Category Archives for Hotels.
Hyatt has announced its annual redemption category changes which will go into effect March 28 at 8 a.m. Central time. Overall 372 properties are changing category, with 214 going up and 158 going down.
Overall U.S. hotels are going up, while Europe and Asia should get less expensive. In general the best and most luxurious hotels are going up, even in regions where redemption categories are falling generally. And all-inclusives get more expensive.
It can be a pain to ask for the benefits guarantee, and Marriott will often deny it in the first instance based on the hotel claiming to have been compliant when they obviously weren’t. But it’s worth claiming the money because – since Marriott doesn’t do enough to keep hotels delivering on program benefits – consistently having to pay out for their elite benefits misdeeds is what will keep properties in line.
Chalk this up to another cost cut, where a major hotel chain eats into its brand by charging guests as much or more than before while delivering less. It’s Westin exiting the wellness space without saying they’re exiting the wellness space.
Did you know that Wyndham has a secret Titanium elite level? Do you know how early check-in, late check-out, and upgrades are supposed to work? And how much hotels get charged for your points, and paid when you stay on a free night?
One of Hilton’s most aspirational properties, the Conrad Maldives, has standard free night award availability nearly every day for the rest of the year (through December 20, 2023). That’s not normally the case.
A major hotel asset manager wants to see luxury hotels end turndown service and for hotels to eliminate food service – and is pushing hotel chains to loosen their brand standards.
A hotel guest reports that they left their room in perfectly normal order when they checked out. On their way down the hall they handed their key to housekeeping. But after their stay the property charged them a $150 cleaning fee – and sent them photos.
And who boy, the photos are something, with hot sauce everywhere in the room – on the bed and bedding and even on the wall. It looks like blood!
On February 12, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in the Phoenix area.
Events like this drive up hotel room rates. But if you book a year in advance you can often reserve a room at normal pricing, or book nights on points. And the hotel may look to try to wiggle out of the reservation.
The food and beverage credit is a ‘choice benefit’ and members have been choosing these since the program launched and guests started reaching the required number of nights.
But they haven’t yet been able to spend them. These are $20 credits which can be applied to a stay folio for spending at hotel restaurants, in-room dining, minibar food and beverage items (and can be used to cover tax and tip where applicable). Fortunately they’re now going live in the first wave of a release.
President Biden went to war against hotel resort fees and other consumer fees this past fall. He directed federal agencies to find a way to clamp down on or ban them.
Now, however, the CFPB is prepared to limit credit card late fees to $8 but as for the rest of junk fees the President criticized, agencies will do nothing more than continue to “prioritize them” and he’s instead calling on Congress to act. That’s akin to doing nothing, but is also potentially better for the President politically.
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 »
