ELA may Return Portion of Boca Raton Registration to Non-Attendees

ELTnews has announced the Equipment Leasing Association (ELA) is will consider changing its “hell and high water” registration policy regarding the Boca Raton October Conference:

” ELA intends to return a portion of the registration fee to each and every individual who registered for the convention. The amount will be determined in the next few weeks, once we have as ascertained the cost of ELA's various expenses for the convention.”

Most of the readers who registered for the Equipment Leasing Association Boca Raton Conference from October 23-24, who did not attend, told us they were advised by the hotel itself not attend due to the hurricane.

The standard reservation policy of the hotel:

“October 1-December 20, 2005: Reservations must be canceled 7 days prior to arrival to avoid penalty of one night's room charge.”

Sara Buzzannco of the Boca Raton Resort & Club sales office in Washington, DC, left this voice mail that she had no knowledge of the hotel personnel advising not to attend the ELA conference, but nevertheless they were returning all deposits to those who registered:

“I understand you called the resort yesterday regarding reservation and perhaps attribution or cancellations chargers on, please know we are not charging cancellation or attribution to any attendees or members equipment leasing association group at no point were we told; were we telling our customers thru reservations not to come. We accepted reservation up thru the last day of the program but non-the-less we will not be charging any cancellations penalties on deposits, etc .”

Others wrote Leasing News they did not attend because they could not reach anyone at the ELA office about the conference, from television reports, and information on the hurricane obtained from the internet, particularly announcements and warnings from the National Hurricane Center. Some noted they were from distances that required two connections. In all the cases, they were able to cancel their flights and receive either airline credit or credit card reimbursement at their choice, even though many did not have airline insurance.

It should be noted that Thursday October 20, the National Hurricane Center started informing that Florida may be a destination for Wilma, but it was not until Friday that they stated they would be issuing an official warning, which was done on Saturday, October 22, at 10:00am:

http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Hurricane%20WILMA.pdf

It is not uncommon for airlines, hotels, or other organizations to forgive "hell and high water" reservation policy cancellations due to a death in the immediate family, serious illness such as a heart attack or appendicitis, or an act of god, such as a hurricane or earthquake.

It should also be pointed out that none of the ELA members who requested reimbursement of their $1550 (reported by one who cancelled as his registration fee,) said they would resign or not renew their membership. All wanted to continue their support for the association, but thought the board of directors was being unfair, as under the circumstances of the hurricane, they were due reimbursement as both the airline and hotel volunteered to do.

In previous stories, ELA President Mike Fleming, CAE, and Joe Lane, former chairman and current chairman of the foundation, repeated the policy of cancellation, and they were not responsible for what the hotel, the television, or the internet reported about the hurricane and whether it was advisable to attend the conference, even though a hurricane warning had been issue.

The sales department at the hotel told Leasing News that ELA had reserved 400 rooms for members, and other organizations, such as GE Capital, reserved 25 rooms. The expect attendance was over 1200.

Leasing News has not been able to obtain any of the actual facts, although guesses are 800 who were registered did not attend. This may be fairly accurate, as Mike Fleming in an e-mail reportedly estimated the actual attendance was from 400 to 500.

Attendees have told Leasing New a difference number, but to date no actual head count, so it is all conjecture. Perhaps when the financial decision is made, these numbers will be made available to members.

These are facts that Leasing News found:

Monday, December 31, was the first day the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real Boca Raton, Florida was fully open, except for the Beach Club, which is expected to open until November 9th. according to the hotel.

Leasing News has one of its internet serves based out of Boca Raton, Florida (Verio.) During the storm, we were down. Verio "tech" Nelson Abreu says he drives by the Boca Raton on his way to work each day and it has been dark until today, confirming what the "front desk" at the Boca Raton told us. By the way, Abreu says he house has been without electricity and water for since the hurricane hit, in addition it takes him three times as long to get to work as only 10% of the traffic lights are working, so every intersection becomes a four way stop operation.

The Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce reports this day it is still without power or telephone operation, and the city announces the curfew (Palm Beach County south of Southern Boulevard) remains from 9:00pm until 5:00am. They do lift the precautionary boil water order this day. Florida Atlantic University notifies students they may return to their university residences and classes and normal operations will begin on Monday, November 7.

ELTnews issue on the statement of considering returning a portion of the $1550 registration fee:

http://leasingnews.org/PDF/ELT%20Enews%20Daily%20Issue%20October%2031,%202005.pdf