Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Why Do Hotel Chains Have So Many Brands?

by Gary Leff on January 17, 2023

Jan 17 2023

Whenever a hotel chain adds a brand, like Marriott’s bringing on City Express as their 31st brand or Hilton launching Spark – a cheaper version of Hampton Inn, with splashes of light purple! – consumers react with confusion. How can we possibly need more hotel brands? Don’t the big chains already have more than enough?

Customers simply do not know which hotel brands are part of which chains, or what each brand stands for. This confusion must mean there are too many brands, yet brands continue to expand which must mean chains must believe doing this is profitable. After all, more brands means being able to open more hotels and attract more developers and owners.

Hyatt Promises To Fix Zeroing Out Award Night Availability In Aruba

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2023

Jan 13 2023

The Hyatt Regency Aruba has a history of playing games with free night award availability. They made it nearly impossible to spend Hyatt points, assigning only 22 out of their 357 rooms as potentially eligible for redemption. This hotel is actually owned by Hyatt, and after I brought their shenanigans to corporate’s attention they adjusted the practice.

However Aruba redemptions again became a problem. Some time in the second half of December all award night inventory at the property for 2023 zeroed.

Did You Know That You Can Convert Airline Miles Into Hotel Points?

by Gary Leff on January 11, 2023

Jan 11 2023

You can often still move hotel points to airline miles, but some programs actually let you move airline miles into hotel points. By offering transfers in both directions this does create the opportunity to launder airline miles through hotel programs from one airline to another as well.

12 New Hyatt Promotions, See If You’re Eligible For Points, Free Nights And Suite Upgrades

by Gary Leff on January 10, 2023

Jan 10 2023

There’s no current first quarter promotion from Hyatt that all members can take advantage of across their brands. However Hyatt is running a series of targeted promotions. You can check whether you’re eligible, and offers include free night certificates, suite upgrade awards, bonus points and triple points.

Marriott Looks To Put Beds On Top Of Couches In Order To Shrink Rooms

by Gary Leff on January 9, 2023

Jan 09 2023

By putting the bed on top of the sofa, Marriott is able to offer smaller rooms with the same features. And smaller rooms mean more rooms in a hotel. That’s good for revenue, and will let them compete for owners looking to maximize revenue per square foot of their real estate.

The open question is how guests will receive the idea.

Do You Check Out Of Hotels Before Leaving? Here’s How To Save A Little Time

by Gary Leff on January 7, 2023

Jan 07 2023

Did you know that you don’t have to check out of a hotel (most of the time) but that you still should anyway?

Hotels Offer Free Breakfast, Can Anyone Just Show Up And Eat?

by Gary Leff on January 4, 2023

Jan 04 2023

Many limited service hotels offer free breakfast, from Hampton Inn to Residence Inn to Best Western and Holiday Inn Express. It’s very rare that I’ve ever seen a hotel actually verify that you’re a guest before giving you access.

I’m surprised that so few people show up at these hotels and have breakfast! Then again, maybe people do?

Marriott Resort Charges Elites A Cash Co-Pay For Breakfast, Complimentary Doesn’t Mean Free

by Gary Leff on December 24, 2022

Dec 24 2022

Marriott offers complimentary breakfast at most of its brands to Platinum elites and higher. Hoewver they don’t really say what breakfast means. And some hotels have figured out that the terms and conditions of the Bonvoy program don’t actually define ‘complimentary’ so they interpret it to mean “charged to the customer, but just for less money.” The Tribute Portfolio Royal Palm South Beach Miami is one of those hotels.

Playing Benefits Whack-a-Mole With The Park Hyatt New York

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2022

Dec 23 2022

The Park Hyatt New York is a sublime property, and one of the most redeemed-for hotels in the Hyatt program. I’ve had some excellent stays there, including upgrades to suites, and I love that they allow Globalist members to take their elite breakfast as room service or in the restaurant.

Recently, however, they’ve told top tier elites that their benefits are far less than what the program promises.

249 Hotel Nights Later: How Marriott, Hyatt and IHG Get It Wrong

by Gary Leff on December 16, 2022

Dec 16 2022

An anonymous reader captures something in a guest post that I think is important, based on some pretty extensive experience on the road. Hyatt is great if you can stick to full service properties not owned or managed by bad actors, but there aren’t enough properties and too many limited service ones. So where you going to go? You’re stuck with Marriott, so Marriott can get away with failing to live up to promises and expectations. It’s still better than the alternatives.