What is Aryeh Hospitality Scam? A Guide for Passover Travelers
By James Charles
If you are looking for a luxury Passover getaway in Atlantic City, you might have come across a program offered by Aryeh Hospitality, a tour company that claims to provide a family-friendly retreat with high-quality kosher food and activities. However, before you book your tickets, you should be aware of the recent controversy surrounding this program and its owner, Heshy Goldstein.
According to several reports, Aryeh Hospitality has canceled its Passover program at the Claridge Hotel just a week before the holiday, leaving hundreds of guests with no plans and no refunds. The reason for the cancellation, according to an email sent by Goldstein to the guests, was a “huge financial scam” that hit the company. However, the hotel denies any scam and says that Goldstein breached the contract and failed to pay the fees.
What exactly happened and who is telling the truth? In this blog post, I will try to answer these questions and give you some tips on how to avoid falling victim to such scams in the future.
The Background of Aryeh Hospitality
Aryeh Hospitality is a company that has been operating Passover and other Jewish holiday programs at various hotels in New York and New Jersey for years. Its website says that it offers “a true luxury Pesach experience” with “world-class cuisine, top-notch entertainment, inspiring lectures, and fun-filled children’s programs.” It also claims to have “a stellar reputation for excellence and reliability.”
However, a quick search online reveals that this reputation is not so stellar after all. There are numerous complaints from previous guests who say that they were disappointed by the quality of the food, service, and accommodations at Aryeh Hospitality’s programs. Some also accuse Goldstein of being rude, dishonest, and unprofessional.
For example, one guest who stayed at Aryeh Hospitality’s program at the Hilton Westchester in 2021 wrote on TripAdvisor: “This was by far the worst Passover program we have ever attended. The food was terrible, the service was nonexistent, the rooms were dirty and outdated, and the owner was a nightmare. He lied to us about everything from the amenities to the entertainment. He was rude and arrogant and treated us like dirt. He refused to refund us or compensate us for anything. He even threatened us with legal action when we complained. Stay away from this program and this man at all costs.”
Another guest who attended Aryeh Hospitality’s program at the Crowne Plaza Stamford in 2022 wrote on Facebook: “This was a disaster from start to finish. The food was cold and bland, the staff was clueless and unhelpful, the rooms were small and noisy, and the owner was a crook. He overcharged us for everything and did not deliver what he promised. He also canceled some of the activities and speakers without notice or explanation. He ignored our calls and emails when we tried to reach him. He did not care about our satisfaction or comfort at all. He only cared about making money off us.”
The Cancellation of Aryeh Hospitality’s Program at the Claridge Hotel
Despite these negative reviews, Aryeh Hospitality continued to advertise its Passover program at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City for 2023. The program was supposed to run from March 29 to April 10 and cost between $4,500 and $6,500 per person. The website boasted that it would feature “a lavish tea room, a gourmet coffee bar, a sushi station, a pizza oven, a barbecue grill, a wine cellar, a spa, a gym, a pool, a casino, a golf course, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a comedy club, a concert hall, and more.”
However, on March 30th, just eight days before Passover began, Aryeh Hospitality sent an email to its guests announcing that the program had been canceled due to a “huge financial scam” that had hit the company. The email stated that “all funds were stolen from the company’s accounts” and that “there is no way to proceed with the program.” The email also promised that the company would do everything in its power to refund the guests, but it did not provide any specifics on how or when that would happen.
The guests were understandably shocked and upset by the news. Some had already arrived at the hotel or were en route, while others had paid for flights and other travel expenses. They took to social media to express their frustration and anger at Aryeh Hospitality and its owner, Heshy Goldstein.
However, the Claridge Hotel issued a statement denying any involvement in a scam and claiming that Goldstein had breached the contract by failing to pay the required fees. The statement read: “We regret the inconvenience this has caused to our guests and share their disappointment. We have always operated with the highest ethical and professional standards and will continue to do so. We stand ready to assist our guests in any way we can, but we have no control over Aryeh Hospitality’s actions.”
The Fallout from the Scandal
Since the cancellation of the Passover program at the Claridge Hotel, there have been several developments in the Aryeh Hospitality scandal. Goldstein has reportedly filed a police report claiming that his company’s funds were stolen by a former employee who had access to the accounts. He has also promised to refund the guests, but many of them say they have not received any money yet.
In addition, Goldstein has been accused of deleting negative reviews and comments on Aryeh Hospitality’s social media pages and of threatening legal action against guests who speak out against him. Some guests have formed a Facebook group to share their stories and demand justice, while others have contacted consumer protection agencies and lawyers.
The lesson to be learned from this situation is that it is important to do your research before booking a holiday program or tour with any company. Don’t rely solely on their website or marketing materials but look for reviews and feedback from previous guests on independent platforms. If you do encounter a problem or dispute with a tour company, try to document everything and seek assistance from relevant authorities or legal professionals. And above all, be cautious of any promises that sound too good to be true.
