My recent visit to Yuma, as always, was interesting and illuminating.
cookies anyone?
I usually am too busy to venture out, but this time I drove around town, all the way to the recent Cocopah development to the Hilton plan-site on the riverfront, in order to assess all the massive new development approved in Yuma. Aside from the new mall, it appears that most of the development is in the form of new hotels.
What struck me more than just a seemingly senseless mass of hotels being built, was that every single new hotel looked like cookie cutter architecture, without an eye for design. They all look the same! I am not kidding. Not one of the new structures offered any personality, or difference in the overall design. Yuma Cabana remains the only property with private balconies. In the end, I concluded they all resembled army barracks!
thanks for guest comments
I want to offer a special thanks to all the guests that take time to make comments on the comment cards. I read every single one, and these are very valuable to us. Sometimes, they point out an all important maintenance item, that really you wouldn’t notice unless you are staying in the room. You are my eyes and ears when I am not at the property, and this is invaluable information. So, thank you!
The comments I am receiving have evolved to not only being very positive, but very personalized. Here are just a few from my visit:
"This motel has the most efficient and nice front desk employees and cleaning staff of any place we have ever stayed."
"The best budget priced motel we have ever stayed in."
When asked about what was nice about their stay, they said “Everything, especially Dorothy.”
"Very friendly staff. Your rooms are exceptionally clean. I will recommend your hotel to friends."
"Warm and accommodating."
traffic
A change I noticed was an increase in traffic. I know Yuma population practically triples during winter, but this year is the worst. I could hardly get to I8 via 16th avenue, and the traffic around all the new developments (“Hotel Hill”) was horrendous. I swear it was reminiscent of Los Angeles. It makes me so thankful that the Yuma Cabana is away from the freeway congestion areas, and I hope our guests appreciate that. While we have vibrant 4th Avenue traffic, it doesn’t compare to the L.A. type congestion.
pricey, pricey, pricey
In addition, I am now starting to get comments about the new higher priced hotels. For about a year and a half now, we have experienced unprecedented lodging rate hikes in Yuma. Just a couple years ago it was unfathomable to pay $100 for a room in Yuma. Now, people are paying more than $100 at the new places - and even some of the old!
We know our winter visitors are on a budget and many of you are on fixed retirement incomes, and we will always serve you for less, much less. It appears the guests are noticing the price pressure and appreciate what we have to offer:
"Great rooms, great prices. Didn’t feel ripped off by high priced hotels."
Personally, I think Yuma allowed too many hotels to be built. With this current economy crunch, we will be one of the properties able to offer unbeatable rates for value. I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that none of the other new cookie-cutter chains can give Yuma Cabana’s warmth and personalized service, where you get to know staff personally. Our business clearly does not offer the “ordinary,” and we are constantly striving to offer the best product for the best value, with the best service in Yuma. I think that’s extraordinary.
