Should we inflate our prices so we can then offer an array of discounts to balance business, or simply quote a single, easy-to-understand tariff? It's a discussion that Lisa and I have had many times in the past, and we have always come down firmly in favour of a simple tariff - it's easy to administer, easy to quote, easy to understand ... and it doesn't leave any customers upset because they had to pay more than other staying at the same time.

I was reminded of this discussion yet again when I came across another hotel in our area shouting "50% off your Sunday night B&B stay when you book for 2 or more nights". Looking then at their tarriff page, I found a pricing matrix with 32 prices shown depending on what day of the week, what season of the year, what type of room, and whether dinner's to be included. Then add for children, add for extra adults in room, add for "small pets", and note that Dinner is a £30.00 allowance (so may not actually be fully included) and that you can deduct £20.00 per night or £50.00 per night (DBB) for single occupancy. So they're offering a more complex, but better price, right? No - I don't think so. Classic double room, £155.00 on Saturday night + £145.00 on Sunday night - oh and 50% off the Sunday night that if you're able to get a late booked "Sunday Special" when you call. So that's £227.50 after discount for the weekend, or £300.00 if you can't get the special


Well House Manor. Double, £95.00 per night including superior continental breakfast. Single, £85.00 per night, including the breakfast too. Any room (they're all rather good, according to our customers!), any night, any season. And any internet use, any teas and coffees (not just at breakfast time), parking, taxi booking service etc are all included. So the Well House Manor price for a double for any two nights is £190.00, whether you're our first booking for the time you're with us, or taking our last room

It's tempting - very tempting - to offer last minute discounts. But we don't. For it also shows signs of desparation and starts a slippery path ... two hotels near us have gone into administration over the last few months, and another is up for sale. The only discounts that we do offer are for companies who book a substantial number of nights with us, and for delegates on our training courses; we make a saving on the billing and marketing for regular and course customers, and we like to pass on this saving to them.


Well House Manor is Adult friendly, Biker friendly, Business traveler friendly, Car friendly, Cyclist friendly, Diet friendly, Early and late arrival friendly, Early and late departure friendly, Gay and Lesbian friendly, Internet friendly, Last Minute friendly, One night friendly, Overseas guest friendly, Public Transport friendly, Solo traveler friendly, Tourist friendly, Walker friendly, Weekend guest friendly - see what we mean [here]. We're just a few hundred yards from the town centre - plenty of places to eat at night, and the bus stops right outside it you want to leave you car for the day and go to Bath. Tea and coffee on tap 24 x 7, 50 Mb internet access, and too much more to list.

Both picture illustrating this article are unretouched pictures of Well House Manor. Top - Rachel Bray. Lower - Graham Ellis.
(written 2011-05-07)

 M102 - Well House Manor - booking system
  [864] Add to shopping cart - NO VACANCIES sign - (2006-09-13)
  [1084] Writing terms and conditions for conferences and other events - (2007-02-17)
  [1311] What do people look for on a hotel web site? - (2007-08-20)
  [1554] Online hotel reservations - Melksham, Wiltshire (near Bath) - (2008-02-24)
  [1815] Hotel Guest Surveys - (2008-09-28)
  [1907] Melksham Hotel Rates - (2008-11-25)
  [2377] Wiltshire / Melksham Weddings - guest accommodation - (2009-08-26)
  [2403] Hotel Booking Scam / Cost of calls to 070 numbers - (2009-09-12)
  [2436] Melksham Hotel Rooms - pictures - (2009-10-04)
  [2705] Hotel booking in Melksham made easy! - (2010-04-03)
  [3825] Well House Manor - direct hotel bookings help us improve the customer experience - (2012-08-04)
  [3932] River nearly bursting its banks in Melksham - (2012-11-23)
  [3976] Easy pricing, quick and easy checkout - (2013-01-15)
  [4122] Well House - booking through agents - (2013-06-23)
  [4138] Should a hotel accept guests who book for just one night? - (2013-07-11)
  [4144] Getting the best hotel rates - customer and hotelier viewpoints - (2013-07-27)
  [4153] Rooms available tonight - how to code an algorithm from first principles - (2013-08-19)
  [4232] Not wanted here - hotel guests who will not be happy - (2013-12-30)

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Forward to The future of canal management and charities - Kennet and Avon Canal bias

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What to do in the evening during a Tcl course
The juggler
The future of canal management and charities - Kennet and Avon Canal bias
Does Well House Manor Hotel in Melksham offer lots of discounts?
Passing parameters to Python functions - the options you have
Letter to The Editor
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Between a rock and a hard place.
International travel to the UK - coming to Melksham