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Skating on thin ice? Season passes for Hotel Del skating increase.

Was shocked to discover our "neighbor" the Hotel del Coronado raised the price of a season pass at the ice skating rink from $70 last year to $150 this year. Whaaat? Clearly a cold shoulder (pun intended) to locals as we are the only ones likely to want a season pass. It's worth the trip over the bridge to the also outdoor "Fantasy on Ice" skating rink for Rady Children's Hospital at Horton Plaza where a season pass for the same period of time (with better hours) is only $35.

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Editor's Note: The Hotel del Coronado contacted eCoronado.com and gave us this clarification regarding pricing:

This year the Club at The Del season pass rate is $100 (in 2010 it was $75) and the general public rate is $150 (in 2010 it was $115).

We have also encouraged the Hotel del Coronado to add their own comments to this post.

Tags: business, holidays, hotels

6 members like this

Comment by Tom DeSanto on December 1, 2011 at 12:21pm: Well said, Mary. The Del and its management continue to be extraordinarily generous to our community, especially in supporting our schools. They are good neighbors. The whole incident about the pricing of skating is unfortunate. Economic realities hurt and are difficult to understand. I feel badly for all parties involved.

Comment by Maria Simon on December 1, 2011 at 2:43pm: You are right Tom, economic realities hurt and can be difficult to understand. Maybe it's a PR problem? The FACT is the del charged us $70 last year and $150 this year... no explanation, nothing.

Of course they are a business and they can set their prices as they choose without any explanation at all. If the skating rink is where they need to make their money then more power to them. As individuals we also have the right to chose where/how to spend our money. As a believer in making informed decisions I thought readers may like to know there is a better economic option at $35 just over the bridge (also supporting a great cause at Rady Children's Hosp). Personally I could use the extra $115. Maybe others don't care?

Our school community is indeed blessed to have the financial support of many local businesses and families. Many of the businesses are small and family owned - and their financial support is truly appreciated as it comes as a sacrifice to their own families.

Just put the facts out there. Educated consumers can (and do) make their own opinions as to the "neighborliness" of any business in Coronado.

Living in a small town has it's pros and cons. As we have all experienced at one time or another, our citizens are an opinionated and chatty bunch, and "news" (good and bad) travels around here at unbelievable speed! It has been my experience that transparency and forthrightness are the best PR any person or business can front. It would have been nice to hear from the del. This whole string probably would have ended long ago had we......