Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

IHG Rewards Senior VP Loyalty Explains Big Program Changes Coming, Starting With New Elite Level

by Gary Leff

Jan 19 2022

There have been several stories reporting one piece of change that’s happening at IHG Rewards – the introduction of a new mid-tier level, a change in the name of their top tier, and new qualification requirements for status.

I spoke with Heather Balsley this morning. She’s Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty and Partnerships at IHG Hotels & Resorts. And she shared some other pieces of what’s changing now, and what’s coming in the next few months where the focus will be on elite benefits, the area where she seemed to agree IHG has historically had the biggest opportunities for improvement.

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Marriott Travel Packages Are Gone And Bonvoy Failed To Provide The Promised Notice To Members

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Jan 19 2022

Last week Marriott dropped into their terms and conditions that they were eliminating travel packages effective January 19, 2022. This was apparently published in the terms and conditions too early, and Marriott removed this from their published terms telling me they “published prematurely..[w]e will have additional details for members in the coming days.”

However Marriott never told members in advance about this change.

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Marriott 5-Night Travel Packages (Airline Miles + Hotel Stay) Still Exist – For One Day Only?

by Gary Leff

Jan 17 2022

Marriott snuck a change into their terms and conditions saying that they’re eliminating hotel and airline mile ‘travel packages’ from the program. These haven’t been useful in several years because of price increases and the elimination of 5-night packages. Except those 5 night packages still exist and you may have a short window to claim them.

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How A Basket Case Pension Fund Got A Marriott Renaissance Deflagged In St. Croix

by Gary Leff

Jan 17 2022

The Carambola Beach Resort St. Croix is a sad tale. Marriott has 30 brands, but this hotel is an unbranded Marriott. You see, it used to be a Renaissance. It’s fallen into such disrepair that they don’t show that name any longer.

How this happened is fascinating because it’s a tale of incompetence and, in my opinion, likely corruption on the part of the government employee pension fund of the US Virgin Islands. This story is insane.

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Hyatt Award Policy That Needs To Change: Cash Penalties When You Miss A Stay

by Gary Leff

Change in T&C for free electronics
Jan 16 2022

If you book an award stay and your flight diverts on the way to your vacation, and you can’t check in as scheduled, call your mortgage broker for a second or third lien on your house – quick!

Hyatt, like Marriott, charges you cash in an undisclosed amount (rather than points) if you have to cancel an award trip inside of the cancellation deadline for your stay.

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No Leeway: Marriott Member Misses Ambassador Status By $8, “I Should’ve Had A Drink At The Bar”

by Gary Leff

Jan 10 2022

A Marriott Bonvoy member reports that they had 102 nights and $13,992 spent with Marriott during 2021. Top tier Ambassador status required at least 100 nights and $14,000 in spend. They add that they should have gotten a drink at the bar on their last stay, but didn’t realize they’d need it. And they’d happily send Marriott the $8.

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