Browse: Home / / CORRECTION: I Stand Corrected

CORRECTION: I Stand Corrected

By Publisher on January 7, 2010

Apology to the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island

Apology to the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island

The following was brought to my attention.

By grouping the Ritz Carlton Resort and Amelia Island Plantation in the same sentence in my story about hotel and resort marketing yesterday I unintentionally elicited a reaction from the Ritz Carlton Resort here on Amelia Island. In the early afternoon hours I received a phone call from a very courteous and nice gentleman from the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council sharing with me the concern that had reached him from the Ritz Carlton that from my article people could possibly conclude that the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island would be in the same financially challenging situation as the Amelia Island Plantation Resort. This is absolutely not the case according to sources, even though occupancy numbers in recent months are giving cause for concern, as is the case in most of the industry.

The story is entirely a story on marketing resort properties, hotels, attractions and destinations in the new age. In a awkward way, the way the correction request came to us, it underlines to some degree what we are pointing at daily.

An organization in tune with the times and how we communicate these days would have commented directly on the story on the website in their own words, making sure there would be no space for mis-intrepretation or double entendre. The comment would have automatically been tweeted (Twitter anyone!) in alliance with the orginal story to thousands and thousands of readers, making all viewers instantly aware of the fact that Amelia Island Plantation is fighting a different financial battle than the Ritz Carlton. Choosing the phone and a middle man organization is still very 20th century.

Having said that, we at SearchAmelia.com, AmeliaBites and SearchAmelia.TV are extremely appreciative of the fact that we can now add the Ritz Carlton to our readership. Personally I felt that long forgotten moment from back in the seventies, when small issues like this were settled in a special column on page 3, left bottom, with the proud heading: Corrections.

Feedburner If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment below or subscribe to the feed to have future articles delivered to your e-mail and get the latest Amelia Island News, business, tourist activities and videos every morning!

SearchAmelia on TwitterYou can also choose to follow SearchAmelia on Twitter to get your daily updates!

Share

Posted in | Tagged

Publisher

  • http://anchorsaweighcharters.com dreamsfloatjoe

    I was to understand that no communication is a communication. The communication is that the person not communicating with you (this case, a business), wants nothing to do with you. My perception. For all I know a person contacting someone at the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council could have been a grounds keeper for the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island. However, all this indicates to me is that someone respects the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council. My thoughts.

  • meghannb

    I just cancelled a reservation at the Ritz, not because it is not a great hotel. We stayed there in 2007 and loved it but we had a special price as it was pre-Christmas. We are coming to your lovely Island in March 2010 and it was between staying at the Ritz or your new Residence by Marriott. We decided on the Marriott as the price was fantastic, King size bed, sitting room and kitchen, free breakfast, pool and short walk to beach beat the ridiculous price at the Ritz. I can access the Marriott on Facebook and they respond immediately if you comment or ask a question. They offer special rates if you are an AAA member etc and a break if you are staying longer than 5 nights. The Ritz is a great hotel but it's prices and pks are out of line in a economy when people are looking for breaks, they offer no specials for AAA members and when they should provide a break on over a 5 night stay they only had those deals prior to xmas. They should be showing those deals everyday. When you cancel with them on line they do not provide a space to say why you are cancelling and if business is slow with them they should update their website and ask customers why they are not staying with them, that might help with their marketing.

  • Wendy

    Totally agree with the Ritz-Carlton's reaction — your article was misleading and did, indeed, make it sound as though the Ritz was financially troubled and in a similar position as AIP. Your “retraction” worded as follows….”could possibly conclude” is thin, at best.

  • Publisher

    Joe, never thought about it in that way. Probably because openness is my weapon of choice. Think the grounds keeper at the Ritz and the respect for the Tourism Development Council are purely your own machinations.

  • publisher

    The fact they I did retract is in itself admission of “misleading”, unintentional as it was. I would like to stick a little longer however to the chosen wording of …”could possibly conclude”.

  • Joachim Stiller

    Meghan
    You are of course aware of the fact that the Ritz Carlton brandname is owned by Marriott?

  • Jason

    It's kinda funny that you made a “correction” but didn't change the post. I guess you were as serious about it as they were. LOL. As far as them not contacting you directly, I think that's a two way street. Did you contact them about their occupancy? I don't see that sourced in either article. I think the B&Bs on the island are doing just find, regardless of what you are trying to drum up.

  • publisher

    I complied with your remark of changing it in the post and took the whole reference to both flagship properties out as they really had no merit on the story.
    As far as B&B's doing just fine, I would suggest read the total story http://www.searchamelia.com/2010/01/06/we-will-..., which explains in detail why some are doing just fine and others don't. That was the essence of the story.

  • DinoDina

    Let me first state, I do not work for search amelia, but did sign up for the RSS feed. Just wanted you to know so you can personally attack me, if you are so inclined.
    Why are so many of you wearing rose colored glasses? Amelia Island IS NOT safe from the downturn of the economy.
    I just have to comment on the ones below.

    dreamsfloatjoe: I agree with the publisher that the Ritz missed an opportunity to reply, that would have been seen by many, instead they chose to be whiners. Glad to see the tourist board is actually doing something. LOL
    You seriously need to get your panties out of a wad.

    meghannb: Do not blame you one bit for canceling your reservation to the Ritz. I had some friends stay at the Residence Inn and absolutely loved it. The Ritz needs to get a grip and come down off their high horse. Also agree their website is that of dinosaur years. Yes, I have seen it.

    wendy: Did you read the comment left by megnannp? Its only the beginning. Not being a dooms sayer, just being realistic.

    Jason: Where did you read that “all” the B&B's were doing bad? I did not see that. Yet, with two recent closings that had been well established here on the island, what does that say? I think the B&B's need a tax break.

    In ending, I am a born and raised Floridian and my heart belongs to Amelia Island, but there is so much more that can be done, than complain.

  • Geturdone

    Hey, dreamsfloatjoe, is that you Chuck?

  • meghannb

    I am aware of this which makes it even more confusing as to why they are not all on the same playing field, it is interesting that when some take overs occur not all good things get transferred lol:)

  • Pingback: Another Fernandina Bed and Breakfast Closes Doors

Our Sponsors

Calendar of Local Events.

Our Sponsors

Pirate Parade 2012

[Show picture list]

Our Sponsors

Latest comments

Recent Comments

Score out of 100

The Website Grade for www.searchamelia.com!