Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

It’s Been 5 Years Since Hyatt Announced a Devaluation, and Point Value Has Remained Remarkably Steady Since

by Gary Leff on September 13, 2018

Sep 13 2018

It’s been five years since Hyatt last devalued, introducing a new category 7 and raising the price of many awards. The best hotels became more expensive, suite redemptions became more expensive, but overall the weighted average of free night award prices went up just 4%.

Since that time there have been remarkably few changes to the earn and burn side of the Hyatt program. Even the total revamp and introduction of ‘World of Hyatt’ nearly two years ago was a change only to the elite program.

Marriott Launches First Promotion of New Program, Register Now

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2018

Sep 12 2018

Marriott’s fall and early winter promotion is out: .

The idea is that this is the first promotion that is run across all of Marriott’s participating 29 brands. Of course prior to combining programs August 18th they had largely aligned their efforts already, but this is one promotion for the new program.

Report: Don’t Expect Much Elite Recognition From Marriott in the Mideast

by Gary Leff on September 11, 2018

picture with stairs around it in a hotel

Sep 11 2018

Local reader Vineet S. called every Marriott property in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – over 50 hotels – to ask how they’re handling elite benefits. He spoke with each hotel’s front office manager or higher.

Here are his findings about what the new Marriott program means for members. He concludes, “AUH/DXB/Asia regionally had some of the best compliance with T&C, if this is the condition here…”

Don’t Forget That This is the High Point of the Marriott Program, It Gets Worse From Here

by Gary Leff on September 8, 2018

Sep 08 2018

The Marriott program is better than I expected it to be when the chain acquired Starwood. But don’t be lulled into complacency that this year’s experience is what you can expect. We know that things are as good as they’ll ever be right now because Marriott told us so.

No Notice: Marriott Stops Giving Elite Benefits For Online Travel Agency Reservations

by Gary Leff on September 7, 2018

Sep 07 2018

Back in April I talked with Marriott’s Senior Vice President of Loyalty David Flueck and he assured me that the new Marriott program would continue to honor elite benefits when guests booked their stays through online travel agencies.

Marriott’s new terms and conditions were consistent with this, as well. It was a real improvement over how Starwood treated elites whose rooms were booked through these sites. And it lasted for all of two weeks.

Marriott Fixes Program Rules for Suite Upgrades, Platinums Now Entitled to Standard Suites

by Gary Leff on September 5, 2018

Sep 05 2018

When the new Marriott program launched their terms and conditions said that Platinums would get an upgrade if available at check-in to an ‘enhanced room’. That’s not what we were promised.

The terms now say that a Platinum is to receive an upgrade to the best room available up to and including suites. Of course there are some limitations.

Marriott Elite Challenge is Back, Platinum Status With Just 16 Nights

by Gary Leff on September 5, 2018

Sep 05 2018

Now that the new Marriott program has launched they’ve re-opened status challenges.

Normally Gold status requires 25 nights in a year and Platinum status requires 50 nights. However you can call to sign up and a Gold challenge requires 8 nights in 3 months, and a Platinum challenge requires 16 nights in 90 days.mo

Patience Over For Marriott-Starwood Integration: Lifetime Status Must Be Re-Earned Each Year?

by Gary Leff on September 4, 2018

Sep 04 2018

IT is hard. No IT project ever has come in early or under budget. Things take longer than you think they will even accounting fro the fact that you know they’ll take longer than you think they will. However Marriott chose the date. August 18th. It was self-imposed.

It’s now been two and a half weeks. It’s past Labor Day. People are back at work, business travelers are about to start getting back on the road. The reasonable amount of patience that members have given has pretty well been exhausted.

Hyatt Under Fire for Hosting “Anti-Muslim Hate Group” But Are Boycotts Warranted?

by Gary Leff on September 4, 2018

Sep 04 2018

At the end of the week Think Progress put out a piece critical of Hyatt for hosting the ACT for America conference at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. A petition with 100,000 signatures was delivered to Hyatt demanding they back out of providing a venue to the event this coming week.

I’m unfamiliar with the group, but they (along with half of America) are described by the Southern Poverty Law Center “as an anti-Muslim extremist and hate group.”

IHG’s New Promotion is Out and it Varies For Everyone, What Did You Get?

by Gary Leff on September 3, 2018

Sep 03 2018

Hyatt is out with their new promo and so is Hilton. Now we know what IHG Rewards Club, the loyalty program for Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza and related brands, will offer.

Offers vary my member. Here’s how the promotion works, and what I received. What’s your offer?