARK SLOPE AND THE GREATER BROOKLYN AREA.

A Like Reply 2 days ago 2 Likes F HOTEL LE BLEU OFFICIAL RESPONSE

**WRITING IN ALL CAPS TO INDICATE OFFICIAL RESPONSE, NOT TO INDICATE YELLING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSIONATE COMMENTS AND NOTES. LET US BE CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT PRICE GOUGE, NOR HAD ANY INTENTION TO DO SO. OUR HOTEL NEVER POSTED A $999 RATE ON OUR WEBSITE OR QUOTED ANY PERSON ON THE PHONE OF SUCH RATE. THIS WAS STRICTLY AN EXPEDIA (AND AFFILIATES) PUBLISHED RATE. WE ARE GOING THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS AT EXPEDIA FOR A PROPER EXPLANATION WHICH CAUSED OUR HOTEL UNNECESSARY SCRUTINY WITH OUR LOYAL GUESTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY WE LOVE TO BE PART OF. THE HIGHEST RATE ANY GUEST PAID THIS WEEKEND AT OUR SOLD-OUT HOTEL WAS $269/NIGHT.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE PROACTIVE ACTION TO REACH OUT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OURSELVES AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE THIS MORNING TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION. WE HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO OREN, THE PUBLISHER OF THIS ARTICLE, AND HE IS CLEAR ON THE MISUNDERSTANDING TOO.

WE HOPE TO CLARIFY FOR OUR LOYAL GUESTS, PRESENT AND FUTURE. WE STRIVE TO THE BEST COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN PARK SLOPE AND THE GREATER BROOKLYN AREA.

There you have it. Another baseless and poorly reported article by the Daily News followed by a knee jerk post on Brooklynian.

Stay Classy Brooklynian!

Jamzer said:

There you have it. Another baseless and poorly reported article by the Daily News followed by a knee jerk post on Brooklynian.

Stay Classy Brooklynian!

Speaking of baseless and kneejerk.

Possibly the response by Hotel Le Bleu is the truth but to blow it out of the water all that would be needed is for one guest to come forth with a receipt for a room occupied during the weekend for 900 bucks.

Such cynicism!

Jamzer said:

There you have it. Another baseless and poorly reported article by the Daily News followed by a knee jerk post on Brooklynian.

Stay Classy Brooklynian!

Why is it unacceptable to discuss on a neighborhood message board, an article in a citywide "reputable" newspaper about a local business? No one seems to have a problem with discussions about pieces from Gawker or Gothamist, and I personally don't see them as being any more reputable than the Daily News.

In point of fact, there hasn't been any retraction by the Daily News which would indicte to me that the quotes attributed to Le Bleu staff are indeed accurate. Whether the source was an error on Expedia's part or a planned change in rates by the company, its up to Le Bleu to be able to respond and explain their side of the story. In this case they didn't and are now in the process of doing damage control. How is this the fault of anyone who commented on this story on this messageboard?

Did I miss the memo on official writing being written in all caps?

YES YOU DID.

SIGNED,

MODERATORS

As an official moderator... I'll have you know that all caps does not necessarily mean it's official.

It does definitely mean that the writer is a douchecock though

It was explained in the posting that for "submission" of their response the font needed to be set in Caps. No big deal.. you missed it when you read the lengthy posting.

It was explained in the posting that for "submission" of their response the font needed to be set in Caps. No big deal.. you missed it when you read the lengthy posting.

What? No it wasn't. What the hell are you talking about?

My bad.. DR.. you are correct. Sounds more like they are explaining WHY they are yelling.

Official seeing eye bitch is Sammy Davis Junior, Junior.

homeowner said:

Why is it unacceptable to discuss on a neighborhood message board, an article in a citywide "reputable" newspaper about a local business? No one seems to have a problem with discussions about pieces from Gawker or Gothamist, and I personally don't see them as being any more reputable than the Daily News.

In point of fact, there hasn't been any retraction by the Daily News which would indicte to me that the quotes attributed to Le Bleu staff are indeed accurate. Whether the source was an error on Expedia's part or a planned change in rates by the company, its up to Le Bleu to be able to respond and explain their side of the story. In this case they didn't and are now in the process of doing damage control. How is this the fault of anyone who commented on this story on this messageboard?

Put words in people's mouth much? The article was incorrect and the title of this thread are incorrect. I'm allowed to crticize, comment and express an opinion too. But thanks for letting me know that if a newspaper does not retract a story then it must be true. I never knew that.