**Why Do Hotels Struggle to Stick to Opening Timelines?**
Opening a hotel is no small feat. Construction projects are inherently complex and prone to delays, and hotels are among the most intricate types of buildings to get operational. From the detailed interior designs to the numerous inspections and the hiring of staff, there’s a lot that can go wrong.
It’s understandable that hotel opening timelines can shift. When a hotel announces in 2022 that it will open in 2025, it’s not surprising if that date gets pushed to 2026. In fact, it’s probably wise to expect a delay of at least a year or two and be pleasantly surprised if the hotel opens on time.
However, what’s puzzling is when hotels start accepting reservations just weeks or months before their intended opening, only to delay the opening again—sometimes multiple times. This isn’t a rare occurrence; it happens more often than not. I frequently write about new hotel openings I’m excited about, and in most cases, the timeline gets delayed even after the hotel has started taking bookings.
Take the St. Regis Belgrade, for example. In late 2023, it was supposed to open on February 1, 2024. Yet, just weeks before that date, the opening was delayed to October 1, 2024, and then again to November 2, 2024. How can such a significant miscalculation happen so close to the planned opening?
I understand why hotels are eager to start accepting reservations—they want to generate revenue as soon as possible. Hotels, like airplanes, don’t make money when they’re not in use. But I’m confused about the decision-making process behind these premature bookings, especially for global hotel chains that should be well aware of how common delays are.
It seems like hotel owners might be pressuring management to open as soon as possible, even if the timeline is unrealistic. When the inevitable delays occur, it’s the sales teams that have to deal with the mess of canceling reservations. Is there a more nuanced explanation, or is it really that simple?
### Delays Can Benefit Consumers
In the United States, consumer protections for hotel stays aren’t particularly strong, and in most cases, you’re not entitled to compensation if a hotel cancels your confirmed reservation. However, many hotels do offer something to guests when their stays are canceled due to delayed openings.
For example, some hotels may offer to accommodate you at another property while refunding your stay. Others might offer bonus points for the inconvenience, or even a suite upgrade for a future stay once the hotel finally opens.
Recent examples include the Thompson Palm Springs, which is offering bonus points for canceled reservations, and the Kennedy 89 Frankfurt, which is offering either bonus points or a suite upgrade for a future stay. The Park Hyatt Marrakech, which recently opened after delays, was offering to rebook guests at the Kempinski while also providing a full refund.
In fact, you could probably make a business out of booking newly announced hotels and then seeing what compensation you’re offered when the openings are delayed. That said, this approach comes with risks. In the past, SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) warned members who they believed were making speculative bookings at new hotels just to get compensation:
> **Request compensation for delayed hotel opening**
>
> While our hotels will absolutely consider compensating any guest for genuine inconveniences or issues they determine they are responsible for, a pattern is developing which increases our concern as to the authenticity of some of these reservations.
>
> Please understand we have placed your account on an alert list and are monitoring all pre-opening reservations at SPG participating hotels. Please reply acknowledging receipt and your understanding of this message so that we may reactivate your account.
Of course, the simplest solution would be for hotels to open on time, but apparently, that’s easier said than done.
### Bottom Line
Opening a hotel is undeniably complex, but hotels seem to consistently struggle with setting realistic timelines for accepting their first guests. Based on my observations, even after opening up reservations, most hotels end up delaying their timelines further.
I can’t quite understand why this issue persists, especially since hotels often provide some form of compensation to affected guests and have to deal with the hassle of canceling reservations. Yet, this doesn’t seem to lead to any significant changes in how they manage their opening timelines.
**What has your experience been with delayed hotel openings? Have you ever dealt with this?**
Source: onemileatatime.com