Guest request to shorten stay once their stay has begun.

[Brad1262]

I have guests that booked a three day stay starting today. It’s raining so their plans have changed and they want to shorten their stay by one night. I have a 5 day cancellation window so this request amounts to a cancellation within a two day window. Im not sure how to handle this. I don’t want to be a jerk but this leaves little hope of rebooking that  night to another guest on such short notice. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Emiel1]

You can shorten the reservation yourself and change the price in the change form to what you think is reasonable.

Looking at your listing it seems to me you are offer more discount for a 3 then for 2 nights stay ?

So the price per night will be higher for the guests anyway if reservation is shortened. Then maybe increase the price some more to compensate some of the  3rd night booking (maybe use the 1 night rate ?).

The weather is not something you can control, so it is not some kind of "urgent circumstance" the guest is dealing with. 

You are not oblliged to offer compensation or even accept the shortening request from the guest.

Best regards,

Emiel

[Helen3]

I would just explain to the guest you can't accept  an alteration at this late stage as you will then be out of pocket as you are unlikely to be rebooked .

@Brad1262 

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Brad1262 

Agree with the other comments.

You could say unfortnately, you cannot shorten the reservation due to weather, as you most likely cannot get it re-booked (doubt a hotel would allow a guest to get refunded simply because it is raining either). 

You could tell the guest they could cancel the reservation and you would be willing to refund them the nightly rate if you are able to get the nights re-booked.

[Elisa]

Hi @Brad1262 😊, 

Thank you for asking this here.

What did you decide to do regarding this situation after discussing it with our hosts?