Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Marriott’s Twitter Team Can’t Fathom Anyone Complimenting Bonvoy on Social Media

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2019

Aug 19 2019

Twitter used to be the “go-to” way of getting personalized customer service, and with some brands it still is. Many companies assign super competent agents to deal with twitter, and empower them to cut through bureaucracy to solve problems.

Not all do however. And some just follow the ‘first rule of social media’ which is to try to get customers to stop blasting the company as quickly as possible. The easiest way to do that is to get the customer to ‘take it to DM’.

Marriott Cancelling Reservations Booked During College Football Championship

by Gary Leff on August 15, 2019

Aug 15 2019

I don’t think the Fairfield New Orleans Downtown studied Seinfeld well enough to internalize what reservations are for.

Marriott Rolls Out High/Low Season Award Pricing Next Month Along With Other Changes

by Gary Leff on August 15, 2019

Aug 15 2019

When Marriott first announced their new program they told us they’d be adding a new highest redemption category 8 and also adding peak and off peak pricing for 2019. They put off category 8 until March but postponed peak and off peak pricing even further.

They’ve been silent on when to expect it until now, giving us a month’s notice before the new top redemption price could go as high as 100,000 points per night. Effective September 14th they’re making some other changes to the program as well.

Calling a Hotel Directly to Get Their Lowest Rate

by Gary Leff on August 11, 2019

Aug 11 2019

According to a laughable AOL article you should call a hotel directly to secure the best price and use a three word incantation to save 20% off of the lowest price online.

However there’s a nugget of wisdom here that’s worth unpacking.

One Simple Reason I Won’t Make Coffee in My Hotel Room

by Gary Leff on August 10, 2019

Aug 10 2019

I’m often tired when I travel. Doing some exercises before bed helps, but between flights, time zone changes, and extremely long work days I find when I’m back home Friday morning that I’m dragging. In fact I can get up dragging while I’m on the road too. Coffee is part of my morning ritual.

But I won’t make coffee in my room.

Stop Complaining About Marriott Elite Breakfasts and Just Stay at Hyatt

by Gary Leff on August 9, 2019

Aug 09 2019

If breakfast matters to you remember that IHG doesn’t promise it; Hilton offers just a continental breakfast but doesn’t exclude brands; Marriott’s breakfast benefit is improved but understanding it is like something out of a Fellini film; while Hyatt’s offerings are both more robust and more clear.

What Hyatt 40 Night Benefit Should You Choose?

by Gary Leff on August 7, 2019

Aug 07 2019

What Hyatt 40 night benefit is best? Hyatt offers additional benefits for every 10 elite nights you earn. And now that award stays count (so Chase Sapphire Preferred Card points transfers can be used for stays, which help earn additional benefits), and that you get 5 elite nights each year just for having the The World Of Hyatt Credit Card and spending on the card continues to earn more elite nights, it’s easier than ever to reach additional benefit milestones. # Nights Or Benefit 10 25k base points or 3 meetings Discoverist 20 35k base points 2 club lounge access awards 30 50k base points or 10 meetings Explorist, 2 club access awards, cat 1-4 free night 40 65k base points 5k points or $100 Hyatt gift card or 10k points off FIND experience 50…

Make a Green Choice Program Still Generating Protests By Marriott Housekeepers

by Gary Leff on August 7, 2019

Aug 07 2019

Back in the fall when Marriott was facing housekeeping strikes, guests were getting flyers under their doors protesting the Make a Green Choice program.

Marriott encourages you to fly out and visit their hotels, eat beef in the restaurant, extend your stay by flying your family out too, but what you’re really doing that’s harming the environment is having your room tidied. I’ve always found it odd that a hotel chain promotes the idea that their housekeepers are bad for the environment.

MGM is Increasing Resort Fees to Over $50 a Night at 4 Hotels

by Gary Leff on August 2, 2019

Aug 02 2019

Both Marriott and Hilton are being sued by governments over the deceptive practice of resort fees.

Yet MGM is doubling down on resort fees in Las Vegas, where at four of their hotels you’ll be hit with over $50 a night in charges in addition to your room rate.

Hilton Says Honors Engagement is Up: Giving Members Less Works

by Gary Leff on July 30, 2019

Jul 30 2019

Two and a half years ago Hilton reported 60 million members. Then at the beginning of 2018 they reported 70 million. Now they say they are up to 94 million Honors members.

Hilton was the first to aggressively advertise ‘member rates’ which are small room discounts that require you to join the loyalty program. Unsurprisingly that’s just what guests do. And since the number of members has gone up recently, driven by this savings, these are ‘engaged’ members with recent Hilton activity.