The Calm Before the Storm

In Harrogate there is a period of of about 11 days when booking accommodation here is mad. But for accommodation providers there is a sort of buzz in the air. Don't get me wrong its hard work, a lot of changes, a lot of check in's and 100% occupancy. However there is an excitement that fills the air from the moment on the Monday morning that the lorries start rolling into town you feel it. Also our email ring chims into action as the conference delegates and Yorkshire Show exhibitors tend to change their bookings last minute and so we all want to fill the little gaps these changes leave behind. Also there are the genuine last minute cancellations due to ill health or family emergencies for which if we resell we won't charge so we do our best. It is like a massive game of tetrus where we all shuffel blocks and people to get everyone in and lined up. I used to get the same feeling on days before a big event when I worked in a large hotel all the running round to get everything ready before the function hits.

Parking!

No matter how much or how little parking you have this will be a problem. We are in a terrace with a generous car park of 9 spaces at the back on our confirmation we send a little map as an email attachment of how to get round the back and by our front gate we have a large sign that says "Car Park at Rear" even so if I had a pound for every time I had a guest pull up at the front and ask "Where am I supposed to park?" I would be a rich lady. Also when they get to your parking they still need to be supervised they will park sideways across 3 spaces given half a chance never thinking for one second as to where the other guests are going to park. If you have any kind of weird system I recomend that you put this on your confirmation (90% wont read it but at least you have the moral high ground) Also despite common sense if they can't immediately see where to park they will drive round and round in circles trying to find somewhere - (ie won't stop and ask what to do). Where I am there is a compliacated system of permits and discs - we have them all you only have to ask but they won't - "oh we could see it was a disk zone so just kept on looking" feel like shouting WE LIVE HERE AND KNOW THE DRILL MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND ASKED? oh well we live and learn