Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

What To Do If You’re Not Getting Great Service From Your Assigned Hyatt Concierge

by Gary Leff on June 1, 2022

Jun 01 2022

I do not know for certain whether some concierges are simple overburdened with too many members and too many requests, or whether the service just varies tremendously by agent, but the experiences readers share certainly evinces a wide spectrum of experiences. When the program was in its test phase it had just four agents, and with the rollout five years ago planned for 15-20 agents in total across all contact centers and time zones. Hyatt won’t say how many agents are working in the program today.

Review: Seabird Resort Grand Estate Suite, Oceanside California

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2022

May 22 2022

I had reserved a points stay with confirmed suite upgrade at Alila Marea, but that hotel shut down for a private event and moved me to the Seabird Resort. It turns out that this was a lucky break because the suite I had at the Seabird was truly magnificent. Service and food on property were excellent, too. And I might never have stayed here otherwise!

Which Hotel Program Is Really The Best?

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2022

May 22 2022

We’ve seen re-launches of several hotel programs during the pandemic. Smaller programs like GHA Discovery and Shangri-La Circle are brand new. GHA, which has around 500 hotels but is adding several hundred more, was just a benefits program – but now offers cash rebates to spend at their properties (‘Discovery Dollars’). I really wish I had more opportunities to stay with both chains.

IHG Rewards has branded as IHG One Rewards – the one meant to signal that they’ve now ‘unified’ their brands, with all new elite benefits that even apply at Kimpton and Intercontinental hotel properties. With all these changes, which program is best?

Marriott Charging Some Member Credit Cards When They Try To Redeem Free Night Certificates

by Gary Leff on May 21, 2022

May 21 2022

Check your credit cards for erroneous charges billed by Marriott.

Marriott started letting members ‘top off’ free night certificates at the end of April. You can add up to 15,000 points to a certificate, making it easier to book rooms. Or at least that’s how it’s supposed to work, but Bonvoy members have been reporting that it’s gone very wrong.

Hyatt Hotel Without A Manager Can’t Seem To Clean Rooms Between Guests

by Gary Leff on May 19, 2022

May 19 2022

Remember when some chains were putting stickers on the doors and co-branding their procedures with with cleaning product companies? It wasn’t that long ago. Now it seems we have the worst procedures of the pandemic – full services often not restored, but pandemic cleaning practices loosened.

Hotel Housekeepers Launch New Ad Campaign To Get You To Ask For A Clean Room

by Gary Leff on May 18, 2022

May 18 2022

Housekeepers represented by the union UNITE-HERE want guests to request housekeeping every day of their stay. More work for housekeepers means more jobs for union members.

But they aren’t wrong that without daily housekeeping, trash, dirt and debris builds up in guest rooms – and that makes it harder to clean, and often rooms don’t get thoroughly cleaned as a result.

Marriott Enters Deal With Yahoo To Spam Bonvoy Members From Emails To Your In-Room TV

by Gary Leff on May 16, 2022

May 16 2022

You’re not a hotel chain’s customer, you’re the product. They sell your eyeballs to the hotel owners that pay them fees to use the brand. That’s why the head of Diamondrock Hospitality, a large hotel owner, calls Marriott Bonvoy members “leads”.

30,000 Bonus Points And $100 Rebate On Marriott Homes & Villas Booking

by Gary Leff on May 16, 2022

May 16 2022

Marriott is offering a third anniversary bonus of 30,000 points for bookings made through its Homes & Villas network from today through Wednesday, May 18. The bonus requires a stay of 5 nights or more between June 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. It stacks with a $100 rebate Chase Offer that many readers should be eligible for.

I Booked A Suite A Year In Advance, And Then Got Walked By Alila Marea

by Gary Leff on May 15, 2022

May 15 2022

Securing a confirmed suite here is tough because they have only a few on property, so I decided to book my 2022 stay a year in advance as soon as I’d returned home from my last visit.

Two weeks prior to arrival I received a voicemail and email from the hotel’s Front Office Manager asking me to call him. That couldn’t be good.

Don’t Be Complacent, Crimes And Crises Are Happening At Hotels All Around Us

by Gary Leff on May 8, 2022

May 08 2022

Many of the crimes here just happened to occur at hotels, or happened because of the specific things guests chose to do while at hotels. As long as you don’t engage in exceptionally risky behavior, they probably won’t happen to you.

Legionnaires disease, of course, is another story entirely. And always sweep your room for hidden cameras if you’re someone that’ll mind being videotaped naked.