About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Hyatt Announces New, Higher Award Pricing For Several Of Its Best Hotels

hotel bed
Feb 14 2022

Hyatt is making annual hotel category changes – making some hotels to more expensive points redemptions, while making other hotels less expensive, based on the room rates those hotels are projected to achieve. These changes will go into effect at 146 hotels on March 22, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Central time.

What’s significant here is that even though slightly more hotels will go down in category (76) versus going up in category (70), this should still be seen as a devaluation – and in some cases a big one. For the first time ever Hyatt will charge category 8 prices for hotels that have been in their own portfolio for years, not merely partner hotels or hotels that are part of newly acquired brands.

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Scam: Hotel Takes Reservations For Closed Property, Moves Guests To Cheaper One With No Refund

Feb 13 2022

The Attorney General of Michigan is getting involved with a family that owns around 20 hotels in Mackinaw City, Michigan and takes reservations for closed properties, moving guests to cheaper accommodations, and refusing refunds and cancellation. This family owns the hotel that went viral nationally last year after kicking a woman (“Dumb Democrat”) out late at night for complaining about leaking pipes in her room.

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