Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Better Upgrades To Suites, Premium Room Awards Coming For IHG One Rewards Guests

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2023

Feb 01 2023

Last year IHG rebranded its loyalty program IHG One Rewards, meant to unify all of the chains brands and give customers a reason to stay loyal. They introduced whole new suites of benefits including top tier Diamond status with free daily breakfast, and benefit choices like confirmed suite upgrades, club lounge access, and food and beverage spending credit to use on property.

I spoke with IHG’s Senior Vice President Heather Balsley to learn more about how the new program is going, and what benefits are coming next.

Sex Toy In The Microwave: Worst Hotel Ever Granted A State License?

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2023

Jan 28 2023

The Baymont By Wyndham Des Moines North was an unlicensed hotel, despite being branded as part of a global chain and being owned by McKinney, Texas-based Relianse Global.

On December 22, hotel inspectors found “trash, pests, nonworking smoke detectors and a “sex toy” in the microwave oven of a guest room.” And the property has been given a government license to operate.

Tipping Gone Mad: Hotel Booking Site Solicits Tips After You’ve Made Your Reservation

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2023

Jan 25 2023

The range of things for which tipping is being solicited in the United States has grown tremendously. Tipping, it seems, is no longer just for personal services someone provides – like a waiter in a restaurant, or a stylist in a salon. You’re asked to tip when you bus your own tray after waiting in line for food at a restaurant. You’re asked to tip when picking up food for carry out. And the amount you’re asked for has grown, from 15% to 20% and now sometimes 25%.

Surely there has to be a line. How much will we stand for? Isn’t a reasonable principle that tipping ought to be reserved for service provided by people and not machines?

Save Big On Marriott Hotels By Booking Them Through Airbnb

by Gary Leff on January 23, 2023

Jan 23 2023

I’ve even documented instances where the difference in room rate was over $450 per night! It’s amazing that even as hotel chains spend a lot marketing that you’ll find the best rates on their rooms through their own websites, hotels are unloading rooms for less through Airbnb.

One guest even managed a successful Marriott best rate guarantee against an Airbnb listing.

New Jersey Bill Would Ban Hotel Loyalty Programs From Selling Points

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2023

Jan 22 2023

Loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, and Hilton Honors all sell points to consumers, and generally the cost to the program of redemption is lower than the cost of sale. That practice would be banned by New Jersey law if this ultimately passes.

Rumor: Hyatt’s Relationship With MGM Coming To An End?

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2023

Jan 22 2023

There’s a rumor on FlyerTalk that status matching from Hyatt to MGM Rewards will terminate mid-year. It’s unclear what would happen to future earning of Hyatt points and elite status nights, or redeeming points for free stays (plus resort fee..) at MGM hotels in Las Vegas, if this were to happen.

Hyatt Guest Charged $11,212 After Cancelling An Award Stay 58 Days In Advance

by Gary Leff on January 21, 2023

Jan 21 2023

I’ve written about the risk you run booking an award stay with Hyatt or Marriott, that if you cancel after the cancellation deadline (say, for instance, your flight is cancelled) you don’t lose your points – you lose a cash forfeiture amount instead.

And your cash penalty can be really high. Most people think you lose your points if you make a points reservation and fail to cancel by the deadline. But that’s not how it works.

Hotel Chains Eliminating Single Use Plastic Toiletries Is Hypocritical And Bad For Guests

by Gary Leff on January 21, 2023

Jan 21 2023

Hotels are getting rid of single use plastics, by offering bulk wall-mounted toiletries. And this is all about the environment, not cost savings. So why do they still have plastic water bottles and plastic-wrapped plastic cups? Oh, wait…

Conrad Maldives Wide Free Night Availability For Over Four Months

by Gary Leff on January 18, 2023

Jan 18 2023

Hilton’s Conrad Maldives has standard room award availability nearly every day from mid-May through September. And for anyone with any elite status, even Silver, fifth night is free on awards.

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.