Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

MGM Resorts Adds Suite Upgrades, Airfare Credit And Celebration Dinners As Elite Benefits

by Gary Leff on January 7, 2022

Jan 07 2022

The suite upgrade and celebration dinners are new, as are the formalized air travel credits though those betting to achieve top tiers wouldn’t normally be paying for things so the credits are a bit redundant. The elimination of resort fees for mid-tier elites is similarly welcome.

In making elite status harder to earn through non-gambling spend, though, it represents a strategic pivot away from using the program to attract families and other leisure guests that’s been a focus in recent years.

Woman In Red Bikini Goes Berserk When Diamond Guest Checks In Ahead Of Her

by Gary Leff on January 7, 2022

Jan 07 2022

A woman in a red bikini became enraged when a black man approached the Diamond line at the front desk of the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana on December 30th.

She can be seen on video circulating in social media yelling at hotel employees. The woman’s partner, who was reportedly drunk, insisted they were in line first and took offense at elites cutting in line.

Marriott Choice Benefits Have To Be Claimed By Friday – But What If Your 2021 Stays Haven’t Posted Yet?

by Gary Leff on January 6, 2022

Jan 06 2022

If you earned Platinum (50 night) or Titanium (75 night) elite status with Marriott in 2021 you only have until January 7th to make your ‘choice benefit selections. If you miss the deadline, you miss out on benefits like suite upgrade priority and free nights.

A reader shares they have a missing stay from December 27 that would push them over the threshold to earn Titanium. And Marriott won’t take a missing stay submission for that until January 10.

IHG Expiring Free Night Certificates Can Be Converted To Points If You Call

by Gary Leff on December 30, 2021

Dec 30 2021

IHG is converting expiring credit card free nights to 25,000 points if you call and ask. If you do not call, you get nothing for certificates set to sunset after December 31, 2021.

Expiring Awards? Hyatt Is Extending Them Or Giving You Points – If You Ask

by Gary Leff on December 28, 2021

Dec 28 2021

Hilton and Marriott have extended expiring free night certificates. Hyatt has not. They’ve even said they’ll begin expiring points again December 31st. However they’ve quietly gotten much more generous in offering points for expiring awards, and in some cases even extending them on asking.

There’s even a surprise of points for top tier elites.

Here’s Which Marriott Choice Benefits You Should Select

by Gary Leff on December 24, 2021

Dec 24 2021

I’m going to ignore the math here and just say I don’t need the free night and I’ll enjoy the possible upgrade more if it comes through. In other words I’m going to waste money, perhaps frivolously, on something I’ll enjoy.

Why is it a waste? Because I’m probably better off taking the free night, saving $240 in cash I’d otherwise spend on a room, and using that cash for a better room on another stay or indeed on something other than a Marriott upgrade I’ll enjoy more. I’m going to do the thing that’s irrational because I’m rational enough to know that I’ll enjoy the irrationality.

Hotel Gives Out Bonus Points For TripAdvisor Reviews, This Is Why Most Reviews Are Bogus

by Gary Leff on December 20, 2021

Dec 20 2021

I don’t look at average review scores for a hotel property on a site like TripAdvisor. A lot of reviews may be fake, and the reviewers may not have similar tastes or expectations even if they’re real. But there’s another thing that skews ratings: incentives by a property to post great reviews. Hotels that do this will get more positive reviews. That doesn’t mean it’s a better hotel.

Housing Homeless In Hotels Really Did Reduce The Spread Of Covid-19

by Gary Leff on December 19, 2021

Dec 19 2021

Housing the homeless in hotels is hardly new. At New York JFK airport hotels it’s even largely expected. During the pandemic the practice accelerated. There were plenty of empty rooms. States like California, New York, and others turned to hotels to house the homeless.

Here’s How Hilton Should Fix Their Elite Breakfast Benefit

by Gary Leff on December 19, 2021

Dec 19 2021

Hilton Honors should treat elites as well as my college dorm! They should provide a choice between free breakfast or the smaller dollar credit. Hilton would still manage their costs while providing guest flexibility. That would turn a controversial move into a win that customers would love.

You Can Now GoPuff Yourself At More Than 20 U.S. Hyatt Place Hotels

by Gary Leff on December 16, 2021

Dec 16 2021

Hyatt has expanded its partnership with delivery service GoPuff, which offers food, office supplies, toiletries and other convenience store type items.

The reason you care is that most Chase cards are giving you a $10 per month GoPuff statement credit, if you have half a dozen Chase consumer cards you can get $60 a month in GoPuff credit. That, and perhaps also that Selena Gomez is now an investor. And because there’s a Hyatt points signup bonus now, too.