Category Archives for Hotels.
Hyperinflation is no big deal to the CEO of Hilton, who says “We can reprice our product every second of every day.”
He’s not actually expecting hyperinflation, just the Janet Yellen-Jerome Powell kind of course. And though Hilton is a global company, he’s focused on U.S. inflation. But he makes the case that investors who worry about inflation should buy Hilton stock because Hilton can easily raise prices as the value of money falls.
With Marriott extending everyone’s elite status for next year, there are plenty of members getting a status gift – recognizing that once-loyal guests haven’t had their business travel start back up, and especially those whose travels normally taken them abroad including to Asia.
On the other hand there are members who have spent countless nights with their head in beds in 2021. They’ve given Marriott their stays and it turns out they didn’t need to do this in order to keep their elite tier for 2022.
Marriott is extending elite status again, extending free night and suite upgrade certificates, and making free night certificates easier to use. And they’re getting rid of award charts, moving to a more revenue-based redemption system starting in March.
Hyatt is adjusting its award chart to create peak and off peak pricing at each category for reward nights booked starting Tuesday, October 26th for stays March 1, 2022 and beyond. This is a devaluation, but Hyatt’s program remains better than competitors’.
Golds and Diamonds will be notified of enhanced room’ upgrades 72 hours in advance and will be able to select a room from the new upgraded room category through the chain’s mobile app.
They’re also adding key sharing to their digital room key feature, so that a guest can give their key to (for instance) someone sharing their room.
Hotels, hurting during the pandemic, made rooms available at a discount for a variety of other purposes too – discount rates for ‘health care heroes’ to get away, rates for governments to use as quarantine facilities. It turns out that presented arbitrage opportunities.
Stays at 194 U.S. Hyatts earn a bonus 1000 American AAdvantage miles between November 1 – January 31, 2022. Registration is required by December 15.
Participating Hyatts are in the Chicago, DC, Dallas, New York, Denver, Phoenix, Nashville, LA, Seattle, and San Francisco markets.
It’s the next logical step, and one hotel consultants are talking about.
One major Hilton and Marriott owner wants to make lodging more like an ultra low cost airline. That’s the direction some chains are headed at the behest of short-sighted REIT investors. But it’s going to drive customers away. Charging for housekeeping services will mean less revenue for the hotel.
The Grand Hyatt New York re-opens November 1 but with a new name: Hyatt Grand Central New York. It will no longer be a Grand Hyatt. And it is losing the best thing about the property, too.
Marriott has brought back its “Week of Wonders” offers for October 7 – 14. There’s some decent room rates, 2000 bonus points for some, a discount on mattresses and robes, and bonuses for points purchases.
The major item here would be lower free night award pricing, with over half of Marriott’s properties committed at ‘off-peak’ redemption rates when you use your points over the next week… but you’ve got to stay quick to benefit.
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 »
