Category Archives for Hotels.
A reader who stayed at a Hyatt property reports finding DRIFT bulk soap on housekeeping carts while the bottles mounted in their guest room displayed Jonathan Adler branding. The hotel advertises Jonathan Adler as its standard amenity, raising questions about whether the in-room bottles are being refilled with a different product.
Barry Sternlicht has brought the Starwood name back — and now its largest brand, 1 Hotels, has relaunched its loyalty program. The return of Starwood sparks plenty of nostalgia, but the new approach looks very different from the SPG era. Here’s what’s changing and what members can expect.
A former hotel manager turned flight attendant says there are two things she’ll never touch in any hotel room: the in-room coffee maker and those refillable shower dispensers. Here’s why — and what you should do instead.
Marriott abruptly ended its partnership with Sonder, forcing guests with confirmed reservations to leave their rooms the same day. Some customers have received 40,000 Marriott points as a goodwill gesture — a small consolation after being evicted from stays Marriott had confirmed.
A woman checking into a $15 hotel room in Sanya, China demanded a refund after midnight — and when told it was too late, she turned on the taps, flooded the room, and even called the police herself. The result: $4,200 in damages and the most expensive “refund” imaginable.
Marriott has finally confirmed its long-unwritten rule: members who fall short of requalifying for elite status won’t lose it all. Instead, they’ll be dropped just one level — formalizing a “soft landing” policy the chain has quietly practiced for decades.
Marriott abruptly ended its 20-year Sonder partnership, pulling properties from Bonvoy overnight. Guests who booked through Marriott are learning the points and benefits they were promised no longer apply.
Hilton has confirmed a new Diamond Reserve top-tier status that will finally include confirmed upgrades — while reducing qualification requirements for lower elite levels by 30%. The new tier requires 80 nights and $18,000 in annual spend, positioning Hilton to compete more directly with Marriott and Hyatt’s highest-status travelers.
Guests at a Fargo hotel were shocked and disgusted after witnessing—and filming—an employee soaking stained bedsheets in the hotel’s guest hot tub. The viral video sparked immediate outrage and led to a health department investigation.
Hilton Honors’ internal systems show a new Diamond Reserve elite tier above Diamond, requiring 80 nights and $18,000 in annual spend. The leak also references a hidden “Honor Society” level, potentially reserved for invitation-only members — signaling Hilton may finally be preparing to match Marriott’s Ambassador and other ultra-premium elite tiers.
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 »
