News notes from around the interweb:
- Hyatt is increasing the award category of one hotel. I like that they’re transparent about this. Hyatt Place Ocean City Oceanfront will go from category 4 to 5 effective June 4, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Central.
Any bookings made prior to that will be at 15,000 points, and can be made using category 1-4 free night certificates.
- Thermal imaging as security theater
- Hawaiian resident accused of being a tourist violating quarantine
- World airline lobby shop IATA (which used to garner much respect) is complaining about lack of airline bailouts in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The largest subsidies have gone to U.S. airlines.
- Postponed vacation tears wine glass (HT: Paul H.)
- Companies are negotiating two hotel rates a fixed rate and a discount off prevailing market. That way the fixed rate is a cap, but they still benefit from price drops.
- How COVID-19 will change business travel
@ Gary — Th corporate rate I use for my most common hotel stay has had this pricing arrangement for many years.
“Hyatt is increasing the award category of one hotel. I like that they’re transparent about this.”
They are transparent until when they are not…. 😉
With occupancy and demand tied to redemption rates will we be seeing many category Drops/lower cost point redemptions down the road?
With hotels increasing pricing or going to a higher categories right now I’m a bit suspicious even if transparent
RE: thermal imaging – we accept (maybe begrudgingly) false positives with TSA inspection. I don’t really see it being a huge departure from current procedures to have a secondary screening with an up-close infrared thermometer or other method if someone fails the initial crowd scan test.
@DCS: “They are transparent until when they are not…. ”
As opposed to Hilton, who changed the minimum and/or maximum redemption levels at nearly two-thirds of their properties last year with absolutely no notice whatsoever.
Seriously? I am currently holding a three-night reservation for that Hyatt hotel after June 4 on points and was expecting to earn three cat 1-4 certificates between June 4 and the date of my reservation (credit card renewal, $15K spend and Explorer). So my plan all along was to change the reservation to substitute the three certificates I would earn right before my stay for my points and get my points back. Guess that plan failed.
I trust Hyatt to do the right thing the vast majority of the time
Marriott, kinda the opposite