Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

How to Pick the Hotel Program That’s Best For You

by Gary Leff

sydney opera house
Dec 30 2018

A lot of members are frustrated with Marriott — for botching the Starwood integration, for failing to deliver on the benefits they promised, and for generally unhelpful customer service. I argued that doesn’t make Hilton better, that Marriott disappoints but shouldn’t surprise — they are the largest and still offer better elite benefits, why would you think they’d be better?

I learned several things making the argument and listening to reader comments and commentary from other blogs.

Continue Reading »

What You Don’t Realize About the Marriott Data Hack: Good Marketing and Bad Breaches Go Hand in Hand

by Gary Leff

man in suit looking at computer screen
Dec 27 2018

Good marketing is something that all of us welcome: useful information that connects us with something we actually need or want, and even better information that comes to us right when we want it, to help us make a decision.

When someone says they don’t like marketing what they mean is they don’t like bad marketing. They don’t like receiving information that isn’t relevant to them, that doesn’t speak to them in their language, that isn’t what they’re interested in.

The world is full of bad marketing.

Continue Reading »

Limited-Time Free Signup for Membership Site That Lets You Find Big Hotel Savings (Airfare, Cars, and Cruises Too)

by Gary Leff

hotel dining
Dec 27 2018

Hotel chain Best Price Guarantees are for the most part Best Price Gimmicks, there are so many holes and exclusions that it serves to say that the chain has the best price without having to have the best price.

However you don’t earn points, stay credits, and you’re not supposed to receive elite recognition if you don’t “book direct.” Still if the price is good enough you can buy your won breakfast or even just book the room you’d like to stay in straight away, and still pocket a savings.

Continue Reading »

To Everyone Leaving Marriott for Hilton: You’re Nuts

by Gary Leff

Dec 24 2018

I’m as disappointed as anyone with the way Marriott has delivered on their new loyalty program. The technical side of combining Starwood and Marriott accounts has been frustrating — my account still isn’t right. Customer service has been poor — I’m waiting for a reply to an email from September. And most of all the delivery of benefits and redemptions hasn’t matched what was promised.

However that doesn’t mean you should abandon Marriott. In fact you shouldn’t. Here’s why.

Continue Reading »

No Daily Housekeeping and Linen Changes Every 4th Day at the Brand New Hyatt Regency Seattle

by Gary Leff

Dec 22 2018

Limited service hotels are a fast growing lodging segment. There’s no room service, for instance. Don’t expect a bellman or valet. Some ostensibly full service hotels are moving to become limited service, too.

The brand new Hyatt Regency Seattle opened December 10th. It’s across the street from the Hyatt Olive 8 and near the Grand Hyatt, and is the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest with over 1200 rooms. And it does not provide daily housekeeping.

Continue Reading »

New Marriott Loyalty Program Continues to Disappoint Members

by Gary Leff

breakfast food styrofoam container
Dec 19 2018

What happens when hotels change award categories without notice — right as members who have been waiting for months have been allowed to redeem? And how are some hotels ‘complying’ with Marriott’s elite breakfast benefits?

The problem I think is that the chain’s CEO describes the frustration of his best customers as noise around the edges rather than tackling the problem with open arms. Bill Marriott said the purpose of the Starwood acquisition was to give them scale and leverage. I noted at the time this included leverage over customers.

Continue Reading »