German magazine says Lahti lodging will gouge masters
World Masters Athletics is unhappy about rumors of no vacancies at Lahti worlds in 2009. South Africa’s Monty Hacker, acting prez of WMA, writes: “At a meeting held in Lahti with Virpi Hurri and Tiina Kovisto of the Lahti Organising Committee on 8th December it emerged that false rumours are circulating to the effect that there is no accommodation currently available in Lahti for the forthcoming WMA Stadia Championships during July and August 2009. Furthermore a German Masters magazine, published and distributed this month, perpetuates this false rumour. Please therefore take note that THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THESE RUMOURS and that I have been satisfied, on facts placed before me by Virpi and Tiina, that there is presently an abundance of accommodation available in Lahti for athletes and their accompanying companions, before, during and after the event.”
Monty continued:
However, athletes and affiliates who delay in making their reservations with Tiina do run the risk of making their reservations late and at a time when all the available accommodation in Lahti will have been taken up. If so, accommodation will then have to be obtained outside of Lahti proper, even as far afield as Helsinki.
Those athletes and affiliates wishing to make their reservations with Tiina can contact her at LAHTI TRAVEL OY, Rautatienkatu 22, PL 175, FI-15111 Lahti, or Tel +358 (0) 207 281 750 and Fax +358 (0) 207 281 751, or by e-mail at tina.kovisto@lahtitravel.fi
Hacker appears at odds with WMA presidential candidate Rex Harvey, who reported in Reno this month that Lahti is essentially booked up. But Rex said that commuter trains will run from Helsinki (an hour and half to the south) straight to the WMA venues during the meet, and that most events won’t start until 10 a.m., giving Helsinki-stayers plenty of time to make it to their events.
But here’s a rough translation of what Robert and Annette Koop post on their independent German masters site:
WMA attacked Magazine seniors athletics — Excessive hotel prices in focus
The World Association of Athletics WMA has seniors on Thursday the journal Senior Athletics (acronym “Sela”) attacked. In a press statement WMA Sela is wrongly accused, they spread the false rumor in Lahti admit accommodations are no more. Not a word expresses the Executive WMA President Monty Hacker, however, the real problem, the overpriced hotel prices.
The Aachener Meyer & Meyer-Verlag publishes always well-informed magazine in its December issue currently latest issue of German Masters scene up: The World Cup-high hotel prices in Lahti (FIN). Celebrities Elderly German athletes such as the Hamburg Reinhold Dahms or Berlin Klaus Neuendorf, but also the seniors athletics association Promaster criticize some time since the horrendous overnight prices, which in Finland from the World Cup hosts are required.
Meanwhile, there are also from France critical voices. Indeed, the hotel rates in Lahti just for the duration of the World Championships starting in late July 2009 significantly increased and are far above the level of previous championships and especially about the things in Lahti outside the World Championships period payable. Almost all the rooms throughout the Lahti region can only The organizers affiliated with the center “Lahti Travel” reserved will.
The few that do not “blocked” rooms are just as overpriced those who offer the organizers.
Spicy: Even Lahti hotel offers from German summer travel catalogs may be the time for the World Cup is no longer posted, although the hotels still have rooms available. An observer commented on Thursday: “This is a real cartel! You do not need a prophet to see that these prices will discourage many athletes, according to Lahti to come.”
Dieter Massin (Ahlen), President of the European Seniorenleichtathletiverbandes
EVAA and one of the makers of Sela, was for an opinion on Thursday not reachable. He adheres to hold talks with Nicola Maggio and other Italian Athletics experts in Rome. In a commentary Sela had the Lahti-Massin World Cup severely criticized.
You übertreffe “regarding entry fee and hotel costs everything before him. The startup money for only one discipline has again risen namely equal to 17%, hotel costs rise on the spot – exactly, and only for the time the World Championships – by 60% or equal to 100% of the amount. “Massin asked:” Who can, Who wants to pay more? “and he urged: “The athletics championships The seniors may not experience a few Substantial capital will be.”
Even before the Ahlen years had inflated the cost of accommodation international championships and raised in Europe for significant Improvements ensured. The WMA was responsible for the issue is not interested.
6 Responses
GOOD!
Further justification for not going this summer!
I emailed the official travel agency about the availability of two double rooms and the prices – the response – fill out the form and mail it in – and we will let you know what we have. No information about location (I specified in Lahti) nor the price. And once you accept booking from them – they want 100% payment – and if you cancel after May 1, you lose everything.
I don’t think I am going to play that game. And since NO information is given out until one attempts to reserve a room – at unknown place and unknown price – how on earth can anyone say they are sold out or price gouging?
BTW – the hotel room prices in Clermont-Ferrand were raised for the WMA indoor meet there. This is pretty much the usual thing when a big group of folks come to a town – raise the prices and let the profits roll in. This is discretionary spending so “they won’t care” seems to be the attitude.
But – with the world-wide economic recession – the Lahti WMA folks may have a shock coming. My guess is that many people who want to go are having second thoughts about the cost -for those of us from the USA – the Euro is cheaper than when the WMA was in Spain, Italy, and France – but still not cheap – and Finland is an expensive country.
As much as I would like to go, I am not signing blank checks for hotel rooms out in the boondocks nor am I shelling out the entire cost of the hotel room months in advance with a ridiculous date for getting nothing back. It makes me believe the gouging rumors.
As for staying in Helsinki and riding the train back and forth daily and hour or so each way- LOL – not in this lifetime. That will come to match the ridiculous time it took to get to one of the distant venues in Riccione, although probably the Finnish trains do not take a rest break for 2 hours in the middle of the day.
Please ! I hear ya, Mary. One thing I’ve learned about Masters track…We’re consistently feasted upon from one National championship & World Championships to another.
I emailed the Lahti travel agency 2 weeks ago and have received no reply. Nothing. Doesn’t seem to be a smooth operation over there right now. If I choose to go to the WMA I will find a room on my own somewhere and bypass the entire apparatchik. It may not be right next door to the stadium but what do I care-I’m going to have fun!
I would also add that the prices of these hotels for the Brits are very expensive due to the plummet in the exchange rate of the pound. Last year it was 1.45 to the pound but now it is barely 1.00 Euro to 1.00 pound meaning a lot of difference in the prices we are paying for our accommodation for Lahti.
I also emailed Lahti travel over 3 weeks ago and heard nothing. I rang their travel office last week to ensure my email had been taken account of. I was assured that it was there and the bookings were being made in strict order of when the email was received and that I would hear soon. I am not sure how soon soon is but as the Official EVAA and GB team photographer I need accommodation in Lahti due to the long hours I will need to spend at the track each day to capture all the action.
I emailed the official travel agency and – after managing to find the correct email address – received a response. I must fax or email the lodging form and select the level of accomodation – and a fairly wide price range which I have cut and paste below. The prices are PER PERSON – not for a room – unless it is a single room.
At the current rate of about 1.45$ to the Euro – this is NOT cheap. And there is no guarantee that you will be able to get a room at the lowest price listed. The longer one waits the less likely it is that the least expensive rooms will be available. The other kicker is that individuals have to pay 100% upfront to hold the room and there is a cancellation fee of 50 Euros if you cancel before May 1st and if cancelling after May 1st – you are on the hook for the entire cost of the booking. IF you book with the LOC agency for heaven sake take out travel insurance to cover forced cancellation due to accident or illness – or death!
I find the hotel cancellation policy to be a bit over the top – and requiring 100% upfront – outrageous.
As for lack of response from the travel agency in recent days. I am told by a reliable source that they closed for the holiday season – so do not expect to hear a think until after the first of the year. Europeans – and Finns take their holidays seriously!
BTW – those who follow the fluxuation of the pound, euro and dollar are predicting that the dollar will weaken – making the euro more expensive – at 1.45 it is pretty expensive right now I think.
The current economic situation is going to make the WMA meet in Lahti a very questionable thing for many – in the US, GB, Europe, etc – and my bet is that the WMA officials are very concerned about numbers. No wonder they are getting upset over rumors about scarcity of rooms in Lahti.
As for staying in Helsinki and commuting – fine if you have a single event that takes place over 1-2 days – and you are not there for the duration of the meet. For those of us who turn up at the start and stay until the end – that option is unacceptable – I will stay home before I have to do that. And staying home is beginning to seem more and more attractive.
There is always the Senior Games in Stanford, CA for those 50 and above. Or – Sidney and the World Masters Games. The Australian dollar is very weak – and Australia could be a bargain for the visiting Americans.
ACCOMMODATION – HOTEL RATES
DBL SGL
Downtown Hotels ***/**** 59 – 78 € 87 – 135 €
Max.
30 km from Lahti *** 54 – 80 € 83 – 113 €
Hotels in Helsinki ***/**** 55 – 60 € 85 – 95 €
Camping 30 € /vehicle incl. electricity
All prices are quoted per person and per day, and are valid for min. 4 nights stay.
Hotel prices incl. breakfast.
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